AOpen's "Pandora" Mac Mini clone makes it to Canada

MercenaryForHire · 01-19-2006, 03:29 PM

On sale for CDN$379.99

Review here

Cute as a button ... I may have to build a system on this platform. It does get pricey though - you need to add a S479 CPU, a single DDR2 SODIMM, and a 2.5" HDD. With the OSX86 project, you could probably run Tiger on this for kicks.

- M4H

Wuzup101 · 01-19-2006, 06:17 PM

I wonder how long it will take apple to sue them?

MercenaryForHire · 01-19-2006, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Wuzup101
I wonder how long it will take apple to sue them?

Considering they unveiled this exact design last spring, I think Apple's had ample time.

Still, I'm tempted to get one just in case Apple decides to get lawsuit-happy, or they got a patent for "Intel in a tiny box"

- M4H

BladeVenom · 01-20-2006, 07:34 AM

Small PCs like that have been around for years before the Mac Mini came around. Another case of Apple taking someone elses ideas, and then their fans giving them all the credit for it.

omissible · 01-20-2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Small PCs like that have been around for years before the Mac Mini came around. Another case of Apple taking someone elses ideas, and then their fans giving them all the credit for it.

As I recall, the first one came out about four years before the mini, and was called the Power Mac G4 cube.

BladeVenom · 01-20-2006, 10:05 PM

SaintSong has been selling small PCs since 1999. I believe Cappuccino PCs were around even before the G4 cube. Via's Mini-ITX has been arounds since 2001. There were also other embedded platforms used to make small PCs.

aigomorla · 01-21-2006, 12:41 AM

omg that thing is so cute... but anyhow, i think id prefer the shuttle solution. Better board with the option of adding a video card. :X

imported_Lucifer · 01-21-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
SaintSong has been selling small PCs since 1999. I believe Cappuccino PCs were around even before the G4 cube. Via's Mini-ITX has been arounds since 2001. There were also other embedded platforms used to make small PCs.

And Steve Jobs created the NeXt Cube, which was created back in 1988.

pukemon · 01-21-2006, 07:00 PM

The NeXT Cube was a rather large machine, about the size of a 15" monitor.

At around the same time, the Sun Sparcstation IPC was much smaller: http://www.obsolyte.com/sun_ipc/

Mik3y · 01-21-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Small PCs like that have been around for years before the Mac Mini came around. Another case of Apple taking someone elses ideas, and then their fans giving them all the credit for it.

hardly true.

makken · 01-22-2006, 08:57 PM

i want one.

any idea if / when it'll come to the US?

shady28 · 01-23-2006, 10:21 AM

Why not just get a Mac mini? The mini is even cheaper unless you get linspire. If you get XP Home, its the same price on lower models and cheaper on the top end modle. Get XP Pro and you're a grand total of $300 more expensive on the PC clone. The low end mini is probably faster too, a G4 vs a celeron is a pretty even match. And the mini has a dedicated GPU with dedicated VRAM, vs the integrated graphics on the PC.

And then there's iLife that comes with the Mini.

And no need for AV software.

No need for spyware cleanup programs.

Busithoth · 01-23-2006, 11:22 AM

I've been hoping the rumors of a mac-mini based PVR box from apple would come true, because I could see that in my apt.
I love SFFs, but if you have to get a 479-pin CPU for this mac mini clone, that's gonna push the price up pretty high.
I'd rather get a mATX box that'd be bigger, but able to run near silent and enjoy a nice raptor as the system drive.

I applaud any effort to get PCs smaller and more svelte, however.

aidanjm · 01-29-2006, 10:56 AM

cute as a button, indeed.