PenguinCoder

I use Mikrotik networking gear. I love the capabilities, just wish RouterOS was a bit easier to administer.

I echo the other commenters, a NUC is a great beginner system for homelab; if all you want or need is minimal resources. For learning enterprise management or workloads, I’d say you need a full fledged server. There is nothing in common with a NUC and a Poweredge, for example. What is your homelab for you? A few VMs and one disk system attached to a COTS NAS? NUC will be fine. Wanting to learn to manage a Server with full on RAID, hot swap drives and 64G ram? You’re gonna want a server.

More than a few, but here’s a few I’d recommend in that price range (NOTE: Not beginner friendly)

Mikrotik Router only, no AP - $95

Smaller MT with less ports, no AP - $50

Router with Wireless AP, above $100 - $150

I still use vim to this day. Mainly cause I can’t figure out how to quit…