FIC makes play for slimmest media centre PC

GE2 closing on on Aopen?

By Tony Smith in Taipei • Get more from this author

7th June 2006 09:26 GMT

Computex 2006 First International (FIC) this week demo'd its upcoming bit to displace Aopen at the top of the mini-PC totem pole: the GE2, a 4.2cm high, 17.2 x 22.6cm footprint Viiv-branded Windows Media Center system.

Like Aopen's MP945-VXR, the 1.3kg GE2 is pitched as a 'mobile on desktop' machine. It's based on a Core Duo processor - FIC expects to equip the box with a number of versions of the chip - and Intel's 945GM notebook-oriented integrated chipset. Technically, it's a Centrino box too: there's an Intel ProWireless 3945ABG Wi-Fi adaptor on board too. Bluetooth 2.0 is part of the spec too.

Memory comes courtesy of a pair of 667MHz DDR 2 SO-DIMMs, and the GE2 will also ship with either a DVD±RW drive or a DVD-ROM/CD-RW unit, both of them slot-loading. There's a SATA hard drive in there too.

first international ge2 mini media centre pc

For living-room locations, the GE2 has S-video, composite-video and DVI-I outputs. FIC plans to offer an optional TV tuner add-in. The box also has FireWire, USB, Gigabit Ethernet parts, plus an S/PDIF output and 3.5mm audio sockets. Transfer photos over with the four-in-one memory card reader.

FIC wouldn't say when the GE2 will go on sale - or say how much the machine will cost. However, a company spokeswoman indicated the mini PC will ship very soon. ®

Full Computex coverage at Reg Hardware