I’ve been using and reviewing PCs for a long time. I used to build my own PCs (back when it was impossible to find a machine that came with Linux pre-installed). While I no longer have time to spend choosing components and building a custom machine, I still appreciate a well-designed, well-built PC.
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The Herk Orion
My experience
Take the following with a grain of salt because I’ll always choose Linux over Windows.
Any machine that runs Windows 11 is already at a disadvantage. When I compare the same machine running Windows vs. Linux, it’s no contest; Linux wins every time. The machine boots faster, apps install and launch quicker, and processes run more smoothly — everything is just better on Linux.
That said, Windows ran really well on the Orion, so much so that I considered leaving the Microsoft OS on the device (in case there came that rare moment when I needed Windows). But eventually, I caved and installed Linux.
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Where Windows 11 showed the Orion to be capable, Ubuntu 24.04 made it come alive to the point where I thought, “Yeah, I can see using this machine as my daily driver.
I’ve also become a fan of AMD CPUs. My first Ryzen was with my current System76 Thelio, and I’ve found Linux performs remarkably well with the hardware, and the Orion is no different. Would I replace my Thelio with an Orion? No. However, when I purchased my latest Thelio, I had to drop nearly $2,000 for it. The Orion, on the other hand, sells for $649 from the official Herk site. If money were an issue, I’d seriously consider the Orion as a viable contender for my desktop.
The Herk Orion mini PC is almost silent. Yes, there is a fan in the machine, but it’s as quiet a PC fan as I’ve ever (or haven’t) heard. In a silent room, you can hear it, but with even a little background noise, the sound of the fan fades away.
Ports a plenty
I’m not saying that the Orion has all the ports I need, but given the system’s size, what’s included is impressive. The only thing that surprises me is the lack of a DisplayPort option. But with dual HDMI ports, you shouldn’t have any problem setting up a dual-monitor workstation.
One last pitch for Linux: Consider purchasing an Orion with Linux pre-installed so you can get the most out of that Ryzen CPU. Linux not for you? The Windows version still makes for a snappy little machine. I’ve enjoyed my time with the Herk Orion and found it to be one of the best tiny form factor PCs I’ve used to date.