AOpen GP7A-BDR

[Imy]

Was wondering what peoples' thoughts were on this mini-pc:

http://global.aopen.com/products_detail.aspx?Auno=3015

It's an updated version of the MP45-BDR model which was a cracking little machine although a bit expensive once kitted out.

It now comes with the nVidia ION (9300M) chipset which people seem to be talking about quite a lot, yet is not limited to the slow Atom CPUs of it's rivals.

 

[CBJ]

I'd like to see something like this with a built-in IR receiver and maybe even a small front panel display. Then it could properly take its place under the TV as a proper remote-only media PC.

 

[Imy]

My mate has the MP45-BDR and that has a built-in IR receiver I believe. Would be a shame if this doesn't.

Doubt you'll ever see a front-panel display in a device this tiny. Plus I like the clean look of this.

Update: Found this on the spec sheet:

Infrared Data Access: RC6 Recevier embedded

 

[CBJ]

Front panel displays take up surprisingly little space. The IR is more important though; I did look at the spec sheet but for some reason I missed that. That definitely makes it an interesting option, especially as I see that there is also an optional DVB tuner for it.

 

[Destination]

Is this released anywhere?

One misgiving i had a mini-pc which died after 3 years, unrepairable, unrestorable, very irritating, it had not been used much.
Two misgiving, the apoen retards don't seem to have included any easy method of turning off sound on their website, I might be missing a button, but thats plain stupid.

 

[Imy]

Due for release this month I think.

The Aopen mini-pcs aren't quite off-the-shelf like my Phillips LX3000. They come with the case, motherboard, remote control, optical drive.

You have to get the CPU, RAM and hard disk yourself so I guess it could be upgraded/repaired.

Even my Phillips off-the-shelf mini-pc could be opened and tweaked as it just has a regular Core 2 Duo in it.