AOpen Takes Wraps Off Mini PC

Called the "Mini PC," the AOpen-developed computer takes the tape at about 6 inches square by 2 inches high, just slightly smaller than its Mac ancestor. Powered by Intel's Pentium M processors, the Mini PC sports a built-in DVD-RW drive, a 2.5-inch hard drive, and both wireless and Bluetooth support. Like the Mac mini, AOpen's puny PC comes sans monitor, but includes jacks for DVI, S-Video, and composite connectors.

AOpen designed the Mini PC in cahoots with Intel, and debuted the machine at Computex, a trade show in Taipei. The company did not disclose pricing information, nor has it set a ship date for the petite PC.

Apple released its Mac mini in mid-January, and the machine was greatly responsible for the 43 percent increase in CPU shipments during the first quarter of 2005 over the same quarter last year.