It seems like everyone is releasing a mini Media Center PC these days. We covered the Systemax Mini Media Center PCs earlier this month and the Pandora PC in early August.
Now, a company by the name of PCAlchemy had dropped a trio of mini Media Centers in an effort to target the spatially challenged who find themselves desiring a PVR that can fit in the palm of their hand but that doesn't skimp in the features department.
Coincidentally, that's the same market Systemax and the Pandora people are after. More on that in a moment.
The M1B, M1S, and M2B all have nearly identical specs sporting Core 2 Duo T5600 Merom 1.83 GHz Processor w/ 2MB Cache, a gig of PC-5400 DDR2 RAM w/ 667 MHz, 100GB SATA HD at 7200RPM, a slot loading dual layer DVD drive, integrated Intel GMA950 video card with DVI, 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio w/ digital optical and analog outputs, mini pci analog tuner, ethernet, a wireless keyboard w/ integrated trackball and a Media Center remote.
The M2B is slightly larger and has intergrated wireless while the M1B and M1S require this be added as an option. A USB 2.0 HDTV Tuner is an add-on available for all three models.
Standard packages on all three units start at $1,199.
Now I may be crazy, but not only are the Systemax, Pandora PC, and PCAlchemy people targeting the exact same market with these mini Media Centers. They also appear to be using the exact same case.
Was there a buy 1 get 20,000 free sale on these mini PC cases at Big Lots or better yet, is it possible these three companies decided to bumrush the PVR market by flooding it with several similar products under the guise of three separate entities, but are actually one and the same?
Probably not, but if you're in the market for a fully functioning mini Media Center - you can't claim you lack options.
