Motherboard maker AOpen will launch its AOpen mini PC on November 1, with volume shipments of the Intel mobile CPU-based desktop system to follow in mid-November, according to market sources.
Resembling the Apple Mac mini, the AOpen mini PC measures only 165×165×51mm and has a volume of 1.1 liters. The system will be built around the Intel 915GM chipset and come in two SKUs, with an entry-level Intel Celeron M 1.4GHz model priced at NT$20,500 (US$609) in Taiwan and a higher-end Intel Pentium M 1.7GHz model priced at NT$26,500 (US$788).
Although AOpen will partner with distributor Synnex Technology International in Taiwan to market complete AOpen min PC systems, the company stated that it will be using its international component channel (under the powered by AOpen logo) to market the products worldwide.
The AOpen mini PC will be bundled with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition in Taiwan, but the company said it will be partnering with Linspire in the US market to offer a Linux version of the system.
At Computex Taipei this year, Tony Yang, marketing director of AOpen stated that AOpen will target the digital home with the system. The system is also designed for low-noise environments, and so has only one fan and 65W power supply.
AOpen mini PC
Measures only 165×165×51mm