ASUS Nova P22 Mac Mini Clone Now on Sale

12:01PM February 20, 2008 | Adrian Covert

ASUS’s P22 Nova is a small (9x7x2 in, under 4 lbs.), attractive PC designed for the living room. Like we’ve mentioned before, It has a 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160 GB HDD, Slot Loading DVD Burner, Bluetooth, 1 GB RAM and 802.11n WLAN. The cool thing is it has built in Hi-Fi Speakers, providing something more than TV speakers if you lack a 5.1 setup. Now it’s available in North America for US$899. [ASUS]

Specifications P22
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB

Chipset
Intel 946GZ + ICH7

Graphics
Intel GMA 3000

OS
Windows Vista Home Premium

Wireless LAN
802.11n

Bluetooth
Built-in Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

Memory
1 GB DDR2 667

Hard Drive
160 GB SATA2, 5400 RPM

Optical Drive
Slim Slot-loading 16X DVD Super-multi

Ethernet
10/100/1000 Mbps

Front Panel
– HiFi Speaker
– Touch Sensor Power Switch (with LED Light)
– Touch Sensor Drive Eject Button

Rear Port Connector
– USB 2.0 x 4
– VGA out (adapter)
– Microphone x 1
– DVI-I Out
– RJ 45 x 1
– DC Power in x 1
– 5.1 Channel Digital Audio Optical Out x 1 (Sur. R/L)
– 5.1 Channel Digital Audio Optical In x 1 (Sub/Center)

Weight
3.92 lbs.

Intel ViiV Technology
Yes

Dimensions
9″ x 7.2″ x 2″

Accessory
– IR Microsoft Certified Remote Controller
– Stand for vertical placement
– SPIDF Adapter

Comments

David D.

February 20, 2008 at 6:25 PM

I like the concept but honestly think it is flawed as I am sure it is pitched as a PVR/Media device using Vista media centre. I have Vista and use it as a PVR but the Microsoft PVR-MS file format is huge. Recording a 1hr show from a hi Def channel takes around 10Gb. Allowing for the OS and a couple of apps you would be lucky to get 10hrs of Hi Def recording. I know the 160Gb drive provided is probably only a 2.5in but a full size 500Gb drive would be better with maybe a slightly larger footprint.

Also with RAM so cheap (around $25/Gb) I don’t why they only start with 1Gb.

I would love a device like this in my lounge rather than a full blown big and noisy PC but it will have to wait a while.

Steve

February 21, 2008 at 4:18 AM

Pretty ballsy of Asus to take on Apple’s Mac mini with a US$100 premium.

I own a Mac so I might be a little biased but I’m struggling to understand who would buy this when the Mac mini for $799 has a faster CPU (Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz), can run Windows (if you must), looks so much better and is actually smaller (6.5″ x 6.5″ x 2″).

It can’t be for the 160GB HDD over Apple’s 120GB, that’s only a US$75 upgrade; still under Asus’ price.

Maybe it’s the Hi-Fi speaker and the optical audio input (the Mac mini has optical output only). But that’s a small trade-off for a better quality product with Apple’s OS X Leopard rather than Microsoft’s Vista.

Computing