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Blatant Mac Mini Clone!
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
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I've seen this before it still amazes me how original and sexy it is. 
PC manufacturers they are all class!
PC manufacturers they are all class!
URL problem
URL in the original post is not good.
Use this:
http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/11/01/aopen_minipc/
URL in the original post is not good.
Use this:
http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/11/01/aopen_minipc/
Lord Blackadder said:
Lord Blackadder, might wanna fix that link. I don't know what the "thathttp" protocol is but it can't be good.
dejo said:Lord Blackadder, might wanna fix that link. I don't know what the "thathttp" protocol is but it can't be good.
Doh!
...Fixed, I think.
I remember seeing pics of Mac-Mini like prototypes but these guys are pretty ballsy to sell this as their own "innovative" design. If I were Apple legal I'd have a little chat with them.
tech4all said:Wow....just wow
Seriously, isn't this some sort of copyright infringement on the design of the Mac mini? Can they really get a way with this?
Copyrights are for works like books, music, paintings, etc. They don't apply to product design.
This would fall under trade dress (not trademark, as thats another thing again). Apple sucessfully used trade dress to get rid of a bunch of iMac imitators when that first came out. Basically, they argue that the design is obviously intended to confuse consumers into thinking their product is the same as the mac mini.
I've seen this before..
They could've at least stood it up on it's side so that it could be displayed and presented as a mini-PC tower and sold as an alternative to those who don't have room for a full average-sized PC tower.
Besides, who is really going to buy that thing, anyways?
I wouldn't pay $400 for that, not to mention $1300.
They could've at least stood it up on it's side so that it could be displayed and presented as a mini-PC tower and sold as an alternative to those who don't have room for a full average-sized PC tower.
Besides, who is really going to buy that thing, anyways?
I wouldn't pay $400 for that, not to mention $1300.
I think this is a good idea, if you need to run PC based apps, which don't run well on an average Mac via VPC - there's an option to get a PC box that doesn't look like a piece of cr*p - why doesn't it look like a piece of cr*p? Well because it looks like a Mac-Mini. Apply one of the white Apple stickers you get with a Mac these days and no-one will know the difference
Of course it'll be interesting to see how well it sells - see how many switchers were actually just looking for a tiny box, not neccessary OSX.
Of course it'll be interesting to see how well it sells - see how many switchers were actually just looking for a tiny box, not neccessary OSX.
There was a rumor at the time this first appeared that Intel had requested this design from AOpen, presumably as part of their discussions with Apple. Basically to prove that a similar form factor to the mini could be achieved using Intel CPUs and chipsets.aquajet said:It's not a Mac mini clone, it's a PC that happens to look similar to the Mac mini.
Apple already uses Asus as an OEM, so why not AOpen, in which casethis could be preparation for the Intel Mac mini.
B
This time last week, I would have considered this to sit next to my mac mini happy in symbiosis (actually I shouldnt say that but wot the heck) but I wont be getting one for Xmas as my mini is sold. My destiny is to climb up a peg on the Apple ladder....iMac here I come baby!
The funny thing is that everyone says PCs are cheaper, but then the base system for AOpen has half the ram, doesn't include Windows, and has integrated graphics (I think). VoodooPC is just plain expensive, and they paint their systems, and judging by their website, they don't so a very good job of it. And they don't include an OS or shipping in that $900 base price. And different colors cost more. But it won't run Mac OS anyway, so who really cares?
Not true. although product designs aren't copyrightable, they can be patented which restricts "similar" styling. I would say mac would have a good case in this situation. Painting it grey and sticking a blue button on the front wouldnt remove it far enough from the mac mini to justify a big enough styling difference. The big question is weather apple believes that the mac mini's styling is a big enough selling point. sure its simple and pretty, but I think they are pushing it as way for people who would like to try macs out without spending big bucks on the pro machines. Its the purchase cost thats is its selling point. they might let this slide seeing that whats on the inside is less and crap. of course I could be wrong...strider42 said:
freeny said:
I don't think this is correct. I'm pretty sure you can't patent something like product design unless that design is integral to its function, whihc could be patented. There's nothing on the mac mini remotely patentable that I can see. its just packaging.
For example, ford doesn't own a patent on the look of the mustang. its covered by trade dress and trademark laws.
Yes... I'm sure it's just a coincidence that they look exactly the same.aquajet said:It's not a Mac mini clone, it's a PC that happens to look similar to the Mac mini.
A Mac Mini with an Intel processor is a perfect device for weaning the public off Windows. It will be cheaper, look better and have a superior OS (included with the machine) to this AOpen thingy.
The Mac Mini is a very very simple design - and yet they've still managed to make the PC copy look gimmicky. "No, that doesn't look good...let's put a big glowing blue power button here in the middle".
The Mac Mini is a very very simple design - and yet they've still managed to make the PC copy look gimmicky. "No, that doesn't look good...let's put a big glowing blue power button here in the middle".
Knew I had seen that before. Nah, it's cool. Snob away, that's the only way we'll learn.camomac said:
