When you think about your work desk, chances are your computer is taking up a lot of real estate, whether it's a clunky PC provided by your office or a high-performance rig that you use to play games. What if you could reclaim that space to improve your work life and home life? Can you lose the desktop and use a mini PC without your productivity taking a hit? Today, we'll look at a couple of MSI's products, the Cubi 5 12M Mini Desktop and the PRO MP251 Monitor, to see how they can help you find more room in your life.
Space on your desk
The Cubi 5 12M Mini Desktop has a mere 4.88 x 4.88 x2.11-inch footprint. Light and compact, this computer can fit in the palm of your hand. Even better, you can pair it with the PRO MP251 Monitor to save more space. The VESA Mountable design allows users to mount the Cubi 5 directly to the back of the PRO MP251. Together with the stand design of the PRO MP251, your work computer won't dominate your desk like it did before.
You might be worried about losing flexibility, but the Cubi 5 has a complete array of I/O ports that will make sure you have all your necessary equipment at your disposal. You won't need a dock or an adaptor. The Thunderbolt USB-C port provides data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps; the dual LAN ports can help keep your internet and intranet partitioned; and the four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A ports will make sure there is no accessory left behind. The Cubi 5 is built intentionally to multitask and help you do your most efficient work.
Speaking of flexibility, the Cubi 5 is ready for any kind of situation you throw at it. It supports 8K resolution, so you'll see everyone's pores on your next conference call. The cover is easily removable if you need to upgrade the storage on your Cubi. The Wi-Fi 6E technology allows for more devices to be connected with up to 3x faster gigabit speeds. Like a toddler swinging a wiffleball bat directly at your knees, it doesn't have to be big to pack a punch.
Space for your vision
Eye strain at work is an endemic issue. We've all been bleary-eyed after a long day of staring at the computer screen. The PRO MP251 Monitor comes with several features built to combat just that problem.
First off, the 24.5-inch monitor is slightly larger than the typical office monitor, and the HDMI and DP ports on the Cubi 5 support multi-display modes across multiple monitors. These monitors come with a versatile stand or can be mounted to a wall, if that's your vibe.
It's not just about raw area, though. It's about thoughtful design. The PRO MP251 Monitor is the first 24.5-inch business monitor built with EyesErgo standards in mind. The TUV certified Eye Care Panel reduces blue light and screen glare, so you can put in the hours without sacrificing your eyesight. The PRO MP251 Monitor also comes with a high 100Hz refresh rate to maintain a flicker-free image during conference calls, an MSI display kit that lets you customize your viewing experience, and an Eye-Q check, which runs you through various eye-strain exercises so you can be aware when you might need to take a break.
Space in your life
It doesn't matter if you adore your job — you still need to find ways to make sure your work isn't cannibalizing your leisure time. This is particularly true for remote workers, including myself. It's easy to spend all day sitting in front of your computer. You wake up, make a cup of coffee, and sit down at your desk. You work and then clock out. What next? You stay right at your desk to play a game to relax.
But your mind isn't really off work, is it? You're still at your workstation. That's when having a dedicated work computer comes in handy. With the small footprint of the Cubi 5, you'll be able to have a home office without giving up any leisure space. When you're off the clock, you'll be able to truly disconnect and refresh yourself for the next day. Distinction between the machine you use to get work done and the machine you use for enjoyment is an investment in yourself.
Whether you're in an office looking for a refresh or trying to figure out how to upgrade your work-from-home situation, the Cubi 5 12M Mini Desktop and the PRO MP251 Monitor are worthwhile investments. Something like this will probably never replace a high-performance gaming rig, but that's not what you're looking for. You're looking for space — space to work, space to create and space to breathe.
