AOpen Mini PC reviewed

by Marc Perton posted Dec 22nd 2005 at 10:45AM

Want to get your mitts on an AOpen Mini PC (aka the Mac mini knockoff that Apple's lawyers are ignoring since it's based on a reference design by Apple's new buds at Intel)? You may want to check out the Reg's review of the diminutive desktop first. According to the review, despite the Mini being "a really cool-looking little machine" that "oozes quality," its limitations will become apparent to anyone who tries to use it for more than basic computing tasks. The machine's integrated graphics core limited its ability to work as a gaming or video box (despite the fact that the review unit came with Windows MCE installed), and the machine proved to be somewhat noisy, due to the cooling needs of its 2GHz Pentium M CPU. At a UK price of £699 ($1,200), it doesn't sound like this is going to be flying off of shelves any time soon. Anyone who really needs to save space can probably get a similarly equipped laptop for the same price, while anyone who doesn't will be able to find a much more robust machine for less.

Filed under: Desktops

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

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popeye @ Dec 22nd 2005 1:26PM

"oozes quality..." wow can I get a hit of what they're smokin'?

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Bryan @ Dec 22nd 2005 1:31PM

CappuccinoPC.com has fanless mini computers like the SlimPRO series. I have a G4 Cube myself.

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hmurchison @ Dec 22nd 2005 1:41PM

Yeah....Apple computers are expensive

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Ian @ Dec 22nd 2005 2:13PM

Intel integrated graphics suck but MCE system builds keep on using it becuase it's cheap and intel pimps it hard. The deinterlacing and scaling engines on the Intel GPU cores is 1990s technology.

Can't wait for CES and Apple to announce they have invented the HTPC (along with sex, the internet and the wheel) and watch all of Job's fan-boys nod their heads in unison.

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Michael @ Dec 22nd 2005 3:12PM

Why do people always say these are Mac Mini ripoffs, when in fact it's Apple that stole the design? Companies like Soldam have been making cases like these for years, we just don't see them in the west.

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totalundone @ Dec 22nd 2005 5:08PM

I think it's bad hardware design. A 1.6ghz centrino would have been sufficient and not have as many cooling issues. While the integrated intel video isn't great, it's capable. My 700m plays 720p content just fine (whereas my Geforce 6800 AGP does not) and plays wolfenstein et fine at 1024x768. Not great but ok, especially for when heating might be an issue.

But I don't think that any of that really kills this system. 1,200$ does. Especially with the next macs using dual centrinos.

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x23 @ Dec 22nd 2005 8:16PM

i went to the Soldam site and i didn't see anything even vaguely resembling the Mini. one was sort of like it... except twice as deep and at least twice as tall... and it's "Coming Soon!"

do you have some additional links for me to peruse?

as far as i can tell Soldam doesn't sell complete machines either. it's like saying the people that put Mini-ITX boards in a NES are just ripping off Nintendo since Nintendos were always in Ninetendo cases to begin with. a case doesn't equal a computer.

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