Updated: AOpen MiniPC – Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
by Jarred Walton on March 3, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Conclusion
The AOpen MiniPC leaves an overall mixed impression. On the one hand, it's fast enough for a lot of uses and it's extremely small. It definitely has the "cool factor" going for it - which isn't particularly surprising since it clones the Mac Mini. That's another potential point in its favor: it's faster than the older Mac Minis, and if you prefer Windows XP over Mac OS X, you really don't have many other options for ultra small computers. There are also more options available in terms of appearance and components for the MiniPC; with a Mac, you're often stuck with what Apple chooses to sell. That said, the new Mac Mini Core Duo at $800 is obviously the better bargain right now, and AOpen (and their partners) will need to look at matching the Mac Minis in price and features.
Another problem with the design is that it really is just a laptop without a screen and a keyboard, and it performs as you'd expect. Combine that with the fact that you can currently get a similarly equipped laptop for about the same price as the MiniPC, and it's difficult to see a large market for such a computer. Even if you're okay with the limitations, we'd recommend waiting for the Core Duo model instead of buying the current version, and it might be a few more months before that comes out. Also worth mentioning is that with Apple's Mac Mini, you get the OS and a decent amount of software as part of the package. Yes, you can find many freeware equivalents for Windows (or even go with *NIX), but at present Apple certainly has the price and overall package advantage.
AOpen really needs more partners shipping pre-configured systems, and ideally, we would like to see something exactly like the unit that we're reviewing for around $650 (including Windows XP). A faster CPU really isn't a major concern, as the intended use (office/internet) works fine as is. What we want is some place where we can send mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or whoever happens to ask, and they can buy a ready-to-run system and have it delivered within a week. This unit is more than capable of handling all of the usual office tasks, and it has the smallest footprint of any computer on the market. Plug in a nice LCD, connect your network, keyboard, and mouse, and it's ready to go.
We've mentioned laptops a couple times, but not everyone needs portability. Besides, typing on a laptop keyboard and using a trackpad isn't my ideal interface for computers. If you're planning on hooking up a regular keyboard and mouse to your laptop, and perhaps you'd like one of those 20 inch widescreen LCDs as well, it seems like this would be an interesting alternative. Most laptops only come with a VGA connection and sometimes TV-Out, so you do get DVI as well as Component support with the MiniPC, and that counts for a lot in the HTPC market. Get the Core Duo version and connect it to such a display, and you have a compact mini theater. That might be something for college dorm rooms. The enthusiast that has multiple PCs in the home might also find the MiniPC to be worth getting, if only for bragging rights.
Right now, it's difficult to say how successful this product will be. If the price were a bit lower, it becomes more attractive. If it's readily available as a pre-built system, that could help as well. It is a pretty fun toy to have around, and something of a conversation piece. However, where the Mac Mini is a great way for people to try out OS X at a lower price point, most people are already familiar with Windows XP and the final price is still more than a budget PC. The Mac Minis are also a more complete package, and since gaming - one of the few areas where OS X really falls short - is a non-issue on these systems, we would recommend the Apple units for the time being.
For those that really like super small computers and insist on a Windows OS, this product is certain to make them happy. For most other people, a Mac Mini, laptop, or regular SFF is probably a better alternative. If the MP945 can match Apple on price, though, it becomes a lot more viable.
The AOpen MiniPC leaves an overall mixed impression. On the one hand, it's fast enough for a lot of uses and it's extremely small. It definitely has the "cool factor" going for it - which isn't particularly surprising since it clones the Mac Mini. That's another potential point in its favor: it's faster than the older Mac Minis, and if you prefer Windows XP over Mac OS X, you really don't have many other options for ultra small computers. There are also more options available in terms of appearance and components for the MiniPC; with a Mac, you're often stuck with what Apple chooses to sell. That said, the new Mac Mini Core Duo at $800 is obviously the better bargain right now, and AOpen (and their partners) will need to look at matching the Mac Minis in price and features.
Another problem with the design is that it really is just a laptop without a screen and a keyboard, and it performs as you'd expect. Combine that with the fact that you can currently get a similarly equipped laptop for about the same price as the MiniPC, and it's difficult to see a large market for such a computer. Even if you're okay with the limitations, we'd recommend waiting for the Core Duo model instead of buying the current version, and it might be a few more months before that comes out. Also worth mentioning is that with Apple's Mac Mini, you get the OS and a decent amount of software as part of the package. Yes, you can find many freeware equivalents for Windows (or even go with *NIX), but at present Apple certainly has the price and overall package advantage.
AOpen really needs more partners shipping pre-configured systems, and ideally, we would like to see something exactly like the unit that we're reviewing for around $650 (including Windows XP). A faster CPU really isn't a major concern, as the intended use (office/internet) works fine as is. What we want is some place where we can send mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or whoever happens to ask, and they can buy a ready-to-run system and have it delivered within a week. This unit is more than capable of handling all of the usual office tasks, and it has the smallest footprint of any computer on the market. Plug in a nice LCD, connect your network, keyboard, and mouse, and it's ready to go.
We've mentioned laptops a couple times, but not everyone needs portability. Besides, typing on a laptop keyboard and using a trackpad isn't my ideal interface for computers. If you're planning on hooking up a regular keyboard and mouse to your laptop, and perhaps you'd like one of those 20 inch widescreen LCDs as well, it seems like this would be an interesting alternative. Most laptops only come with a VGA connection and sometimes TV-Out, so you do get DVI as well as Component support with the MiniPC, and that counts for a lot in the HTPC market. Get the Core Duo version and connect it to such a display, and you have a compact mini theater. That might be something for college dorm rooms. The enthusiast that has multiple PCs in the home might also find the MiniPC to be worth getting, if only for bragging rights.
Right now, it's difficult to say how successful this product will be. If the price were a bit lower, it becomes more attractive. If it's readily available as a pre-built system, that could help as well. It is a pretty fun toy to have around, and something of a conversation piece. However, where the Mac Mini is a great way for people to try out OS X at a lower price point, most people are already familiar with Windows XP and the final price is still more than a budget PC. The Mac Minis are also a more complete package, and since gaming - one of the few areas where OS X really falls short - is a non-issue on these systems, we would recommend the Apple units for the time being.
For those that really like super small computers and insist on a Windows OS, this product is certain to make them happy. For most other people, a Mac Mini, laptop, or regular SFF is probably a better alternative. If the MP945 can match Apple on price, though, it becomes a lot more viable.
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davecason - Friday, March 17, 2006 - link
Just an FYI for the reviewer: use tweezers. The plastic inner shell is designed for tweezers with an angled grip point. There are both cut-outs and spaceous slotting to accomodate tweezers on every screw installation.Did anyone pick up one of these and have trouble with the IDE PCB? I have two problems: 1) DMA turns itself off and the drive resorts to PIO mode when I attach it through to the PCB. I have tested the drive elsewhere and on the USB bus and it runs at normal speeds but when it is attached internally it slows down to about 1/10 of the speed. Removing the optical drive from the PCB has no affect on the problem.
2) The system hiccups when I boot it. The optical drive goes into a long series of IDE bus restarts and if I remove it, the IDE drive simply takes forever to boot (probably because of some bus error and the speed is being backed down to almost nothing).
Any suggestions for that?
davecason - Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - link
The IDE bus was restarting itself due to a power problem. I had the following plugged into the USB bus:1) USB Keyboard with USB hub with a USB mouse plugged into it.
2) USB bus-powered hub with a self-powered PDA base and a UPS plugged into it.
I removed #2 and the IDE bus began functioning normally. I guess four/six items on the USB bus was too much power draw from the system. If you experience this, get a self-powered USB hub.
Plugers - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
On the next revision.Add a upgradable laptop video card slot. If laptops can get a nice small Nvidia / ATI solution, why not this? Also add the other audio port, or just add a toslink for HTPC use and I think most of the high end PC sound systems have a digital input option anyway.
throw in another sodimm slot while your at it....
bldckstark - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
I am glad to see that for once there are not many whiny posts about the comparison systems. Thanks for the inclusion of the Sempron system.Kishkumen - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
Actually my interest with these Mini PCs whether Aopen or Apple is to use them as a lightweight frontend to a Linux/MythTV HTPC with storage and encoding duties relegated to a master backend and better yet no need to whine about the additional cost of an OS. The mini is small enough that it can be easily attached to the back of a plasma or LCD for a very clean look. That said, Aopen's audio solution is absolutely tragic. I really don't understand how they thought they could skimp in this area even if they were completely unaware of it's potential as a HTPC solution. At the very least a digital optical connector should have been included. Thus I'm inclined to go with the Apple solution on the audio issue alone, but in general it seems like the better hardware and I have no reason to believe I can't run Linux on it just fine. I'll be paying for an OS I don't need but maybe I can just pawn it off on ebay or I'll just keep it around for the halibut. Something to gape at once in a while like a two headed snake in a jar at the circus.JarredWalton - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
Does Linux run on EFI okay? I don't have any idea. It's certainly a lot more likely than XP on EFI. Anyway, the MP945 is supposed to go with at least 5.1 audio I think.mindless1 - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
PLEASE, quite trying to pretend Apple is some kind of leader in form factor. no, it was not the MAC cube that started SFF. This AOPEN is not imitation anything either. Did you really think the entire computer world was NOT moving towards high integration and as-small-as-possible systems?It had absolutely nothing to do with Apple. Apple merely did the same as everyone else, sometimes coming up with a particular niche product sooner than others, and sometimes later than others. The one most noteworthy thing apple did was advertising.
How about the ipod? It wasn't first either. Good grief, why in the world do you have an arbitrary false conclusion that apple was first at much of anything?
That's not to downplay Apple's influence, they did add a certain esthetic appeal, more artistic cases on many products. That's not what was implied in the article though...
JAS - Monday, March 6, 2006 - link
Just a general comment:MAC = Media Access Control, as in a computer's Ethernet address
Mac = shorthand for Macintosh
JarredWalton - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
By your reasoning, Apple was first at nothing, and the only first was probably the ENIAC. After all, we've just been moving to smaller computers for over 60 years now.... Seriously, there is no way you can convince me that the AOpen MiniPC wasn't an attempt at copying the Mac Mini design. Was the Mac Mini completely original? Maybe someone had something like that before, but they're the ones that really put the "Mini" computers on the map.Anyway, how about some comparisons from AOpen - nice pictures, and they clearly show that any resemblance to the Mac Mini is likely more than coincidence.
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/sff/aop...">MiniPC vs. Mac Mini #1
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/sff/aop...">MiniPC vs. Mac Mini #2
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/sff/aop...">MiniPC vs. Mac Mini #3
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/sff/aop...">MiniPC vs. Mac Mini #4
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/system/sff/aop...">MiniPC vs. Mac Mini #5
psychobriggsy - Saturday, March 4, 2006 - link
The Mac Mini looks better, both in terms of looks and design (e.g., the back panel looks so much better). If you're gonna copy a design, at least try and make it look even better if you're not going to compete on price...