MiniPC
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The Mini koobox: AOpen's MiniPC in disguise
What do you do when you're a maker of just another mini PC? Relaunch under a new name of course. Calling itself the "first small form-factor Linux machine on the market" (which isn't even remotely true) the Linspire Mini Koobox is just the AOpen MiniPC running Linspire's flavor of Linux, all bundled up and shoved out the door of Mirus Innovations. Unfortunately, this ain't the Core Duo MiniPC CNET was so impressed with, this dog brings a 1.5GHz CeleronM 370 proc, 256MB DDR2 RAM, a 40GB, 5400RPM disk, slot loading DVD combo drive, and the usual suite of USB 2.0, Firewire, and media-outs. In fact, this is nearly the same box AOpen was touting last year only this time without the Mac mini, ehem, inspired dress. Priced at $400, they throw in speakers, a mouse, and keyboard this time and maybe even a little whine.[Via PRNewswire]
MiniPC's ED612E silent, mini-ish PC
Yeah, it's not as mini as those other minis, but if you're looking for that sweet sound of silence then the ET6512E from MiniPC might just be the way to go. Featuring a cool runnin' 1.2GHz VIA Eden proc, this fanless mini measures in at a medium 8.03 x 7.4 x 2.79-inches and 4.4-pounds. The specs don't make much noise either with 256MB (1GB max) DDR2 memory, a 40GB SATA disk, VIA CN700 graphics chipset, 4 x USB 2.0, Firewire, S/PDIF/composite video out, and even a couple of PS/2 jacks to get old-school. Still up for it? Ok, then prepare to fork-over the ¥78,750 or about $679 green when the ED612E drops later this month in Japan.[Via Impress]
AOpen MiniPC Duo MP945-V reviewed
CNET put AOpen's MiniPC Duo MP945-V through their usual tough testing regimen and came away mightily impressed, saying it's "the clone that comes closest to the nearly flawless Mac Mini." They especially dug the speedy Core Duo processor, multiple video output options, and the fact that it's not much bigger than a Mini. On the downside, at $899 it's more expensive than a Mini, it only has two USB ports, doesn't have a remote control, and doesn't include much bundled software. They also list the fact that it's bring your own keyboard, mouse and monitor as a negative, although that apparently isn't a problem for the "nearly flawless" Mac Mini. Go fig.
Next-gen AOpen MiniPC unveiled
It seems that the engineers over at PC manufacturer AOpen have been studiously reading the reviews of the first generation of their Mac mini ripoff homage, the miniPC, as the latest version is promising to eliminate the loud whine that made its predecessor almost unusable. The company has just formally announced the Core Duo-powered version of what is now called the MiniPC (with the capital "M" presumably meant to further differentiate the box from its Apple counterpart), which is essentially the same machine that was being shown off at CeBIT 2006, except with a black case that makes it look less like an external DVD burner. Besides Yonah CPU support and a slight bump in RAM speed, the MiniPC model MP945-VXR sports nearly identical specs to the MP-915 (version one), although you do get a built-in mic and the Media Center Edition version of Windows XP. The price this time around, however, is decidedly less "mini," with AOpen claiming a MSRP of $955 -- compared to only $500 for the 915 -- whenever the new model hits stores.[Via Reg Hardware]
