Small living-room PCs, also known as barebones or mini PCs, are getting better all the time, and now can do everything that a "normal" PC can. All that is needed are a CPU, some RAM, a hard drive, a DVD drive and, of course, an operating system for DVDs, MP3/audio codecs and a TV/radio card.
For this barebones from AOpen, a WindowsXP OS alternative, based on Linux, is included. Once this is installed on the hard drive, it lets you operate various modules (TV, DVD, MP3 or radio) at any time with the remote control or the controls without Windows. This is the first barebones to be able to do this. Even Shuttle, the inventor of the mini PC, has nothing like this in its product range.
The display is multifunctional and shows all activities in addition to the time.
The AV cube is black, which only makes the packaging even snazzier.
The connections on the rear are color-coded.
The front connections are located behind a flap.
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All video and audio functions can be controlled remotely.
"It's Got It All" - except it doesn't. VGA output? The connector that is going the way of the dinosaur is included, but no way to have DVI, no means of putting in HDMI. And the US market is heralding the end of regular TV.
Perhaps the market they want is those who want to make a bit more use of their regular TV - but a DVD player will do that, or a converter that will display an HD signal on an older set. This doesn't do that, so why would I want it? If you have a reasonable response to that, I'd love to hear it.
