AOpen opens the door to Core 2 Duo miniPCs

AOpen, creator of the Mac mini-mimicking miniPC, is the latest PC manufacturer to announce that it'll be using Intel's notebook version of the Core 2 Duo processor, this time in its ultra small form factor PCs. From now on, the company's MP945-X, -VX, and -VXR PCs, along with a range of Series i975 and i945 motherboards, will all support Core 2 Duo. If you bought one of these products before this announcement and fancy getting in on the Core 2 Duo action, then all you need to do to add support is grab a new BIOS and set of drivers from the official site. UK-based miniPC reseller Evesham has already offered up some shots of a Core 2 Duo T7200 (2GHz, 4MB cache) and Windows MCE '05-equipped model which also has a built-in digital TV tuner, 1GB of RAM, a 100GB 2.5-inch hard drive, along with a bundled remote control. Finally, the DVI port at the back runs off an integrated graphics chip, which isn't much of a surprise considering the machine's diminutive 50 x 165 x 165mm dimensions, although the £799 incl. VAT price tag doesn't make us feel any better about it.

[Via TrustedReviews]

[WilliamBlake @ Aug 30th 2006 2:08PM]

Let's wait for next week announcement by Apple.

New minis on the go, may be merom inside, and cheaper although don't sport TV Tuner, anyway, I'd prefer to attach an external miglia-like peripheral, it integrates perfectly in your living room and brings more capabilities.

[anthony @ Aug 30th 2006 2:21PM]

Actually, PC's will be around forever - not everyone is willing to spend all the extra money it takes to be able to smuggly say, "Yeah, I run iTunes on my Mac, and I editted my family reunion video with iMovie. That is software for my Mac."
Seriously, no one cares that you have a Mac except you and other people who want to be you because your elevated social status as a Mac user.
Additionally, the only difference between a Mac and a PC at this point (besides pricing) is the OS that comes pre-installed on the machine.
I will grant you that Apple computers often "look nicer" than their PC counterparts, but using that to measure the viability of a computer is like telling me Ricky Martin's music is better than Bob Dylan's - because Ricky is so sexy when he shakes his bon-bon.
One note - I don't hate Macs and would at least consider one in making a future computer purchases, but I am confident I would find a PC with better specs for less money.

[tupper @ Aug 30th 2006 2:22PM]

Hey kids ^,

hate much?

I guess I would be angry too, if I was going back to school next week.

As for the article, nice of Aopen to be upfront regarding the price and the name 'sham' on the case.

[Reg @ Aug 30th 2006 2:22PM]

Please tell me you all are joking. I love macs, don't get me wrong, but something like this would be perfect for my in car computer. A mac mini with bootcamp would be nice but powering minis can be fairly tricky with a dc connection. Also a majority of the software written for car computers, and a majority of 3rd party peripherals are for Windows. So please don't tell me this isn't news. I also happen to think this is more attractive then a Mac Mini, and as of now it has a better processor.

[anthony @ Aug 30th 2006 2:26PM]

HELLOOOOOOO, WINDOWS PCS ARE FOR 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES NOW???

- This post just goes to show how Mac users feel some sort of superiority over other people because they have iLife.

[tupper @ Aug 30th 2006 2:27PM]

Nevermind the 'hey kids' remark, seems those kids are already deleted.

[bloodnok @ Aug 30th 2006 2:55PM]

the link you provided to the aopen website is a fabulous gateway into the world of badly-translated marketing gibberish, especially "The compare between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo" (http://club.aopen.com.tw/news/News_ShowAnswer.aspx?RecNo=9368). most amusing ...

[WilliamBlake @ Aug 30th 2006 2:57PM]

U understand nothing people !!!!

If the computer has to stay in my living room, dear Anthony, I think a cool look is a must. A living room internet surfing solution that doesn't show antivirus emerging windows again and again its nice too, I'm not sure microsoft will never give me this, at last, not today, not tomorrow.

Some say it's all about the OS, well, OS X runs on Mac, not PCs, so, then I prefer a mac.
Those who deny OS X superiority are just ignorants, they should try it, maybe then they'll see this PC-Mac war not as a war or a superiority game but a will that everybody could use a better platform than Windows. At least, microsoft is insisting that they have a great product with state of the art technology, they do the same as Apple (or should we say Apple users '), but indeed, is Apple who has this great OS and great integrated tools, not Windows.

Where is wPhoto ? Where is wTunes ?, Where is wMovie ?

Sure there is a lot of good (or great) Windows solutions for everyone of this needs, but not by MS, not created as a whole computer experience concept, not cheap at all, and

why I want to choose between 30 editing video solutions if I can choose between the 5 better ones in the market, I use my time for editing video (or photos or DVD), but not for choosing betweena bunch of similar programs that are not really sharing a feel and look betwwen them and the OS.

So, you can think it's all about childish competition and stay there, waiting for your weekly security update (even if that update should have arrived 9 months ago), or you can try a mac, if you like computers, stay with PCs, if you like a computer experience, do the step.

And, if I am wrong, why Microsoft is copying 2003 version of OS X in their "new" coming Vista ?

[Wonderboy @ Aug 30th 2006 3:27PM]

The clincher for me is the available 5.1 surround... If I'm using this as an HTPC, that's a must-have. The MacMini only has stereo-out, so unless they upgrade by the time I'm ready to buy I'll be getting another PC... if apple happens to have upgraded, I just might have to give a mac a try...

[trev @ Aug 30th 2006 3:33PM]

WilliamBlake: "Where is wPhoto ? Where is wTunes ?, Where is wMovie ?"


Windows already has media player and movie maker out of the box.

Im indifferent to windows or osx, Ill happily use both. However this iEverything approach is getting annoying. Why should every program look the same? I like the fact that different programs look different! Ide prefer it software not to have the appearence of a monoculture.

"why I want to choose between 30 editing video solutions if I can choose between the 5 better ones in the market"

So what you are implying is that the 5 better ones on the market are simply better because they are on a mac? Rubbish. As is saying that its a handicap to have a wide selection of software (which we can pic and choose from to get the program that suits our needs).

[macboi @ Aug 30th 2006 3:38PM]

@ WilliamBlake

You, are a retard.

I am now dumberer from reading whatever hell the just you wrote ...

you thank.

PS:
wmovie = Windows Movie Maker
wTunes = Winamp, MusicMatch, etc.
wPhoto = ... i dunno, you're post ate my brain.

[Eli @ Aug 30th 2006 3:55PM]

I could've said "Fanboys, ready your catapults" but I'm too late... People, here's the resolution. Macs are better, but way overpriced. There you go. Windows has apps that can do most of what iLife can (no Garageband) built in, but they're not as good. However, I could make the same movie on a $300 Dell as on a $600 Mini, and the Dell would do it faster. I'm a Mac fanboy, but I don't say that they're worth the price. I agree with Consumer Reports. They say that the Macs are the best, but they dont' get the "Best Buy" ranking.

[WilliamBlake @ Aug 30th 2006 4:16PM]

to macboi retard,

read again as you're at least as retarded as I am.

Winamp it's a great soft, no doubt about it, but AFAIK it isn''t bundled with the OS, neither is a MS software that's what about we're talkin.

And for those who claim about the price... do the numbers again, please !!!

Aopen isn't cheaper for the same specs, even if we add a miglia TVMax to add the TVtuning feature to the Mini.

Then, buy this funny software called ANTIVIRUS, a decent movie editor, I said decent, I'll let you install iTunes and Google's picassa, so you'll get something for free and pray for keepin' all right and for your ANTIVIRUS to keep tight your credit card numbers.

Ready to do the numbers ???

I'm use of both mac and PC, and I dare to say I'm an advanced user, so experience and time has led me to get closer to the mac side, I like to spend money on my hardare, but not give my time to Bill Gates, nor you, so this is my last comment on this subject.

[trev @ Aug 30th 2006 4:21PM]

Eli:

"Windows has apps that can do most of what iLife can (no Garageband) built in, but they're not as good"

Thats very subjective indeed! People could give you a string of reasons why they dislike itunes and prefer to use winamp, and vice versa.

Ok Im out of this discussion, too much deja vu!

[mike503 @ Aug 30th 2006 4:25PM]

it'd be nice if it supported more memory. at least 2 gigs would be nice. the new core2-based shuttle SFF supports up to 8 gigs! i'd prefer more RAM over built-in wifi any day.

[Raider @ Aug 30th 2006 5:06PM]

Even though this doesn't look that much like a Mac mini. What ramifications will the Mac mini design patent, that was granted to Apple not that long ago, have on other PCs that share same dimensions and design...

Also.. take into consideration that this thing costs about 60% more, though this doesn't include a TV tuner.. than the Mac mini...( if Apple does indeed release a Core 2 Duo Mac mini )... you can see which is a better deal.

BTW, what is up with everyone's spelling today?

[otakucode @ Aug 30th 2006 6:57PM]

Of course this is expensive. If you use cheaper components, a smaller case, and you cut features, you get to add a multiplier to the price, it's kind of like a combo in a videogame. Sure, every single chip in this, even the motherboard itself, is mass produced and available in MUCH cheaper larger models, and the engineering (which I'm sure someone will pipe up about as they always do) was made almost irrelevant by Intels new cooler and less power-hungry chips... but they can charge more and kill their market, so why not? Take a look at subnotebooks where the price differential is even bigger with even less reason (half size LCDs are much cheaper).

I'd love to have one of these solely for the fact that it uses a SLOT LOAD DVD drive like every single HTPC worth its salt should... but I'll wait until I can just pick up one of these cases, put everything together myself, and get it for half price.

[Travis @ Aug 31st 2006 8:15AM]

Looks like an decent comptuer, but at current prices its $1500, thats a lot of money, for the price I would take a Mac mini and save some money

[Bob @ Aug 31st 2006 2:17PM]

Hey Wonderboy, the Mac Mini does support 5.1 since the change to intel. Go check it out.