everex gTV , mac mini clone $220 - 8.2%

[hans007]

http://www.geeks.com/details.a...102-PB&cat=SYS&cpc=JAD


seems like a pretty cheap wanna be mac mini intel first gen.

Its got basicaly all the same hardware, chipset is the same, slot loading dvd, and cpu is similar ..

except it costs about half.


use live cash for 4.1% off ... which should just about pay for the $10 shipping.


updated, to 220 and 8.2% bing cashback.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Nifty, but Google doesn't turn up any drivers for installing XP or Win7 as a replacement to "gOS" -- maybe generic intel drivers will work but you might lose access to some features.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Nifty, but Google doesn't turn up any drivers for installing XP or Win7 as a replacement to "gOS" -- maybe generic intel drivers will work but you might lose access to some features.

I was trying to read the support url on the cdrom so I could look for drivers. I dont suppose you can decypher it?

 

[DaveSimmons]

fanglycom ? tingly.com? Too bad shouting "enhance!" only works on TV

I'm not finding anything but reviews / previews using either the model number or "gPC".

 

[MisterE]

Here's a link to a "Detailed Product Specification" sheet for the Everex gPC mini gTV ET2102. That appears to be the model number if Geeks.com's part number is accurate. The specification sheet is a PDF file. I've downloaded it and scanned it with AVG and it appears to be clean.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ good work, but what we need are XP / Win7 drivers. The box ships with just a linux variant installed and a CD with that linux on it.

.... or for some brave person to buy it, install Windows, and tell us what hardware is unrecognized after the install

 

[MisterE]

Look at the specification sheet. The hardware is very generic and mostly Intel. Chipset numbers are listed and drivers will be easy to download from Intel's website. The onboard firewire (if Geeks' unit has it, it's not listed but there IS a port on the back) is unknown, but easy to figure out and Windows probably has a built-in driver. The only REAL unknown is the card reader, and almost all of those use generic Windows drivers.

It looks like First International Computer (FIC) may have bought this product line from Everex. FIC sells a newer "GE3" with Core 2 Duo CPU that looks just like this unit, and the specification sheet that I linked to has FIC listed in the small print. Maybe you can find some information about this system on their website.

 

[Zap]

I think FIC made it and Everex rebranded it. FWIW I think Everex went out of business, so good luck with warranty.

Looks like a neat tiny PC though.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: Zap
I think FIC made it and Everex rebranded it. FWIW I think Everex went out of business, so good luck with warranty.

Looks like a neat tiny PC though.

I think you get no warranty from the manufacturer with many products from geeks

 

[nutxo]

Text

found this

 

[Bobartig]

This is one of the only "Mac-Mini" like products I've seen that's similar in both spec and size, although I prefer my mini, being a machead.

It's a slower processor, and no wireless options, but it is otherwise not bad. It's even got a card reader on the front if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Nifty, but Google doesn't turn up any drivers for installing XP or Win7 as a replacement to "gOS" -- maybe generic intel drivers will work but you might lose access to some features.

well its a GMA 950, with an ich7 so its some 945 chipset variant.

I"m fairly certain most card readers are generic usb devices... so you'd have all the drivers if you just downloaded the normal chipset driver from intel.

The hard ware for the most part is the same as the first gen core duo based mac mini (other than the chip having 1 mb cache nistead of 2mb). I figure it'd be faster than a core solo mac.

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: Zap
I think FIC made it and Everex rebranded it. FWIW I think Everex went out of business, so good luck with warranty.

Looks like a neat tiny PC though.

Yep, they're closed everex

 

[Tegeril]

Originally posted by: hans007
except it costs about half.

Half of a significantly better, current Mac Mini I guess.

 

[hans007]

well they lowered the price to 229 now. and live is up to 8.2 %

 

[mundhra]

down to 220. i had been debating getting this to replace my my geexbox htpc, but i don't think it'll do much better with 720p than my p4 2.66.

i'd actually buy a ge3, but can't find one anywhere. oh, refurbed on ebay for $350. :/

although, who knows, you might be able to buy one of these and install the bios update from the fic site and swap processors...

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: mundhra
down to 220. i had been debating getting this to replace my my geexbox htpc, but i don't think it'll do much better with 720p than my p4 2.66.

i'd actually buy a ge3, but can't find one anywhere. oh, refurbed on ebay for $350. :/

although, who knows, you might be able to buy one of these and install the bios update from the fic site and swap processors...

i would not be surprised at all if they were manufactuered by the same company. FIC makes stuff for everyone.

 

[RBC]

So can you put the Mac OS on this and if so can it be had for cheap somewhere? I'm thinking if so it could be good for my mother in-law.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: RBC
So can you put the Mac OS on this and if so can it be had for cheap somewhere? I'm thinking if so it could be good for my mother in-law.

well i think in theory it could be pretty easily hackintoshed.

 

[slag]

anybody bought one of these yet?