Does anyone else regret their PN53?

[clsmooth]

I'm not sure I'd recommend to others, nor get another MiniPC/NUC for myself.

I like the idea of it, and still do as I've reclaimed a ton of space on my desk, but I don't know if I've just have a bit of a lemon, just how Asus builds them or they're all kinda like this. Don't get me wrong, I've been an Asus fan for close to 20 years now and everything else I have (that they make) is Asus - monitors, routers, laptops, etc, and will continue to do so. So when it was time for a new computer, I like the compact-ness of a MiniPC, and of course had to be Asus. I don't do much on my home computer, really just web browsing and streaming/home entertainment. I'm not a gamer and do enough work on my work computer already. So I don't need a big case with a massive video card or anything like that.

I bought a "patially" built one for less then if I tried to build it myself. It had a processors I liked, small RAM, and a small, fast SSD C: drive. I upgraded the RAM to what I wanted for cheap, and added 2 more SSD's. The specs were the same as my A17 Tuf Gaming laptop (needed the power for a previous job - long story there) that's been nothing but reliable for me. This PN53 is essentialy my laptop, folded up without a keyboard or screen.

Within the first 3 months, the port for one of the SSD's died. It was under warranty, even extended warranty, but I just had everything switched over and setup I didn't want to bother. Of course the SSD in their got fried at the same time and got to spend several hundred dollars recovering my data cause I just finished setting this up and didn't do an initial backup yet... I got a new SSD and an external case, and continued with life. Asus warranty doesn't cover lost data.

A year later, it simply wouldn't boot. Like there wasn't even a C: drive in there. That I sent in under warranty, C: drive got replaced with a new copy of Windows on it (cause it came with Windows preloaded). I left a note in the box to check out that other SSD port. Took 3 weeks, got everything back working (they said that SSD port was fine?), but now there's a USB-A port on the back that only seems to sometimes work? Didn't work when I got it back, plugged something into it a few days ago and working? Ugh...

During this entire time having it as well, I'll randomly have the same chronic issues that correct themselves, over and over again. Every few months I'll loose all monitors, where I need to unplug/plug all of them. It'll also occasionally freeze on loading Windows. I'll need to hold down the power button to shut off, power back on, sometimes several times til it boots again. My PN53 also REALLY doesn't like Windows updates! Not at first anyway. The last 6 months have actually improved it a bit.

And just this past week, it was in a boot loop with a strange USB-C voltage error message. I looked that up and a random reddit post said they had to do something to the front USB-C port when it had to be installed a little loosely and not overly tight. I had just updated my phone with it, so plugged a cable back in, jiggle the port and computer continued booting after. Really, Asus? Really? This thing's marketed on their site as surviving in a factory - shock resistant, dust resitant, surge resistant, things like that. This thing seems to be overly senstive. I try not to move cables around if I don't have to.

I WAS having issues updating the BIOS myself. It said it when through the process but the version was still the same. Asus did update this for me when it was in for that warranty repair. I've been having less frequency of issues since, that may have corrected things. But that latest USB-C voltage error message made my heart sink for a bit there.

I dunno, I paid good money for this thing. I'll probably keep it for as long as I can. I'm not gonna bother trying to sell it, I doubt people are gonna step over each other for it anyway. If I had to do it again, and what I will do next time, it'd probably be a Mini-ATX setup.

Anyone else feel they've had more issues with theirs then they should?