Why Affordable Minicomputers Can Improve Your Workspace Mini computers used to have mini functionality, but that's changed.

Gabe Shepherd started a small business with lots of growth potential — and he did it on a computer that could also be described that way.

His company, which he launched with some buddies in December, is called Vegas Built, and it's a shopping app for locals to find great deals. He created it with the help of his Mac mini, a tiny (7.7 inches by 1.4 inches) computer that sits on his desk. It originally didn't have the memory capacity for Photoshop and Adobe XD, but that was no problem: Once he needed those programs, he purchased a 64GB upgrade from a third party and installed it himself. "Photoshop uses more processing power, so being able to afford the extra RAM helped with efficiency," says Shepherd.

Many entrepreneurs love laptops, and they may have forgotten desktop computers even exist — but a new crop of ultrasmall machines make a compelling case for themselves. Unlike clunky old desktop computers, these are practically the size of a smartphone and generally cheaper than a laptop. (The Mac mini starts at $699, hundreds less than the average MacBook.)