AOpen box inspired by Mac Mini

It might look like a Mac Mini, but this one has Intel inside.

Taiwanese computer maker AOpen is scheduled to release two versions of its Pandora desktop just in time for the holiday shopping season, the company said Thursday. The company said Apple Computer's Mac Mini inspired its latest desktop PC. Pandora is one of several 2-inch-tall computers being sold as home entertainment PCs.

A Linux-based version of the mini tower is expected to retail for $399, while the Windows XP-based box will go for $499, the company said. Both are expected to be sold in the United States through an AOpen reseller.

The squarish metallic box, part of AOpen's XC Cube product line, is based on a prototype of the miniature desktop computer shown at the Computex trade show in May.

The Pandora device has a slot-load CD drive and a power button in the front, along with three USB ports, a keyboard hookup and a serial port in the back. The computer also has internal wireless networking connectors.

The Pandora's motherboards are based on Intel's latest Pentium D processors with 945G and 945P chipsets.

Although mini PCs have primarily caught on at business call centers and among enthusiasts who build their own machines, buyers have opened their wallets for small desktops from companies such as Shuttle Computer, which has an upcoming P2600 dual-core AMD Athlon box. Littlepc.com sells its Pentium 4-powered LPC-401X for $1,095.

Big-name PC makers such as HP have so far had little success with small desktops such as the e-PC, which sold in 2000 for $659, but Apple is creating enough buzz with its $499 box that it's starting to spark new interest among consumers.

The Mac Mini is a budget version of the Macintosh that debuted in January. The product, which does not come with a keyboard, mouse or monitor, was hailed at the time as the company's big foray into mass market desktop computers after focusing exclusively on luxury goods.

Almost immediately, Mac Mini knock-offs started appearing around the world, including a concept PC revealed by Intel at its Intel Developers Forum back in March.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Why buy this when you can get a laptop for $500?!

You can today get a laptop for $500 from Dell (and some other mfrs) sometimes without any discounts also. Why would one buy a Pandora's box when for the same $500 you are getting better mobility, battery backup, better CPU, built in keyboard/mouse and screen etc? And you can always hookup a monitor/keyboard/mouse to the laptop and use it as a desktop if you really need to. $500 is too much for such a box. Okay the $400 Linux option might fly but most users would want Windows, plus $400 is still expensive considering what all it lacks compared to a $500 laptop. $300-350 might be the correct price point for such a device. AOpen is just ripping off people charging so much for an attractive case. I'm sure someone could sell it for much lesser.

[Dachi]

Partial answer

If the people looking at this thing were really just looking for a laptop and didn't know it they could hunt down your quality "$500 laptop".

This PC, at least for me, would be a great replacement for my secondary (crash) PC.

I have a second PC on my KVM switch that usually runs some flavor of Linux.

It is getting pretty dated and what I _really_ want to do is replace it with a dual boot OSX/Linux x86 iMac Mini.

If the specs are right for this box from AOpen I might just pick one up.

[ddesy]

You miss the point...

As the article says, this is meant to be a home entertainment PC. Why would you want a laptop (especially a $500 Dell when Dell laptops are notorious for having so many problems...) for something like your home theater? You wouldn't, of course, because you aren't going to want a little laptop display for your videos. The laptop would also be wider and deeper, taking up more space.

AOpen tends to make some pretty decent quality stuff. In my experience, their equipment is better quality than anything from Dell.

Either way, the sad fact is, though, that this AOpen is a rip-off of the Apple Mac mini which is actually a very nice quiet computer that can be used for many different purposes. I guess some people need a non OS X equivalent.

Cant companies come up with something on their own.

I am tired of this, "apple just came out with something, lets rip it
off because we can not think of anything new." And by the way we
still will not be able to sell it because ours just looks like a mac but
does not work like one.

[wazzledoozle]

Um

People have been making PC's better than the Mac Mini for years, and years ago otehr companies have tried (Usually vertical tiny towers)

It just happens Apple made the Mini when making somethign so small could pack enough punch for the price (Though the Mac Mini base model is woefully underpowered)

[ProjectGSX]

Of course.

Sure, they can. But its not necessary. We dont need an entire industry full of innovators. If everyone was focused on new designs, there would be no one to bring low cost alternatives to market.

Its great that Apple is making these wonderful designs. And, just like all new and innovative products, people are bound to copy it.

MAC MINI USER

all of u can read my mind. . . .. . . . . . . . .

[Nathan Lunn]

WOW

It's really quiet in here.

[Llib Setag]

Prepare for the wrath of Apple Lawyers

This will never reach a big audience after Apple sues AHO out of
business.
Did Apple invent the Mini-Micro-Box Computer? NO
Apple has never claimed they did either.

But to make the form factor extremely similar to Apple's Mac
Mini is a deliberate attempt to cash in on Apple I.D. to make
some quick cash over the holiday season.
RIP OFF!
R.I.P. AOpen...

(P.S. 2006 will mark the new INTEL based Mac Mini from Apple
that will run Mac OSX + Windows on one small box @ $500-700)
Use your existing PC monitor, keyboard, mouse...)

[Llib Setag]

Mac Mini Facts vs. AHO's Pathetic Crap Box

www.apple.com/macmini

Plagiarism is the sincerest form of insecurity.

great product!

this will be my next linux box... but i smell a jobs lawsuit in here...

Intel Macs

Llib Setag wrote:
"(P.S. 2006 will mark the new INTEL based Mac Mini from Apple
that will run Mac OSX + Windows on one small box @ $500-700)
Use your existing PC monitor, keyboard, mouse...)"

Look further into this if it catches your eye. Probably the first
Intel Macs are going to be high end laptops, not the Mini. And
they are not planned for running windos.

Mark