[ertman]

NUC is a model from a brand [Intel] It's not clever marketing.

A NUC alternative would be one that is similar in size [these aren't] running similar specs and cost less.

If you called them a mini HTPC you'd be spot on. But there are many mini HTPCs. Fully customisable or prebuilt. A NUC is a simple and effective mini PC that can be an HTPC too. You'll find most might start with a NUC. Then want to leave the "walled garden" and build their own. NUC users aren't in the dark ages. NUCs aren't exactly cheap once fully built. But they're more than capable. It's down to the end user. If a NUC is too expensive. People will look elsewhere. To say NUC users are stuck in the dark ages is narrow minded. I've had the mk1 847, played with a mk2 i3 and currently have the 2820. For their abilities and size. They're spot on. The new fanless one is my next view!

A wii isn't an alternative to an Xbox. Can you play GTA on wii? Just as my van isn't an alternative to a Ferrari!

Broadly speaking your examples are alternatives, even the van and Ferrari, and the Wii is a specific (gaming) alternative to the Xbox, and so is a PC, you are just restricted by content, but you can still play and enjoy gaming.

So broadly speaking and for all intents and purposes as we are on xbmc.org, any system capable of running xbmc is an alternative. Bay-Trail can be a specific alternative to a NUC, if you have a very small case then it is reasonable to call it an alternative, with the caveat that it is indeed larger than a NUC. A bay trail in a full-size case would not be an alternative.

Price has little to do with being an alternative, unless that is one of your main criteria. For example, there could be a more/less expensive alternatives to the NUC with a similar size.

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Broadly speaking, sure. But I'm not broadly speaking. You are.

If I was specifically looking for a NUC alternative for XBMC. Then as you said. A Zotac would be near it. :

Same goes if I specifically wanted to play GTA, CoD or even Batman. I'd choose Xbox or Playstation. The Wii isn't an alternative.

But broadly speaking. They can all play games. But I'm not broadly speaking.

My van isn't red, nor has 100's of horses or leather interior. If I was looking specifically to buy a supercar. I wouldn't be looking in van trader. But broadly speaking. [which I'm not, remember] I'd have more room in the back and better MPG!

We all understand where the OP comes from. If anything it should be "NUC inspired" not "NUC alternative".

You are missing my point of an alternative, and inappropriately applying analogies that are muddying the point. There are many possible criteria for determining an alternative. Based on what you have presented, size is the sticking point that you have for why a bay-trail or any mini-itx solution can't be considered an alternative to a nuc. If both platforms offer products capable of running xbmc and content, then it is not capabilities.

At what size do you no longer consider it an alternative? Not the same size or smaller? Is a gigabyte brix pro an alternative? It is taller. What advantages or benefits does 4x4 inches provide over an 8x8 (or less) solution? I understand that a small system is preferable, but any capable itx system in a very compact case can provide the service as a nuc, where the size does not offer any appreciable benefits. Is size purely arbitrary in determining alternatives?

I do understand the points you have previously made and I concede that the nuc is an excellent choice for people in their own particular scenario, and that are not similarly sized, I just don't see how a mini-itx cannot be an alternative to a nuc. For example, to me the gigabyte brix is a similarly sized alternative, and the mini-itx is a larger but still compact (given a compact case) alternative.