Favorite Case Design

[Moxiemike]

Since ditching the Beige 7300/7500/7600/8600/9600/g3 minitower and desktop case design there have been four iterations of the new "side door" case. Starting with the smurf, er, I mean, blueberry G3 and finally ending up here with the Mirrored Drive Doors.

I think that this will probably be the end of the line with the case design?the tower case has been essentially the same since 1999 and is the last hold over from the old "colorful" era in Apple history.

But enough about that.... what i wanna know is which tower iteration do you like best?

For me, I LOVE the quicksilver. Cleanest lines, and most "mature" looking. MDD looks like too much of an afterthought. And the original g4 is too much of a compromise between something new and the old smurg G3.

What do you think?

[sparkleytone]

for me, definitely the quicksilver as well. it just smacks elegance. i dont really think apple could have improved on it, and really took a step backwards with the MDD. they are nice, but the quicksilver is damn sexy.

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by sparkleytone
for me, definitely the quicksilver as well. it just smacks elegance. i dont really think apple could have improved on it, and really took a step backwards with the MDD. they are nice, but the quicksilver is damn sexy.

Plus, the speaker on the top of MDD looks too much like a cyclops....

weird. and out of place

[blogo]

The quicksilver looks boring though.

[vniow]

Quicksilver all the way.

The MDD just looks......awkward.

[edesignuk]

QuickSilver all they way! I love mine :D ;)

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by Eple
The quicksilver looks boring though.

how so??

[RBMaraman]

I think the MDD is the best. The always thought the colors we're ugly, and the Quicksilver was just too plain. I like the MDD, because the drive bays jump out at you.

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by RBMaraman
I think the MDD is the best. The always thought the colors we're ugly, and the Quicksilver was just too plain. I like the MDD, because the drive bays jump out at you.

Although I'm not changing my position on the QS case.... I amgonna say that the MDDs DO look a TON better in person.

The QS actually looks about the same, and the original graphites looked better or worse than the pics, depending on light.

Again though, I think that's why QS wasthe best, and most mature.... it really captured simplicity and you could reproduce that along the whole gamut-- from ads, to product placement, etc.

[littlejim]

I like the original G3 ... it reminds me of the days when Apple had a chip inside that they were so proud of - they put it's name on the side of the machine (bigger even than their logo)!!

littlejim
---------
he's fallen in the water

[MacBandit]

I too like the MDD best. I agree that the Quicksilver was borring. I just don't like that one color coats all type thing. Having all the space of the front face in one color it blah. Reminescent of 1984. I think having the front face broken up with another color or mirror or what have you is the way to go. Also having the speaker up high is a functional thing. High frequency sounds which are what that speaker best produces are easily absorbed by walls, floors, desk tops. So having the speaker high prevents that and provides a more line of site position for users with the computer on there desk.

The really cool thing about the later cases with the clear plastic is that they are painted. I can't wait until my MDD is out of warranty so that I can strip the paint off of it and either have a clear case or repaint it black or some other color.

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by MacBandit
I too like the MDD best. I agree that the Quicksilver was borring. I just don't like that one color coats all type thing. Having all the space of the front face in one color it blah. Reminescent of 1984. I think having the front face broken up with another color or mirror or what have you is the way to go. Also having the speaker up high is a functional thing. High frequency sounds which are what that speaker best produces are easily absorbed by walls, floors, desk tops. So having the speaker high prevents that and provides a more line of site position for users with the computer on there desk.

The really cool thing about the later cases with the clear plastic is that they are painted. I can't wait until my MDD is out of warranty so that I can strip the paint off of it and either have a clear case or repaint it black or some other color.

Quick note on the QS.... the drive doors (at least on mine) are the same color as the sides, which is a "whiter" gray than the front panel....so it DOES break up the color a bit. ;)

[mnkeybsness]

quicksilver all the way...

the MDD looks too much like a custom mod on a wondows box or something...i like the simplicity and elegance of the quicksilver...it's apple at their best

[etoiles]

Is this one of those 'spot the five differences' contests ? :D

Subtle changes indeed. To me, less is more (vs. less is a bore), I really dig the QS case. And littlejim, excellent point about the G3 logo...it kind of reminds me of those huge cold-war era propaganda posters. Ah, the glorious days :p

[jayscheuerle]

Great functionality in all these cases, but I HATE the cheap plastic sound when you rap on the top or the front with your knuckles.

[Das]

Quicksilver definitely. It was simple, it was elegant, it was Apple.

The MDD has to be my least fav out of all of the models (well, maybe except the G3...blue...ugh). It just has too much going. I hope the next incarnation is completely different from the other models.

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by Das
Quicksilver definitely. It was simple, it was elegant, it was Apple.

The MDD has to be my least fav out of all of the models (well, maybe except the G3...blue...ugh). It just has too much going. I hope the next incarnation is completely different from the other models.

Notice too that the MDD is a return to the drive doors functioning as a unit, or design element. They were such in the G3, Graphite G4 but not in the QS (separate... two design elements)

but yea

[jrv3034]

Originally posted by Das
Quicksilver definitely. It was simple, it was elegant, it was Apple.

The MDD has to be my least fav out of all of the models (well, maybe except the G3...blue...ugh). It just has too much going. I hope the next incarnation is completely different from the other models.

I definitely agree... Quicksilver was the best. Clean, elegant, and just plain classy. MDD case looks like an XP box from the front.

I really hope the next generation of PowerMacs change the look of the thing;)

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by jrv3034


I definitely agree... Quicksilver was the best. Clean, elegant, and just plain classy. MDD case looks like an XP box from the front.

I really hope the next generation of PowerMacs change the look of the thing;)

QS looks nice, but I think it would look better with the cool windtunnel holes from the MDD.

However, the Cube is still the best!

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by gotohamish


QS looks nice, but I think it would look better with the cool windtunnel holes from the MDD.

However, the Cube is still the best!

interesting. though the strong horizontal of the drive bay and the vents makes for some weird tension in the design.

what if you rotated the holes 90° and made them smaller:

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by Moxiemike


interesting. though the strong horizontal of the drive bay and the vents makes for some weird tension in the design.

what if you rotated the holes 90° and made them smaller:

That could work too... why dont we make this a thread for making our own cool towers, using the 'open minded' case that's still in use by apple? Any takers?

[Mr. Anderson]

Definitely the Quicksilver, classic, simple and very clean. The MDD looks like its a bastard step child of the QS - sort of like that afterthought designs on the old beige Quadras that we started seeing at the end before the G3s came along.

I'm hoping for a nice new design when the next gen processor comes out.

D

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by dukestreet
Definitely the Quicksilver, classic, simple and very clean. The MDD looks like its a bastard step child of the QS - sort of like that afterthought designs on the old beige Quadras that we started seeing at the end before the G3s came along.

I'm hoping for a nice new design when the next gen processor comes out.

D

and I'm sure it will come. I think it will be less curves, and more matte rather than the glossy we have now.

Interesting that the QS are so popular here in the boards, as I remember everyone being so disappointed with the design when they came out. Still, they do look better in the flesh...

there's a thought, a g5 made out of flesh... I need a lie down... actually the smell of burning would be horrific!:eek:

[garzy]

if you want to include notebooks in this discussion, my favorite casing would be the powerbook g3 pismo

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by totalr0xx0r
if you want to include notebooks in this discussion, my favorite casing would be the powerbook g3 pismo

one of these:

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by Moxiemike


one of these:

Oh, how we thought that was a cool machine... the things Apple do to prove us wrong are wonderful. :D :D

[ibookin']

I'd have to say the Cube...

I'm still looking for one to buy If anyone has one.

2nd place would be the Quicksilver G4

[mymemory]

I like them so much that I have 2 of them, I like the Bat Man design.

Still one of the best computers out there. The only problem is the weight, a bit too heavy for todays computers but you can get one for $600 on eBay and for $200 you can add a G4 500 chip! Still you have every single port avalible and a switchable port too.

About the towers... I like the first G4 design, it looks elegant, the other enclosures are like too much, they are not "humble and sofisticated".

The G3 enclosure still looks like one of those things you use to bring the sixpacks to the beach!:)

[funkywhat2]

Of all the PM cases:

-Cube
-G3 B&w
-G3 Beige (yeah, I know, it's supposed to be post beige, but)
-QuickSilver
-G4 Graphite
-MDD

Laptops:
-G3 Black
-iBook Clamshell (any color, but mostly indigo)
-15" PB G4
-iBook
-12" PB G4
-17" PB G4

[Moxiemike]

Originally posted by funkywhat2
Of all the PM cases:

-Cube
-G3 B&w
-G3 Beige (yeah, I know, it's supposed to be post beige, but)
-QuickSilver
-G4 Graphite
-MDD

Laptops:
-G3 Black
-iBook Clamshell (any color, but mostly indigo)
-15" PB G4
-iBook
-12" PB G4
-17" PB G4

I set up one of these for laptops:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?postid=249670#post249670

check it. ;)

[daniel77]

Originally posted by Moxiemike
Since ditching the Beige 7300/7500/7600/8600/9600/g3 minitower and desktop case design there have been four iterations of the new "side door" case. Starting with the smurf, er, I mean, blueberry G3 and finally ending up here with the Mirrored Drive Doors.

I think that this will probably be the end of the line with the case design?the tower case has been essentially the same since 1999 and is the last hold over from the old "colorful" era in Apple history.

But enough about that.... what i wanna know is which tower iteration do you like best?

For me, I LOVE the quicksilver. Cleanest lines, and most "mature" looking. MDD looks like too much of an afterthought. And the original g4 is too much of a compromise between something new and the old smurg G3.

What do you think?

what is the name of the style for the top right? thats an awesome design, the new ones are quazi-bland in my opinion

[Dont Hurt Me]

cube was cool just not as upgradable. Therefore I have to say the Quicksilver had the cleanest and sleekest look. Apple made a great design and when you make something that works it just keeps on going no matter the little changes. from the blue g3 to the MDD this has been a great case design. Maybe next a solid white one with a 970 in it!

[eyelikeart]

I'm going with the first G4...

that G3 casing...with it's ghosted image of the "G3" in it's side...cheesy...

the current G4 is a pain in the ass as far as design goes...there's no friggin' reset button on it!!!

the Quicksilver G4...eh...seems more like a quick fix to create something new more than innovation...

dig it... ;)

[beez7777]

"Simplicity is the greatest sophistication." -Thoreau

Out of those, i'm gonna have to say the quicksilver by far. But the cube was a sweet design, too bad it didn't sell that well.

[alset]

Quicksilver all the way. Though something still appeals about the MDD when you have some serious time to get used to it. It's grew on me really seductive about the nice, firm door clopping shut when you insert a disc.

Dan

[medea]

my fav design is the current iMac....it is perfect.
if it has to be just in the powermac category then I'd say the cube, design wise it was near perfect.

[Kid Red]

Quicksilver. But weren't there two versions of the QS? I thought the sides or the plastic chaged or something.

Also, the MMD are jsut off balanced. The wind tunnels are useless and the chrome gets finger prints on it so easily.

Either way, the next case will have a chrome Apple on the side which should look sweet on any case.

The cube was sweet as well, I wonder how it would look if it was designed this year.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by Kid Red
Quicksilver. But weren't there two versions of the QS? I thought the sides or the plastic chaged or something.

Also, the MMD are jsut off balanced. The wind tunnels are useless and the chrome gets finger prints on it so easily.

Either way, the next case will have a chrome Apple on the side which should look sweet on any case.

The cube was sweet as well, I wonder how it would look if it was designed this year.

Why would you touch the chrome? I know unless you have an Apple LCD you have to use the power button on the front but you don't have to touch the chrome just the button.

Trust me spend some time with a MDD and you will prefer it the QuickSilvers are just bland in comparrison.

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by MacBandit


Why would you touch the chrome? I know unless you have an Apple LCD you have to use the power button on the front but you don't have to touch the chrome just the button.

Trust me spend some time with a MDD and you will prefer it the QuickSilvers are just bland in comparrison.

Good I can't wait to get mine!

In response to an earlier post, I don't think the G3 b/w look 'cheesy' - they rule. Alright, they look a little dated now, but Apple were proud of that chip, and it immediately said "G3" like a hardcore computer!

[DakotaGuy]

Okay I am probably about the only one, but I thought the Blueberry G3 kicked butt, love the huge, yet soft "G3" on the side. REMEMBER they plastered that on the side, because it was actually true, the G3 was kicking the crap out of Pentiums of the time. I also liked the blue pinstriped look. My iMac has that look to the plastic on the front of the screen. On mine, it creates a neato look with the pinstriping around the screen running vertical and the pinstriping on OSX menus running horzontial.

Other then that, I like the new Mirrored Doors case, I think it is sharp, but "Blue" still wins...

[MacBandit]

Just wait until I repaint my MDD Black. Nothing goes together as well as Chrome and Black do. Everyone will be totally jealous then.

[wolfywolfbits]

G4 Cube.

People still stop and ask me about it when they see it.