So do what you are comfortable with.
I for example use Odroid XU4, but not for HA but for Domoticz .
This is supposed to run 24/7, so my priority is power consumption.
You install the system once, and it runs all the time .
The rest via remote access, Putty/VNC....
Maybe some thin client will pull. A laptop, on the other hand, is a potential battery problem. And it will work 24/7 like an air filter, which even in a clean house will clog up at some point.
What is the best way to operate a home assistant laptop mini PC. Netbook?
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Badly asked question and not clear what you mean.
When you write "support" do you mean connecting HA on another machine or do you want to install HA on it?
If the former then a laptop, and if the latter then it's the power consumption that matters most. So it's best to put HA on energy-efficient yet powerful computers.
If the target was to be HA alone, then rpi3 or rpi4 is the most economical. Many people also rely on e.g. the Dell Wyse, HP Thin 520, Intel NUC etc. I myself have an Intel NUC which is quite old with a dual-core processor and 8GB RAM. In addition I have besides a lot of other services like Plex, NodRed, Influxdb, mariadb, Domoticz, HA, Mosquitto, SMB server, a second drive on USB and the continuous power drawn is 20W.
The CPU is running like this at about 50% so it still has a spare.
I was still thinking about a Mac mini 2014 but probably a bit too old better to buy something newer. RPI is not worth buying Sonnics Mini PC 8GB RAM 120GB SSD Windows 10 Pro Celeron J3455 Processor Mini Computer Desktop Dual HDMI Output, Support 4K, 2.4G / 5.0G WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet better performance than RPI and similar price.
The discussion centers around the best hardware options for running a home assistant, comparing laptops, mini PCs, and netbooks. Key considerations include power consumption, installation requirements, and performance. Laptops are noted for their ease of use during setup but may face battery issues when running continuously. Mini PCs like the Odroid XU4 and Intel NUC are recommended for their energy efficiency and capability to run multiple services. Raspberry Pi models (RPI3 and RPI4) are highlighted as economical choices for dedicated home assistant setups. Other options mentioned include Dell Wyse and HP Thin clients. The importance of having sufficient RAM (8GB) and a capable processor is emphasized for optimal performance. Summary generated by the language model.