14 DAY TRIAL // "It's finally arrived - the first Mac Mini clone. Our review system was supplied by Evesham, but the barebone chassis is manufactured by AOpen and has been known as the 'Pandora'. Sadly this catchy name is gone - AOpen has re-named it the Mini PC, which is just plain boring. Anyhow, name aside, this is a really cool-looking little machine - it arguably looks even better than the Mac Mini, mainly due to its aluminium case," Lars-G?ran Nilsson writes for Trusted Reviews.
It had to happen. For a very long time now, Apples products have been copied in and out. From the operating system to the design and even the desktop picture, different companies have tried to catch a ride on the back of what many consider to be the most innovative name in computers.
Ironically, the copies and clones have always been tardy and inferior to the real deal, and the newest copy-cat, which borrows heavily from the Mac Mini, is no exception.
Although the Mini PC has Windows XP Media Center Edition pre-installed on it, it lacks a remote, and there isn't even one you can buy for it, so it is not feasible as a media center that you can control from the comfort of your sofa.
"As a stylish, small desktop machine there is nothing wrong with the Mini PC, but I would imagine that most people, myself included, would like to be able to use this as a full Media Centre PC. Without surround sound output it's not really suited as a main system though it might suffice for a secondary one. Ultimately it's the price that would put the breaks on me buying one. At ?699.00 inc VAT it's ?200 more expensive than a Mac mini that has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth included. The Mac does have a slower CPU, but it also has a dedicated graphics chipset," Nilsson writes. "The Evesham Mini PC Plus is the Intel powered alternative to the Mac mini. It looks good, but doesn't offer enough to be a Mac beater, at least not at its current price."
Costs more, does less, the only reason to buy one would be for the looks, but, since you can get the actual Mac Mini for less, maybe waiting for the new Intel Mini might be a better move.