AOpen's Pentium M-based XC Cube Mini MZ855-II

Half the size of its last iteration, AOpen's XC Cube Mini MZ855-II is a small form factor desktop weighing in at 4 pounds, measuring 7.75 x 4.25 x 12.75 inches. They scored desktop power in a small case by endowing it with the Pentium M processor normally found in notebooks (less power consumption, less fans, less bulk). AOpen will be putting out fully-configured consumer models, but will also offer a bare bones version for the user who wants to build their own — that'll come in at $449. There's also the option to add an "expander" module that stacks on top of the Cube Mini's case, and can be configured in a number of ways to include hard drives, CD/DVD drives, power supply, cooling equipment, or audio amplifier and/or speakers.

[wim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Now that's good thinking, I wonder if they are going to team up with third party vendors for the audio amplifier part, or are they initiating this themselves? I would like to see a stackable modular media center format.
(The mac mini is already getting more "mini styled" hubs, which is a step in the right direction

[ajprice @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Since when has 7.75 x 4.25 x 12.75 inches been cubic???? Hello? McFly???

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Hmm. "Cube Mini". All that innovation on the hardware side and then they can't name it except by stringing together Apple computer names?

How about the aoMach next? The AO Mini G6? The AO Performa (hell, and Mac user would let them have that name for free!).

[yelohbird @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Looks strangely familiar in form factor to some other recent system, but I just can't put my finger to it. The name seems to ring a bell, too.

Can anyone help me figure out what it is???

[cog_nate @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

yelohbird-

I believe you are thinking of Apple Computer, Inc.'s "Mac mini". It has a profile somewhat similar to the AOpen XC Cube Mini MZ855-II, but was released earlier this year to quite a bit of fanfare. If you visit the Apple Computer website, you will see that the Apple and AOpen computers are quite similar in appearance. I hope this helps.

-Nate

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Nate, I sincerely hope your post was in sarcasm.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

"Looks strangely familiar in form factor to some other recent system, but I just can't put my finger to it."

Yeah, because SFF PC's never existed before the Mac Mini, right?

Even Apple made one before the Mini (the Cube). But SFF PC's were around even before that, and they looked pretty much exactly like this Aopen model. Visit Shuttle's web site for a bunch more examples - almost everything they have was released way before the Mac Mini.

[Eric the half-bee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Every time I see a product reviewed I wonder just how
many comments are nothing more than someone whining how it's color is
just like the Ipod, or it's shaped just like a Imac, or the interface
works just like Quicktime. Blah blah blah. Give it a rest already.

What shape would be acceptable for a small computer? If it was a
monitor and keyboard, then it looks like an Imac (hello, TRS-80 Model III
anyone?), if it's small an cubic then it's the iCube, now, if it's a
flattened cube, it looks EXACTLY like a Mac Mini... Nevermind that Mac
have had the same form factor as PCs for years. So what? Should they
make them jelly donut shaped? How about cocker-spaniel shaped?

[sunz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this ... $449 .. no cpu .. no hard drive .. no memory .. I own a work-horse of a pc that sounds like a refrigerator .. so by no means a mac fan or even intel fan .. but dayamn .. i have to say .. Apple is gracioius enough to give all the missing parts for a mere $50 more ... any thoughts?

[Jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

"I'm surprised no one has mentioned this ... $449 .. no cpu .. no hard drive .. no memory .. I own a work-horse of a pc that sounds like a refrigerator .. so by no means a mac fan or even intel fan .. but dayamn .. i have to say .. Apple is gracioius enough to give all the missing parts for a mere $50 more ... any thoughts?"

Yeah. A 1.7Ghz Pentium M will blow the blooming doors off the Mac Mini (which is essentially just an email/websurfing device). Sure, for $50 you get the mini's other components. But forget about using it as a mulitmedia hub, media center PC for TV time-shifting, or anything requiring any kind of computing power. This AOpen could be answer to my surveying-the-inevitable-post-Tivo-world prayers. Small, quiet, low-power, multiformat, with room for tons of storage. Can I get a HDMI-out?

Note: not a Mac slam. The mini is a great product. But its performance is dreadful compared to just about all other Macs, too.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Its too bad that for that price they decided to skimp on the specs. Instead of using an outdated 855GME chipset motherboard why didn't they include their new sweet 915G board? Firewire, Dual Gigabit NIC, Component Video Out, DDR2 533, SATA2, HD Audio, S/PDIF, etc.

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813137061

[Enzo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:20AM]

Aopen isn't the only one to do this... my favorite SFF company, SOLDAM http://www3.soldam.co.jp/barestyle/index.html
Also uses P-M for their small form factor PCs. (my favorite is the alphia)

Don't P-Ms require an mini-ITX board? And doesn't
mini-ATX more powerful/have more features than mini-ITX?