A mini PC that looks like a Macintosh
Handheld manufacturer Ayaneo presents a mini PC in the design of an 80s Apple computer.
From the outside, the device looks like the first Macintosh. Apple dominated the computer market in the 1980s until personal computers (PCs) gradually took over the world. Ayaneo presents the Retro Mini PC AM01 in the style of the iconic computers before the time of the bitten apple. The Chinese company, which has made a name for itself with well-equipped but not-always-flawless gaming handhelds, is now venturing into desktop computers.
Windows instead of MacOS
The most striking feature of the AM01 is undoubtedly its design. According to Ayaneo, it is a tribute to the "Revolutionary Macintosh" from 1984. In terms of size, it is more like an Intel NUC or a Mac Mini. In terms of performance, it is unlikely to be able to compete with either of them. Depending on the version, the AM01 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U or an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U. There is also up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of storage. There is no shortage of connections either. There are three USB-A 3.2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 port, one USB-A 2.0 port, HDMI 2.0, Displayport 1.4, Ethernet and a headphone jack. Windows 11 is pre-installed, as is Ayaneo's proprietary gaming software AyaSpace.
Source: Ayaneo
The device is probably best suited as a retro gaming machine or a stylish desktop PC for office work. Ayaneo is selling the AM01, like practically all of its hardware, via Indiegogo with preferential prices for pre-orderers. The price starts at CHF 132 for a Ryzen 3 model and goes up to CHF 335 for the top model with Ryzen 7. These are the early bird prices. The devices will be dispatched as early as December.
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.