Updated: AOpen MiniPC – Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
by Jarred Walton on March 3, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Price, Availability, and Alternatives
Here's where I get to the only real problems with the MiniPC. I've looked around online, and it's most readily available as a barebones system, at least when checking all of the major search engines. A system like this pretty much demands a pre-configured unit if people are going to take it seriously, or else it will only appeal to a very small segment of the population. Right now, you're looking at $330 for a small case, and you still need to add the CPU, RAM, HDD... you might even need to find an optical drive as well, depending on where you purchase the case. Once you've bought all of those components, you'll be spending around $700 minimum, plus another $100 for Windows XP Home. As configured, our MiniPC would probably sell for closer to $900. Sure, it's more powerful than the old Mac Mini, but with Apple moving to Intel processors, we should hopefully see a Core Duo powered unit that can run OS X as well as Vista in the not-too-distant future. (We're still waiting on Vista, while the Core Duo Mac Mini is now available for $800.)
A bit more searching (and some help from AOpen) did turn up a few locations that allow you to get the MiniPC pre-built, but prices were even higher. If money is no concern, VoodooPC makes their Idol systems using this chassis, and while the price "starts at $900" you're really looking at closer to $1200 with an OS installed and shipping. The only other partner that we could find with configurable MiniPC systems is Jetta (a company I personally am not familiar with). Prices are a bit better there, though you miss out on the paint jobs that VoodooPC offers. You can even get a Mac Mini competitor for $650, although that uses a slower 1.4 GHz Celeron M chip. That's at least reasonably priced, but we're still looking for more choices.
We've mentioned that the expansion options on such a system are very limited. You can add a few devices via USB, but internally, the only changes that can be made involve ditching the current hardware and replacing it with some upgraded component. Larger hard drives are available, and you can also get faster CPUs and a larger DIMM. Since there's only a single DDR2 SO-DIMM slot, we would recommend going straight to a 1GB DIMM. That should be enough for most office tasks. 512MB is enough RAM to keep Windows more or less content, but 1GB helps ensure that you won't need to crack open the case and upgrade the RAM any time soon.
Here's the real problem, though: you have a small box with a decent amount of computing power, and it's nice and portable if you need that. However, there's another type of computer that is similarly equipped that will get the job done equally well in most cases. We're talking about laptops, of course, and you can get a complete laptop with an OS, display, and keyboard all in one device for less than the cost of the MiniPC. The laptop might be larger and a bit slower - especially with all the budget 256MB RAM models - but unless you're really just looking for a very small computer, it's difficult to see the point in purchasing the MiniPC over a similarly priced laptop. $1000 will get you a pretty well-equipped laptop from any of the major OEMs, including truly mobile support courtesy of the battery pack, and an integrated LCD, keyboard, and trackpad.
One last item to mention is that the MP915 reviewed here is the older model, and AOpen should be releasing a Core Duo and Viiv compliant MP945 version in the next few weeks. Whether or not that model addresses any of our concerns remains to be seen. Price will likely be a bit higher as well, though really only the CPU cost should be significantly different. If you're sure that you don't want a dual core CPU, the MP915 will work well, and you might even see them discounted once the new version is released. For most people, we would say that the MP945 has all the good points of the MP915 and adds a bit more power, making it the preferred choice. Viiv support may indicate that it will also have better A/V connectivity, though TV tuners aren't actually required for Viiv, unfortunately.
Here's where I get to the only real problems with the MiniPC. I've looked around online, and it's most readily available as a barebones system, at least when checking all of the major search engines. A system like this pretty much demands a pre-configured unit if people are going to take it seriously, or else it will only appeal to a very small segment of the population. Right now, you're looking at $330 for a small case, and you still need to add the CPU, RAM, HDD... you might even need to find an optical drive as well, depending on where you purchase the case. Once you've bought all of those components, you'll be spending around $700 minimum, plus another $100 for Windows XP Home. As configured, our MiniPC would probably sell for closer to $900. Sure, it's more powerful than the old Mac Mini, but with Apple moving to Intel processors, we should hopefully see a Core Duo powered unit that can run OS X as well as Vista in the not-too-distant future. (We're still waiting on Vista, while the Core Duo Mac Mini is now available for $800.)
A bit more searching (and some help from AOpen) did turn up a few locations that allow you to get the MiniPC pre-built, but prices were even higher. If money is no concern, VoodooPC makes their Idol systems using this chassis, and while the price "starts at $900" you're really looking at closer to $1200 with an OS installed and shipping. The only other partner that we could find with configurable MiniPC systems is Jetta (a company I personally am not familiar with). Prices are a bit better there, though you miss out on the paint jobs that VoodooPC offers. You can even get a Mac Mini competitor for $650, although that uses a slower 1.4 GHz Celeron M chip. That's at least reasonably priced, but we're still looking for more choices.
We've mentioned that the expansion options on such a system are very limited. You can add a few devices via USB, but internally, the only changes that can be made involve ditching the current hardware and replacing it with some upgraded component. Larger hard drives are available, and you can also get faster CPUs and a larger DIMM. Since there's only a single DDR2 SO-DIMM slot, we would recommend going straight to a 1GB DIMM. That should be enough for most office tasks. 512MB is enough RAM to keep Windows more or less content, but 1GB helps ensure that you won't need to crack open the case and upgrade the RAM any time soon.
Here's the real problem, though: you have a small box with a decent amount of computing power, and it's nice and portable if you need that. However, there's another type of computer that is similarly equipped that will get the job done equally well in most cases. We're talking about laptops, of course, and you can get a complete laptop with an OS, display, and keyboard all in one device for less than the cost of the MiniPC. The laptop might be larger and a bit slower - especially with all the budget 256MB RAM models - but unless you're really just looking for a very small computer, it's difficult to see the point in purchasing the MiniPC over a similarly priced laptop. $1000 will get you a pretty well-equipped laptop from any of the major OEMs, including truly mobile support courtesy of the battery pack, and an integrated LCD, keyboard, and trackpad.
One last item to mention is that the MP915 reviewed here is the older model, and AOpen should be releasing a Core Duo and Viiv compliant MP945 version in the next few weeks. Whether or not that model addresses any of our concerns remains to be seen. Price will likely be a bit higher as well, though really only the CPU cost should be significantly different. If you're sure that you don't want a dual core CPU, the MP915 will work well, and you might even see them discounted once the new version is released. For most people, we would say that the MP945 has all the good points of the MP915 and adds a bit more power, making it the preferred choice. Viiv support may indicate that it will also have better A/V connectivity, though TV tuners aren't actually required for Viiv, unfortunately.
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bldckstark - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
Maybe lots and lots of people do care, but I couldn't give a crap less about what the back panel of any computer looks like. Maybe someone could tell me why they do.As for it not looking better, that would be a subjective opinion.
Snuffalufagus - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
Just for the sake of the 'Company that sucks' copied the 'company that had the idea first' argument, what, in a low profile box, of the same approximate dimensions, could they have done to make people not claim it was a duplicate? Change the color? Change the rubber foot pads? Revert back to PS2 connections? This idea that one company shouldn't build off the strengths found in another is stupid, and would ultimately lead to stagnation if no company learned from the mistakes and successes of another.Copying form doesn't really mean shit as far as one being better. Hell, I think the Mac Mini is a piece of crap due to it's lack of versatility, but now its being praised for that capability now that this new piece of crap is out (i.e. two vs. one mem slot).
FWIW - this wasn't purely a response to your post, it was just a covenient place to put the comment.
JarredWalton - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
I couldn't care less about copying. Whoever does it best gets my vote. The lack of versatility really isn't a major lack, though. The only things the MiniPC can't do are:1) Gaming (other than old games or 2D stuff)
2) High-end audio (without USB add-on)
3) TV Tuner stuff
4) High performance computing.
Most people don't need any of those things. Given that it's small, reasonably fast, and reasonably quiet (and all of the above pretty much applies to the Mac Minis as well), these things could be great for the less power hungry people.
Unfortunately, my mom still can't use a computer worth a darn, so reducing hardware complexity isn't going to help her with the software side. (And please don't bother suggesting OSX; she really is clueless about computers, and we're just happy when she can manage to read/write email!)
Herrterror - Friday, March 3, 2006 - link
yeah, poor Apple. They wanted to introduce Sloanism to the computer industry and ended up losing out to copycats.kmmatney - Friday, March 3, 2006 - link
The price of this has to be at least lower than a laptop. You can get a decent laptop for the same price, with a built-in LCD and Keyboard, and a lot more IO. You can still just hook up a Keyboard and Monitor with a laptop, as I do at work everyday, plus you get portability if you need it.JarredWalton - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
A few things laptops are generally lacking:1) DVI output
2) Component output
3) Anything more than 2.1 audio output
So, the HDTV connections of the MiniPC are definitely something to think about. Component out is probably the best way to guarantee a system can function as an HTPC (though the whole HDCP issue is looming on the horizon....) Also, these systems (Mac Mini/MiniPC) are both smaller than a laptop - why have a screen if you're not going to use it, right? But I do agree that the price needs to at least match an equivalent laptop.
WhoBeDaPlaya - Monday, March 6, 2006 - link
The Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA has #3 covered ;)Been using it with my trusty 'ol eMachines m6805 since late 2004.
Snuffalufagus - Friday, March 3, 2006 - link
but fill a particular niche market that's appealing for certain applications.joey2264 - Friday, March 3, 2006 - link
I was just thinking ... what if they did an end run around apple by making this a dvr? Apple's stupid allegiance with the content providers practically guarantees they will never put out a true dvr, but aopen obviously has no such qualms. They need to make a version with core duo, decent tv tuner built-in(preferably ati 550 pro if that was possible), 2 ram slots, at least 4 usb ports, and spdif (basically the same ports as the mac mini + a tv in).How cool would that be? It might even put the pressure on apple to produce a dvr of their own.
joey2264 - Friday, March 3, 2006 - link
I think the key thing here, the reason why Apple can charge such a low price, is because you are not paying for the os with the mac mini. This price advantage does not factor itself into every other Apple product, because of Apple's crazy profit margins. But this is the one product where they are willing to make little to no profit, and so, who whodathunkit, they are price competitive. If only they would take a similar strategy (although obviously not to this extreme) with their other products).The only way the wintel world could compete is if Microsoft designed a mini pc of their own, or gave it away to an extra special favorite manufacturer of theirs.