DosPara's Super Mini 2 -- take that, Apple

Many have tried, but few have conquered the Mac mini when it comes to keeping slim and looking fit. Lucky for us -- or at least our Japanese friends -- DosPara seems to have managed both feats, and they even tossed in some Core 2 Duo action in there, just to show off. We couldn't really ask for much better specs on this little 1.7-inch thick dynamo. Beyond the 1.66GHz T5500 C2D processor, the box runs a dual-layer DVD burner, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, a 4-in-1 card reader, DVI and S-Video outs, and a TV tuner on the WMCE version. The 512MB of ram and 80GB HDD aren't quite as exciting, but we'll live. Unfortunately, the price isn't so hot, at 122,580 Yen ($1,043 US) for the base version and 139,980 Yen ($1,191 US) for the WMCE unit. Still, we like what we see, and we think we'll have to wish Apple and AOpen better luck next time.

[Via Akihabara]

[Callum @ Sep 16th 2006 5:53AM]

'couldn't ask more'.... i could; does it run OS X - i don't mean the hacked mess of a project that is OSx86. so does it run OS X?

Does the Mac Mini run Windows? Does it run OS X? Yup, no messing around. Windows disk in and 'boom'.

Sorry to brag, but i've just had the oppertunity to try this and it Worked.

[Z @ Sep 16th 2006 6:31AM]

not very pretty, not very ugly neither...

[Harry @ Sep 16th 2006 7:03AM]

hm..... stuck most necessary. A price is accessible

[treetrunk @ Sep 16th 2006 7:05AM]

@Callum:

OSx86 is far from a "hacked mess of a project"- if you've got the right hardware it runs absolutely natively. Not terribly surprising when Macs use ordinary PC hardware these days. I've done it myself and everything worked fine, but unfortunately I couldn't put up with the OS functionally - I'm too used to having a proper taskbar, being able to maximise a window properly, and being able to click by tapping the touchpad on my laptop.

So, sorry to brag, but I've just had the opportunity to try this and it worked - but I didn't like it.

[Henry @ Sep 19th 2006 6:42PM]

You can totally click pressing on the touchpad. My brother had it on his laptop, and it bugged the crap out of me.

[chris stevens @ Sep 16th 2006 7:21AM]

i personally don't care if it runs xeons, has a billion gig of ram and makes me a cup of tea in the morning, if it doesn't run OS X then it is a complete waste of time.

[fuzz @ Sep 16th 2006 7:26AM]

For that .3 inch trimming of mac mini height it gains a lot of waist size; 2.4 inches longer and .2 inches wider. But, surprisingly the mac mini and this have the same 1.3 kg weight.

[ehattey @ Sep 16th 2006 8:22AM]

Thats great and all, though i think it is all apples and oranges when you start looking at the price points.

[Jarod @ Sep 16th 2006 8:27AM]

Looks like a PEECEE
Smells like a PEECEE
Runs Microcrap Winshit

Result = no where near Apple.

This overpriced thing should stay with its maker.

[Jeff Lewis @ Sep 16th 2006 9:14AM]

So... if Intel Macs are better than other Intel based PCs because they can run Windows AND MacOS X... doesn't that mean that Windows is a better OS because it can run on both Intel Macs and all other Intel PCs while MacOS X only runs on Macs?

Can't have it BOTH ways, guys. :)

[LukeA @ Sep 16th 2006 9:37AM]

@Jeff Lewis

Your logic is like a one-bladed propeller.

[Jerry @ Sep 16th 2006 9:42AM]

For that kind of money I bet Apple would have done a MUCH better Job.
Take that, Paul Miller

[Boolean @ Sep 16th 2006 10:53AM]

There's a lot of punch on the Jeff Lewis comment. Also, I too tried the OSx86, altho it was long time ago, then again, Windows is freaking everywhere, and it will continue to be for a long run. Put simply, Apple doesn't want a monopoly (tho is what they do with OSX) of PCs (yes the Macs are PeeCees too, get over it) and it will never make enough units to populate the PC world, so only fanbois get the stupid idea that Apple will rule someday. It's not in Jobs' plans, period. They couldn't afford to give support to anything else than its niche market.
I guess it's time to return to basics: beefy stuff. The Macs are spec-juicy, yeah, but you can't configure a Mac to have the same specs than a MIDDLE-RANGE PC (which of course you'll be able to UPDATE later) and still have a good pricepoint.
That said, I'm waiting for a display-less, upgradeable-graphics, high-storage capacity, Core 2 Duo, mid-end Mac. Something like a Mac Pro, but less-Pro. And the iMac just can't gimme that.
Maybe when ATi drops an external Graphics Unit, we'll see what we can do then.
BTW the pricepoint of a Mac in Argentina (and pretty much all latinamerica) is as much as buying a server-class computer. Take that, freakin' stupid priciest, non-appealing Mac Distributors.

[O.I. @ Sep 16th 2006 11:10AM]

Look at the brainwashed Apple Nerds peek their head out of their holes. If you need OSX, get a damn mini and shut up.

[Raider @ Sep 16th 2006 11:26AM]

treetrunk, Apple notebooks have long had the ability to tap the touchpad to make clicks.

If you take away that crap in the middle of the unit, it looks like a shorter Mac Mini. I wonder what those patents granted to Apple for the design of the Mac Mini will have on this unit. That is something I always wonder about these look-a-likes. Especially since Apple has the right to refuse the sales of anything looking like the Mac Mini in the U.S.

[David @ Sep 17th 2006 12:17AM]

wow, I like it. I still think the Mac Mini is better looking and has a better OS, but this thing would awesome as a dual boot machine with xp and Linux on it!!!

Also, this would make a GREAT pc to install in your car with a touchscreen display, like on www.mp3car.com. Again, I'd prefer the mini for that due to iTunes and front row, but damn, I like this little thing! They just need to lower the price some.

And Boolean, I totally hear ya on the midrange mac. I'm currently running an old G3 blue and white tower and I would love to get a new desktop mac, but I dont want an iMac because I have a screen already. I dont need or want to spend so much on a MacPro, and... well, I wouldnt mind a mini, but I want to be able to throw in a few BIG hard drives.

[Abe @ Sep 16th 2006 6:53PM]

christ
whats with all the apple fanboys here??

[John Doe. @ Sep 16th 2006 12:14PM]

Guys stop feeding the blog trolls. Paul Miller must be sitting back and laughing at the posts so far.

[Gamey McGee @ Sep 16th 2006 3:45PM]

Riiight. Look, you can't seriously think this competes with the Mac mini. Where's the OS, bundled software, and form factor? Aside from physical dimensions and the fact that is a computer, it doesn't compare at all.

[Reid Sorenson @ Sep 16th 2006 7:47PM]

Yeah, seriously... talk about flame bait. "Take that, Apple" in the headline, over an article about a mini PC that's not really smaller, not really better spec'd, and a whole lot more expensive than the Mac mini. You must get off on making Apple hooligans snarl.

[free radical @ Sep 16th 2006 8:31PM]

Sharper Image will sell millions of these, especially if they bundle it with an Ionic Breeze air purifier.

[Leonard Nimrod @ Sep 19th 2006 4:19PM]

Whether you prefer OSX or WinXP, the fact remains that this is overall much less computer for a lot more money.

Windows fanboys would be do well to get a Mac Mini and install WinXP (though I seriously can't imagine anyone who has spent a realistic time using OSX to prefer WinXP.

[treetrunk @ Sep 17th 2006 7:10AM]

@Raider:

Really? Quite a few of my friends have Apple notebooks, and tapping to click doesn't work on them either. I also couldn't find such an option anywhere in the settings. Maybe I'm just being slow, but anyway, that was the smallest of my gripes with OSX. I just plain didn't like it. I use an OSX theme on XP anyway, so for me, the "real" OSX was just a less functional version of what I'm used to. I really didn't see what the fuss is about.

[macserv @ Sep 17th 2006 6:49PM]

Between this and the Mac Mini, I wonder which would be in one piece after falling off of an entertaiment center... say, 5 feet.

My money's on the Mini... just look at the optical slot... there must be a paper-thin sheet of metal/plastic between the drive and the outside world.

Miniaturization is great, but durability is important too.

[Deny @ Sep 19th 2006 5:26PM]

hm..... it is stuck most the necessity. A price is accessible. nice, very nice.

www.wintertackle.com

[Dan Warne @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:40PM]

Meh... as soon as Apple showed the industry how to shoehorn an Intel mobo and CPU/cooler into a Mac Mini case, of course it wouldn't be long until the triumphant clones started appearing.