You can see some photos here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/

I guess it looks a lot like the Mini, but just is missing something.
Maybe the fact that it's a PC.
On the other hand, if it's cheap enough, it would make a great little Linux box.

The article says it's code named Pandora. Honestly I wouldn't want to open Pandora's box. You might find Windoze inside... or worse.

As usual, the flood of imitators follows, but this is only a prototype. I'm sure the price point will take square aim at the sub six hundred dollar market. Too bad the OS cannot be "styled" with the security and usefulness of a Mac. On viewing the photos, I couldn't help but think this was the Mini's ugly clumsy cousin. Once again, they're on the hunt for the lowest common denominator (uninformed) consumer.

This box may not be bad for apple, as it is a clear nod to Apple's superior industrial design. This in some ways may work as advertising not unlike the kids who woke up Christmas morning and got a near-iPod. Everyone knows the original is the best. Apple may even have lead-time to strategize about how to use this oddly flattering development.

It's just a silver Mac Mini case with holes in the top. That's about as shameless and pathetic as eMachines' bootleg iMac.

Quote

Anonymous wrote:
It's just a silver Mac Mini case with holes in the top. That's about as shameless and pathetic as eMachines' bootleg iMac.

Well, be fair. There are other differences. For example, it seems to be slightly BIGGER than the Mac Mini. That has to count as a difference, right?

All that matters is that it is small enough.

It should give apple reason to worry IF it is cheaper and faster.

Good lord, the mini is slow.

Ah, but the competition will be good for all concered.

WTF is this? APple gets sued over using Tiger in their operating system by a computer sales company...

They lose...

Intel makes an almost exact copy of the Mac Mini, and no backlash? WTF!?

If it looks like the pictures in the first post, you'd have to assume some sort of legal action. I'm not claiming to know a lot, but I don't think you can make an IDENTICAL product. Geez.

Maybe this is why Steve Jobs met with Intel last week. Not about chips, but using the Mac Mini's look.

Quote

Guest wrote:
That's about as shameless and pathetic as eMachines' bootleg iMac.

Hadn't heard of that. Anyone got some pics or links?

Quote

fartheststar wrote:

Quote

Guest wrote:
That's about as shameless and pathetic as eMachines' bootleg iMac.

Hadn't heard of that. Anyone got some pics or links?

http://ascii24.com/news/i/topi/article/1999/08/20/604010-000.html

"It should give apple reason to worry IF it is cheaper and faster."

Apple only has a reason to worry if it's cheaper, faster, and comes with OS X installed.

Quote

fartheststar wrote:
You might find Windoze inside... or worse.

Surely there could be nothing worse.

So what is the power consumption of this imitator?

BTW, the appearance may be similar, but the Mac mini still looks better.

Quote

Guest wrote:
All that matters is that it is small enough.

It should give apple reason to worry IF it is cheaper and faster.

Good lord, the mini is slow.

It isn't small enough.

It may be as cheap, but it won't be faster.

Good Lord, the the mini is fast.

Just another sign of the times... the PC world can't come up with good ideas, so it copies Apple's. What else is new?

Actually, this isn't even the worst case... read the Xbox 360 article in TIME magazine a couple of weeks back. Top Xbox execs admitted that their goal was to make the Xbox 360 "look like it was designed by Sony... or Apple."

So even Microsoft KNOWS its second-rate now. Its kinda funny.

Quote

Small White Car wrote:

http://ascii24.com/news/i/topi/article/1999/08/20/604010-000.html

Thanks.

I don't know the language, but it does say "eMachines iMac, and "eOne".

Lol. And it's STILL ugly. It's all in the detail baby. I love the old iMac... but that eMachine one is not good lookin'.

Don't people get it that you can't just take Apple's design and just "sorta" get it right?

But isn't. I think the macmini is cool lookin, but even though this looks similar...I hate it.

Is there worse ???

Most likely they're not planning on selling it as is …
They'll probably find a way to make it real ugly before production starts

"Top Xbox execs admitted that their goal was to make the Xbox 360 "look like it was designed by Sony... or Apple.""

Microsoft's coming out and saying they copy the competition?

It's always been true, but to actually admit it... What are they thinking?

Quote

Guest wrote:
"Top Xbox execs admitted that their goal was to make the Xbox 360 "look like it was designed by Sony... or Apple.""

Microsoft's coming out and saying they copy the competition?

It's always been true, but to actually admit it... What are they thinking?

haha. It certainly won't run like Sony or Apple. I recall that at one time they were waiting to announce the specs of the XBOX 360 until the PS3 announced its specs - and then they would put in a better this or a better that.

Well, from what I understand this didn't work and I guess they wanted to get a jump on Sales. But I hear that the specs (and the look) of the PS3 are going to be better than that of the Xbox 360.

So, while XBOX may have been superior to PS2 graphically, PS3 is going to beat XBOX 360 on graphics, games , gameplay, design, aesthetics, etc etc etc.

If the final, released box looks like the one that's posted on silentpcreview, I think Apple may have grounds for a lawsuit. And before somebody groans about our litigious society, there is plenty of precedent for such a case. It's despicable to blatantly rip-off someone else's creations for profit. Not to mention LA-A-AME.

OR, maybe that's what the Apple/Intel pow-wow was about - licensing the Mac mini design in exchange for some Intel technology? Doesn't seem too likely. But if Apple decides to sue Intel for this plagiarism, it would put a damper on any future colaborations.

I think that it's good news for customer another choice apple style.

Quote

fartheststar wrote:

Quote

Guest wrote:
"Top Xbox execs admitted that their goal was to make the Xbox 360 "look like it was designed by Sony... or Apple.""

Microsoft's coming out and saying they copy the competition?

It's always been true, but to actually admit it... What are they thinking?

haha. It certainly won't run like Sony or Apple. I recall that at one time they were waiting to announce the specs of the XBOX 360 until the PS3 announced its specs - and then they would put in a better this or a better that.

Well, from what I understand this didn't work and I guess they wanted to get a jump on Sales. But I hear that the specs (and the look) of the PS3 are going to be better than that of the Xbox 360.

So, while XBOX may have been superior to PS2 graphically, PS3 is going to beat XBOX 360 on graphics, games , gameplay, design, aesthetics, etc etc etc.

Yup. PS3 apparently will do 2 teraflops, Xbox 360 does 1 TF. PS3 also will use high-capacity Blu-ray discs while Xbox 360 stuck with old-fashioned DVDs.

Now add to that that the PS3 will output 1080p (to 2 HDTVs simultaneously, if need be!), another thing that the Xbox 360 can't do, and it seems like if you want the ultimate, you want a PS3, baby.