May
31
It looks like a Mac Mini, but wait. Is that an Intel inside? Is this the new Intel/Apple computer we have heard about? No, it is AOpen’s new mini CPU based on the reference designs from Intel. It is aptly codenamed “Pandora” and uses an Intel Pentium M chip designed for laptops. It is scheduled for a September release date and I believe Apple’s lawyers have already marked their calanders.
Looks like cheap crap to me – anyone who buys one will have to explain it’s not a real mini and deal with the shame
haha. no class. no class. they could at least put tropical prints on it to try and make it look different.
I don’t see the point of making one, when they will be killed by Apple and their team of highly sophisticated lawyers. Production will shut down and people who buy one will look stupid for buying imatations and will go out and buy a Mac Mini instead!
Mac Mini, there is only 1.
Apple’s lawyers may be on this for sure. But does anyone think that last week’s stories of Intel meeting with Apple could have been about this product? Intel may have been meeting with Apple to discuss any problems that may occur releasing this product.
Jon,
My comment about this being the Apple/Intel project was meant to be a joke. Sorry if it wasn’t clear.
I don’t think Apple has any legal grounds here. You can’t copyright putting a computer in a small case.
Craig
What I meant Adam, is that perhaps Intel met Apple just to make sure their lawyers didn’t come after them for releasing this concept PC. I don’t believe any project existed b/w them.
But Craig, we’re not talking about any small computer case here. We’re talking about a case that matches the dimensions and stylings of another popular machine. It’s a pretty blatant rip off.
The answer as to whether or not copyright infringment has occurred will depend on more than just the fact that it’s small and square and looks like a Mac Mini on its face. Apple’s design copyright undoubtedly also revolves around such issues as how the internal components are arranged, how you manage to get adequate ventilation and cooling into such a cramped box, etc. Perhaps when one is taken apart we will find out that it has been designed in a unique way and just happened to wind up looking like a Mac Mini, in which case it’s not a copyright infringement. On the other hand, if they simply duplicated the Mac Mini design and substituted other brands of components, expect lawyers with briefs a-blazin’.
AOpen should have simply made a small formfactor without copying someone else’s dimensions, corner radii or back panel vent style. I don’t think there was any doubt that a PC could be made that size. There are formfactors that would work well in making a small form factor computer.
I wonder why they chose to do this, especially as Apple had managed to shut down iMac knockoffs in the past, which looked about as similar to the real iMac as this does to the mini.