AOpen's miniPC will ship this month

By Thomas Ricker

AOpen is talking some serious smack when they
blowhard about their Mac mini
knockoff, the MiniPC, being a "perfect example of AOpen's innovation." Hell, not only does it share the same name
and 6.5-inch square dimensions as the other mini, it also sports the same rear-mounted 2 x USB and 1 x FireWire
ports, built-in Ethernet, DVI connection, and optional 802.11b/g and Bluetooth modules (for the same $499 price
tag when configured with XP, no less). But if we just get past the
design-copping for a second, we'll find a $399
configuration which flaunts Linux-based Linspire and a whole suite of desktop and internet apps preloaded onto the
MiniPC. Oddly (or intentionally?) the RAM and HDD capacities are missing from the press release; yet considering
AOpen can also fit in what they call the "the latest" Pentium M (2.26 GHz?), DVD burner and additional S-Video,
component, and composite connectors for connectivity to your home entertainment system, we're feeling ok about it.
Well, we'll see if this is truly an on-the-cheap Linux media dream-center soon enough as AOpen claims they'll
start shipping the miniPC this month in the US.

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