14 DAY TRIAL // Meerkat is a mini-PC developed by System76 that is based on the NUC Intel platform and that comes with some insane specifications. The good news is Meerkat is now available for purchase.
We wrote a while ago about System76's Meerkat and it got people very excited, with good reason. It sounded good on paper, but there weren't too many details about the devices itself, with the exception of some generic hardware specs. Now that the small and gorgeous Meerkat is out, we can take a closer look at it and see what it can do.
System76 didn't reveal too much information about Meerkat when it was official announced, only that it's working on it, but now we have so much more and it's even more impressive than the first time. We initially only knew that it is going to use an Intel i3 processor (5th generation), will have up to 2.5TB of storage space, will be energy efficient, and it will occupy just 4 square inches of space. If this made you pay attention, then the rest of the info will make you reach for the wallet.
Meerkat can be anything, Steam Link, server, media center, and more
One of the things you might notice is the fact that System76 starts its presentation with Steam, and that's not a coincidence. Valve recently announced its Steam Machines line up and the Steam Link option that would allow users to stream games directly to the TV from a PC, via LAN.
"Steam on your TV. With its tiny footprint, sleek look, and HDMI output, the Meerkat is the perfect Steam in-home streaming client. Media center. Complete with fast WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet, the Meerkat is the ideal platform to build your personal media center. Up to 2.5TB of storage provides space for all of your entertainment content.A maker’s dream. Inexpensive, small, and powerful, the Meerkat is a box made for tinkerers. Connect your Arduino or Raspberry Pi and start shaping tomorrow," reads the official website.
Meerkat also has a few other amazing features. It supports dual displays; you can set it up as a mini server, and even comes with VESA support, which means that you can strap to the back of the TV. And, better yet, it comes preloaded with Ubuntu.
Hardware Specs
- Processor: 5th Gen Intel Core i3-5010U (2.10GHz - 3MB cache - 2 Cores - 4 Threads) - Graphics: Intel HD 5500 - Memory: Up to 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 @ 1600MHz - Storage: M.2 SATA SSD, 2.5″ drive. Up to 2.5TB total. - Data Ports: Front: 2× USB 3.0 (one powered) Rear: 2× USB 3.0 - Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Intel Wireless-AC, Bluetooth 4 - Video Ports: Mini HDMI 1.4a, Mini DisplayPort 1.2 - Audio: 5.1 channel (Mini HDMI, Mini DisplayPort), 3.5mm headphone/mic jack - Security: Kensington Lock - Power Supply: 19V, 65W AC-DC Power Adapter - Dimensions: 1.9″ × 4.5″ × 4.4″ (H × W × D).
Users can customize the hardware specs, which means that the price can vary, but the most expensive model will set you back a little over $1000 (€900).