G5 Tower design

[mischief]

I want to know who wants what in terms of Case design.We seem to have a good mix of casual and power users so this may work out well:

1. Geek factor X ........ Thumb screws, modularity and ease of Access. Screw the curves.

2. Contemporary American "Muscle Car". Not quite so Geek friendly but at least not ignoring the power user.

3. About what the Quicksilver's like: Kinda easy but an obvious compromise that borders on irritating.

4. What's a Power User? I just want a bigger screen. A tower's better right?

[mcrain]

A good poll attempts to obtain the unbiased input of the poll-taker. In order to do that, the poll must be fasioned in such a way that no choice seems more appropriate or desired than any other choice, so that the poll-taker's personal opinion is the only deciding factor.

Here, the poll is clearly biased, thus any results will not be instructive.

I personally vote for the baddest machine possible even though I'm not a power user. I want all the bells and whistles.

By the way, what the heck is a power user, and towers are better right?

[mischief]

Cool off........

I make no effort to hide my oppinion to stimulate discussion. If I wanted accurate data do you think I'd poll on a Mac Rumors forum?:rolleyes: :p

[mcrain]

I'm not upset, just being expressive. I personally agree with your viewpoint that apple needs to come out with a killer machine that the tech and geek world will drool over, but it has to have a few concessions for people like me. People like me spend tons of money on computing power we don't need, and Apple needs our cash. (Please spare me the 5 bil in the bank arguments)

As for discussion purposes, I don't think you are going to get much argument about putting the maximum horsepower into a tower, but I think if your point is that Apple should put out an ugly machine, then your point should be made clearer.

I want apple to continue making aesthetically pleasing machines. I'd sacrifice some (albiet a little) pro-power to keep my apple from looking like an old Compaq, or even an old Apple PowerPC.

[mischief]

Although the Polycarb slab is cool......Apple must stop compromising Pro-User features solely to improve aesthetics. I too like a nice looking tower but there must be a limit.

As I said elsewhere:

I figure modularity is where it's at. The problem is: where do you draw the line between form and function.

If you build a tower for optimal geek-friendliness it will lose some of it's sex appeal to raw tech-savvy. If you design a slab of smooth polycarbonate it will lose out on accessability.

Personally......I want function over sex-toy like curves.

I want a tower that'll fit under the desk with the cables coming out the top.


I want the drives arranged longitudinally with the case for a slimmer profile.

I want the HD controller OFF THE MOBO so if I want something else I can have it without wasting mobo space.

I want all the drives arranged such that the cables can reach ALL OF THEM without monkeying them in there.

I want the round drive cables.

I want drives mounted with thumb screws and a reel-away integral grounding strap.

I want the front bank of drives set up to be accessed from the front of the case as if they were all removeable media drives.

I want nothing but MP towers.

I want 8 RAM slots.

I want four high-quality variable-speed fans with sound-concious ducting.

I want room for 6 HD's and 2 optical drives.......screw the internal Zip they cost the same as the external kits and modify a drive space for no good reason.

I want the whole case set up like a funny car: no crammed components.....no inadequate cables.....no inexplicably tight framing.....no unused parts on the mobo.


I'm quite irritated with the fact that so many rich schmucks buy towers for home use and NEVER utilize ANY of the features that make them cool other than varying the monitor size.

I think a pro machine should be a ****ing pro machine and that's the end of it. I want a tower that'd scare away these spoiled brat-consumers with sheer geek factor. I want a tower we can really put in the "muscle-car" category. I want a tower that a power-geek could fiddle with all day without injury, a screwdriver or a hacksaw. I want ADEQUATE FANS. The existing cluge of heat sinks and half-*ssed fan assemblys is an embarrasment that shows the timid compromise of design over substance.



Bottom line: I want a Tower to make PC Hardware nuts ejaculate just looking at it.

[eyelikeart]

hey....it's mischief's poll....when has he been known to be biased anyway?!

maybe we should be able to design our own Macs and then we can all be happy? ;)

[germanknee]

i don't think that apple would have to compromise between appearance and power. i'm confident in the id department at apple.

if they did have to, i wouldn't care what the thing looked like; as long as it was fast, stable, and of high quality, i could deal with the sight of it.

[crassusad44]

What's this??? Isn't the current tower design any good? I have never seen a computer so easy to open and add stuff to. Ever tried to open an IBM? Or an E-machine??? Yeah, I want more stuff in there too, like faster motherboard, more PCI-slots and so on, but the tower as of now is great. I have a bad-ass computer with sex-appeal... :D :) ;)

[oldMac]

I love the current drop-down door with the motherboard sitting on it. You should see how much I curse my Dell in comparison to opening my B&W G3.

The drive bay setup does kind of suck, though. Lots of wasted space, no logical cable routing.

[oldMac]

I think more modularity would be cool.

Apple once made a machine (the IIsi inparticular - and possibly other in the II series) that could be completely disassembled without using a single tool. Everything, including drives, motherboard, fan and power supply were held in place by clips, plugs and other tension devices.

You could strip the entire device down to the motherboard within 60 seconds.

I would like to see that kind of modularity applied to the hardware *AND* software for the Macintosh. Mac OS 7 was close to that level of software modularity, we lost it over time and started to see it come back recently.

The hardware modularity, (pulling and replacing power supplies, drives, etc) would be very nice for server hardware. This would be especially true if this modularity could be put in place to allow the expansion of a professional-level box into a server-level box with little additional cost.

Think LEGO-type functionality for adding/swapping drives, redundant fans and power supplies.

[Mindtrics]

Ive have been wondering for some time what the new powermac g5 is going to look like. I was hoping to find a picture of sorts in this thread, but o well.

I dont own a Mac now and haven't for years. I have been concidering buying a New Mac, but Im waiting for the g5 to arrive b4 I make the purchase. I hope that they make the tower design look cool, like the g3/g4's. But I am also hoping that they make it moddable.

Here's a pict of what my current pc is using(case) (http://www.frozencpu.com/cgi-bin/quikstore.cgi?search=yes&detail=yes&product=Cas-03&category=Blizzard_Cases&keywords=&hits_seen=&page=search.html)

If you looked, that case has 5 fans, a window w/ light.
A nicely modded case. That keeps the mb, cpu, gpu and drives cool. And the games running smoothly.

[tortus]

I could care less what the case looks like. It would be a plus if it adopted some kind of post-modern, industrial design (bauhaus influence preferred.) I just want the g5. That is all. I want the performance. You know what else would be nice...CPU upgradability. It would be nice to plop in a better processor a year after I buy my g5 without having to buy a Sonnet card. This will allow me to also sell my old CPU on ebay to some genius that figures out how to adopt the g5 to the current g4 system architecture :P Come on Apple, get with the program. Lower prices and allow me to upgrade the brain whenever I feel frisky. Screw the case. I hardly see my case. I look at two monitors for 12 hours a day. I forget what my case looks like.

[Pants]

metal - it has to be metal. and thinner than teh current g4 (slightly shorter would be nice too)

[iGav]

Going back to the post root.....

I hope it will be made out of metal....... minimal...... monolithic......very squared-off, sharp lines with laser engraved G5 on the side....... a glowing Apple logo on the side too!!!

Firewire 2 and USB 2 ports on the front of the machine...... with all logos laser engraved........

Slot loading drives, so not to have those cup holder things popping out all of the time!!

And be completely impenetrable to diamond drills...... and have a hovercraft function to allow it to be easily moved!!!:p

[iGav]

pants:
metal - it has to be metal. and thinner than teh current g4 (slightly shorter would be nice too)

Yeh!!! Monolithic..........:D

but with hovercraft funtionality as it'll have no carrying handles to disrupt those monolithic lines........:p

[wrylachlan]

I keep posting this idea, but then the thread always disappears before I get any feedback.

Modular design with two units: a CPU Module which sits under the desk and has the motherboard and pci bus connected by a Cable Bundle to an Input Module (looks like a smaller iMac base) that sits on the desk and has the ports and optical drive, and maybe an open drive bay for a zip or second optical drive.

The CPU module would be more efficient at heat dispersal because without the optical drive in the tower you could put fans on the back and front - lots of air flow.

With all the things you need to connect to on your desk, no more stooping over to put disks in the drive, or dealing with ports underneath and in the back of your desk.

This would sort of go with apple's design philosophy of each part being "true to itself" (admittedly some pretentious jargon). The CPU Module is for heat dispersal, and the Input Module is for connectivity.What do you think folks?

[Mr. Anderson]

Everyone seems to be talking about metal, metal, metal...

Why?

Given Apple's track record lately, there is no doubt in my mind that if the G5 is a redesign (should be), that it will be beyond our expectations. Look at the flat screen iMac, no one came close to guessing what it would look like.

Try to think like Apple's design group has to. Throw everything out that you arleady know and start with no preconceived ideas.

Start with what you have to build into the design.

CD/DVD access
Cable ports (USB,Firewire, Power, etc.)
Space for harddrives
Space for expansion cards
Transformer

The mother board can be configured to fit the enclosure after all of the above things are arranged.

Construction with metal makes curved surfaces much more costly, not that its not possible. But why would Apple add more cost to a product when they could make something just as slick with plastic. Sure, some people will have no problem coming up with the extra cash for a metal machine. If the G5 is the speed demon its been rumored, the industry will sit up and take notice, but they need to get more people in the seat behind a G5, and the only way to do that is to make it affordable.

[iGav]

Using metal would be approaching the construction differently...... look at the Ti Book, the use of Titanium and clever design, material and construction techniques allow the Ti Book the luxury of more advanced heat dissipation i.e that the whole casing becomes a giant heat sink.....

Also metal isn't exactly a common material interms of constructing towers..... using metal would also differentiate the Pro-sumer from the Consumer machines.....

I quite like the idea of a sharp lined, crisp minimal machine..... Monolithic maybe?? much like the Ti book when closed, sure it wouldn't be to everyones taste, but neither is the imac or the ibook.....

I think the G5 will be an incredible example of innovative product design, but it's the little details that Apple specialise in that make their machines really stand out for instance does the machine have to be really curvey?? there are many conotations that can be applied to shapes, curvey, soft lines, light colours can be interpreted as to being more friendly, more approachable etc etc..... the same can be said of using metal, having hard crisp lines = strength etc.....

And having the detailing such as logos etc. laser etched into the case would look outstanding...... this kind of detailing is what sets Apple apart......

They'll undoubtedly be looking at the use of various materials, the advantages of using plastics over metals etc... and ultimately will decide on the most suitable with regards to aesthetical and operational functionality!!! I just think having a slab of minimalist metal on my desk would look rather cool and fit into the look of my flat rather well.....

[iGav]

I do actually quite like the concept of a modular G5...... I definitley think that having the most widely used ports such as Firewire and USB should be easily accessible...... i.e. situated at the front of the machine, so it allows easy plug and play, also have Firewire and USB ports on the module underneath the desk...... so you can stack up with other goodies.......

Think is, I quite like having the mac on display, as opposed to underneath a desk......

but I completely see tha validity in have 2 seperate components, increased desk space is always a luxury for creatives.......

[iGav]

I do actually quite like the concept of a modular G5...... I definitley think that having the most widely used ports such as Firewire and USB should be easily accessible...... i.e. situated at the front of the machine, so it allows easy plug and play, also have Firewire and USB ports on the module underneath the desk...... so you can stack up with other goodies.......

Think is, I quite like having the mac on display, as opposed to underneath a desk......

but I completely see tha validity in have 2 seperate components, increased desk space is always a luxury for creatives.......

[mischief]

I played with layout a bit last night while waiting for my carpool. I settled on a single housing with 3 compartments by function......each with it's own fan(s) and ducting.

Case consists of a monolithic assembly 18"x18"x8" which occupies a similar amount of space as the existing tower once the handles and slight side curvature are factored.

Similar aesthetic to this case: http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/Gx.html]

But without all the extra curves, keep the dome front and slight flare of the side panels. Overall look more like: http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/G5-2.html]

The dome in front, occupying the top 1/2 of thr front panel is the mobo proper: a Cube size mobo w/ 8 RAM slots and as many as 8 Gn processors. the dome unlatches and swings open.

Below the dome are two tray-load optical drives-which are the front 2 drive bays in the drive section........ which runs along the bottom 5" of the case. The drive compartment holds 2 full-height optical drives and as many as 6 HD's. Frames and thumb-screws included for up to 6 drives.

The entire remainder of case volume is occupied by 6 PCI slots arranged vertically. Only the optical drives run from the mobo. All HD's run from a factory installed 3rd party drive-host PCI card.

Case has up to 4 fans. Access to rear and bottom portion is through a hatch like the one we all know and love but since the mobo is up front the PCI bus can be along the inside of the non-door side of the case. Modularity could allow for swapping PCI bus architecture, mobo and drives seperately.

Power supply is moved out like the cube's brick (flame bait :D ) to remove it's heat and wasted space. Airport and other "peripheral" I/O cards (like the modem) move to a series of PCMCIA slots along the PCI-chamber side of the mobo.

I call it the Gx Gorgon. With an upgraded ADC and Firewire moved to the monitor you'd have that top-access issue taken care of. All standard connectors save those for networking move to the Gorgon's "forehead", Networking connectors move to the rear of the PCI compartment's exterior.

[3rdpath]

1) rack-mountable from the factory

2) whisper-quiet operation

[Mr. Anderson]

add a few slots for cd/dvd and you get a toaster!!

don't like the metal picture from mischief's post, too boxy, flat, with sharp edges

there was a design way back (~1-2 years) by some Italians with a very slick tower design that reminded me of chrome locomotive. Can't find anything now, anyone know what I'm talking about?

[lordsinforge]

Originally posted by dukestreet

there was a design way back (~1-2 years) by some Italians with a very slick tower design that reminded me of chrome locomotive. Can't find anything now, anyone know what I'm talking about?


If memory serves that was buy some group that midified the G4 case for water cooling the prossessor, the case served as a giant radiator, dissapating the heat. If I remember correctly they overclocked the hell out of the prossesor.

[Mr. Anderson]

I couldn't find it, so I made it up from memory.

This is very rough, 3D version of something I saw 2 years ago online. It was chrome, and the horizontal slats were there along with the 'eye'. But it might not have been red.

[iGav]

Wasn't the Mac that looked like a loco that Xtreme G4 thingy??? :confused:

It reminded me of a loco also a toaster and a expresso machine aswell!!!!:D

Actually the link that mischief put with the boxy G5 is disturbingly close to how I was imagining it to look...... but in chrome:p

I still think the firewire 2 and usb 2 ports should be at the front....... and it needs to have G5 laser etched on the side!! Remember how cool it felt when you had those huge G3 letters visible to all on the side of the B&W macs!! Oh yes........

Althouth Apple should offer the badgeless option like BMW do....... well those that own 316 have them de-badged as its quite embarrassing!!:p

If you own a M5 you keep that badge baby!!! Burn!!!:D

[mischief]

I liked the simplicity and iPod-like look of the "boxy" one.

The form factor I had in mind was effectively a straight morph of the two if the "locomotive"'s "cow catcher" went away. Basically I liked having the processor, RAM and stripped mobo under that dome lookin section and then flaring out to the full width for the PCI section in the back. I wanted to sketch it out with shark-gill looking vents in the sides and two Manta ray mouth style air intakes in the front between the mobo and the Optical drives.

I just don't have the time to do it in CAD and convert it to a QTVR, make an iTools homepage to it then post a link.

[iGav]

It is!!
It is!!
It is!!

I I can't find a picture of the thing either:mad:

Anyone know where to find this puppy??

And wasn't it super cooled or something???

[rekras]

mischief i think you need to get outside a little bit...

[mcrain]

They should make the new G5 out of Balsa wood. That way it wouldn't conduct electricity and would be really light. If not that, they could always look into ceramics or masonry. Nothing says longevity more than brick. Heck, they could make the pro-models out of real masonry and the consumer level ones out of brick veneer. Then, they could have special tile models for the designers out there. :D

[mischief]

This is my first desk job. A year of nothing but clicking and walking 15 feet to the john has ruined my physique. I feel like a 50 year old man. Ack.:(

[barkmonster]

Here's what I want the towers to be like:

Dual upright and horizontal orientation with option rack ears.

How this would work is that the hard drive bays would be mounted in a square enclosure that can be snapped in place either horizontally or vertically. Same for the Optical drives, only with the addition of a 2nd CDrom bay.

Also I would like apple work on the case design to allow it to run cooler without using fans or at least only use one ultra silent fan.

I want my damn eject buttons back, how "ease of use" is no eject buttons exactly ?

they could do to put 1 USB port, 1 Firewire port and a headphone jack on the front of the unit rather than round the back too.

That should be about all that needs changing from my point of view apart from not skimping on the Level 3 cache for the entry level tower and putting the audio inputs back.

[teabgs]

They need to put the power button back on the keyboard! I use it EVERY DAY. I do not shut down my machine most of the time, but I do put it to sleep. It is soooooo much easier to push the power button and then hit enter and walk away then it is to move the mouse, click apple go down to sleep. Seriously, about 1 second and that includes pushing your chair in!!

I want the power button back when I get my new computer! Come on G5, bring the power *button* back!!

[Mr. Anderson]

I like the idea of both the eject and power down buttons. Simple, clean and a 1 button push option for simple tasks.

[mischief]

I'm beginning to think perhaps they're gonna drop them entirely and just go with a touchscreen and handwriting recognition.

[Mr. Anderson]

Touch screen?

Sony had one for about a week - it didn't last. It will be a while before you get something that sophisticated at the consumer level.

Handwriting recognition?

And you're changing not only hardware, but software as well. How would you write on the screen?

If there ever is an automated text system in mainstream computing it will be with speech recognition, not handwriting. Start thinking hands free.

[alex_ant]

In terms of enclosure design, I think SGI has always been way ahead of everyone else, Apple included. SGI sucks now, and I miss the days when they were really a company to be admired, with products to match. Anyway, I was thinking that the case design of the desktop SGI Origin 200 (1997-2001?), still looking cutting-edge today, would be quite fitting for a G5.

The photo of this machine is below. Basically imagine a silver version of this, some parts metal (e.g. the sides) and the rest a similarly-colored plastic. Incorporate a fold-down motherboard drawer the same as in current G4 case design. Slap a big slightly-darker-than-the-rest-of-the-case silver Apple logo on the sides. The entire front of the Origin is actually a door that can be opened to reveal almost a dozen hot-swap drive bays (this is a server, after all). Most of those drive bays wouldn't be necessary in a Mac; make the door smaller and add USB/Firewire ports on the front panel somewhere.

The Origin had only three fans, (one on the CPU, one in the power supply, one at the front), but it was still loud as all get out. That's unacceptable for a Mac. I want one QUIET chassis fan at most. To the poster who complained about the large heatsinks in advocating five fans in the case - I say why? The fewer fans you need, the more efficient and well-designed your enclosure is, the less energy you use, the less dust gets sucked into your system, the less noise your system makes, and the fewer parts there are inside the system that could malfunction. I consider having NO fans the ultimate goal. Apple ought to revive the Cube strategy of removing the power supply from the case.

By the way, those of you with neon-lit windows in the sides of your cases - do you realize how lame you are or are your Frodo ears deafening you to the criticism?

Alex

(Sorry, the post didn't include the picture - it is at http://www.sgi.com/origin/200/images/home_200.jpg

[mischief]

Handwriting recognition is already built into X and Apple pioneered it's development through Newton.

Voice rec sounds good until you really think on it a bit.

Picture it:

Apple's main campus.........buildings full of cubicles in open-floorplan office space..........all is serene outside but upon entering the building: Suddenly we are submerged in the chaos of over a thousand 1 sided conversations, phonecalls, dictation.etc.

Now picture the home user: His wife (hopefully) asleep in the next room our protagonist verbally boots IE. (whispering) "Go to: titties dot com." The Mac responds with an error message: Please speak up I can't hear you. (Frustrated, normal conversational tone) "Go to Titties dot com"..........(From the other room) "Honey? Why are you up so late? And why are you surfing for smut???"

Sounds cool but it's a bad idea.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by mischief
Handwriting recognition is already built into X and Apple pioneered it's development through Newton.

Voice rec sounds good until you really think on it a bit. Suddenly we are submerged in the chaos of over a thousand 1 sided conversations, phonecalls, dictation.etc.

Sounds cool but it's a bad idea.

I have to disagree here.

Ever hear of signal processing? If you where a headset with a mic, even if you whisper, its going to be many dB above most background noise, which makes it easy to filter out.

Now, granted in a Dilbert environment, some one yelling across a cubicle might get picked up, but thats not going to happen all that often.

Besides, the voice recognition would have to be tied into a switch of somesort, mouse click, what ever so that it only activates when on.

But my main arguement would be that this is in the future, not any time soon. There is no way any computer is going to get rid of the mouse and keyboard in the next 5 years.

I just hope we see the G5 in less time.

[mischief]

Have you ever tried to do tech support by phone?

Try Via voice once with food in your mouth or...say.....a chest cold.

It'll be the Betamax of I/Os - an interesting idea that went nowhere.

It's cool to WANT Star Trek but LAME to EXPECT it.

Compare handwriting rec to voice rec at the technology level. Voice rec is great for the disabled and supplementing other inputs but it SUX as a main input.

[Mr. Anderson]

You want to place a bet and see where this all is in 5 years?

I agree there are some issues with the technology, but the evolution of the computer won't be stopped by a head cold.

[mischief]

Though it may seem advantageous for pigs to have wings and it may even be genetically possible there are 2 problems:

1. Why would I waste my time making Pigs fly when Chickens already can?

2. Would you really want pig excrement falling from high altitudes?

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by mischief
Though it may seem advantageous for pigs to have wings and it may even be genetically possible there are 2 problems:

1. Why would I waste my time making Pigs fly when Chickens already can?

2. Would you really want pig excrement falling from high altitudes?

Yeah, but chickens don't fly very well. They're not migratory, no.

Integration of a touch screen and handwriting recognition is something for PDAs. If pdas evolve into larger, faster machines (pc getting smaller and smaller), this too might come to pass.

More likely the keyboard will be for a long time and the other techs will be offered as upgrades or options.

[Digidesign]

According to SpyMac and other reliable reporting sources, the next generation G5 case will feature brushed chrome "monolith" configurations sporting a central circular "digital hub" interface, which will be covered to prevent people poke-poking it like the current quicksilvers.

http://www.macdesktops.com/images/480x832/Hal480x832.jpg

It also sings "Daisy,...Daisy" and will kick your ass in space!

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Digidesign
According to SpyMac and other reliable reporting sources

You shouldn't really call SpyMac reliable. Its just not right. What are your othe sorces?

[iGav]

Digidesign, that's brilliant....... LOL:p

[sparkleytone]

liquid g5.

[Mr. Anderson]

liquid g5.

I'm not sure I get this, sorry.

[iGav]

Genius.....:p

Then it could take the shape of anything you'd want it too!!!:p

What would I want it to look like though??? now the question???

[AlphaTech]

Hey alex_ant, that SGI station looks a lot like my UPS (from MGE inc.).

Digidesign, listing spymac along with reliable sources is like calling hitler a nice guy, it just doesn't work.

How about having a system built on the same liquid metal tech as seen in Terminator 2??? :D... You can then make it into whatever shape you wanted. Anything from a tower to an ultra compact portable.

[Digidesign]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Digidesign, listing spymac along with reliable sources is like calling hitler a nice guy, it just doesn't work.

you silly silly people,... can't you recognize sarcasm when you see it? :p

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by Digidesign


you silly silly people,... can't you recognize sarcasm when you see it? :p

Sure we do... when it is done right... :D

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
How about having a system built on the same liquid metal tech as seen in Terminator 2??? :D... You can then make it into whatever shape you wanted. Anything from a tower to an ultra compact portable.

T2 couldn't change mass - over all size stays the same - just shape is altered. But that would still be very cool. You want 10 USB plugs, no problem. How about 4 monitor support. The fully customizable computer. Hell, you could wear it if you wanted, now that would be slick.

Only thing, is if it got angry at you, well, we know what happens then...

"The Apple Liquid G5 - Just don't piss it off!"

[AlphaTech]

dukestreet, ROTFLMAO!!!

You better skip through the dell commercials while you have that on too...

Another cool feature could be true immersion video, like an arc of screens for you to look at. THAT would make UT sweet... you could just turn your head to see who was lining a shot up on you :D. It would also change computing forever (sort of like what Apple did in 1984 :D ).

Imagine having a computer that could give you a monacle while you are walking around in the mall, and let you see it's take on stuff... Of course, it would have to have a good AI (good from the Apple user point of view of course). I just wonder how would you upgrade it's parts??? Like adding memory, storage space and the like.

[mischief]

EXTREMELY cool.

Upgrading could be done with an innoculation of nanites to reconfigure the default patterns of the thing's matrix. Nothing says you couldn't do it as an organ:eek: either.

Once tech gets to the LC computer stage things'll get kinda silly:

If you can do a self-configuring implanted computer with wireless everything and nanites do the configuring and upgrading the next step is obvious: Pocket-reality. Dump the device into a little null-space pocket and feed it a few hundred thousand gallons of raw material. I/O is accomplished through SCQUID implants the size of a grain of sand throughout the brain.No perceptible device and nearly infinite processing capability. Heat escapes into TimeSpace through a thin wall of energy and power is drawn from the stress of the T/S pocket.

[mischief]

I "popped" a sci-fi RPG with one of these once. The GM never saw it coming.

[AlphaTech]

Hey mischief.... sweeeeeet... when can I get one of those puppies????

Maybe we could even use some of those nanites to repair parts of us :D. That would be something else... slide me a message if you want to talk RPG sometime...

[mischief]

The millitary is already tinkering with the maintenance package. Funny thing about nanites......they don't like to stay put. How about immortality as an STD?:D

http://news.com.com/2100-1001-859877.html?legacy=cnet&tag=st.cn.sr1.dir.

[AlphaTech]

mischief, that would give a entire new meaning to being ******** immortal... :D

[mischief]

The problem occurs when we get this stuff rampant in the general environment.

You can't stop a reproduction-based organism from reproducing......eventually it'd get out into the biosphere (mosquitos) and we'd really have to get it together in a hurry.

What do you do with a planet with SICKENINGLY high tech and effectively immortal creatures?

You start terraforming other worlds as fast as you can that's what.:D

There's a lot of tech being neatly kept under wraps that would make this possible. ("hop" drives and such)

[Tenniru]

Bah. No towers! I want it all in one peice like the iMacs! Hmmm... iMac G5... yesh. Mabye it can look like the original Mac 68k on the outside. With a LCD screen. That'd be cute. Or mabye even sell it in diffirent shapes and colors! A VW shaped green Mac... Kewl.

Just, I HOPE all the tower and monitor are all build in to eachother like iMac.

[kishba]

I'd love it if they could make a computer very similar to the cube again for their tower (maybe make it bigger like the NeXT cube)

I was SOOO going to buy a cube (I was just saving up money) and then they stopped making them!

[krossfyter]

good to see that this thread is still rocking. good one mischief

[Tenniru]

Yah, make the G5 an all-in-one computer like iMac. Towers and monitors seperate require too much assembly. My sister's iMac G3 was up and running in an hour.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Tenniru
Yah, make the G5 an all-in-one computer like iMac.

Absolutely


Not!

The G5 as the new top of the line Mac, HAS TO BE expandable, multiple drive bays, video cards, sound cards, etc. Some day when the G5 has had a good run, like the G4, you'll see it in the iMac, but not first.

No way:D

[Tenniru]

Aw, c'mon. Don't be so picky. Ah, one thing. The all-in-one Macs like the Power Mac 500s could be popped right open. And besides, you have to go throug driver installing and plugging in and calibrating takes forever. My sister's iMac G3 was up within an HOUR! Hour! Geez, dude. And why is the cube so cool? I mean, not many ports, external CD (Maaan,) And it MELTS! That's why Apple canceled them. If it didn't melt, it would still be in. Oh, one thing. The towers are ugly.

[King Cobra]

What if the new G5 was in the form of a large and thick Powerbook? That way, if you have high amounts of heat coming out there would be plenty of room for cooling and a Superdrive. Why not get a 17.4 inch LCD screen with a super high resolution? And why not make it a metallic chrome, as many have suggested for the upcoming Powerbook G4?

You can plug it in, or leave it unplugged with a limited battery.

It looks like this:

[kishba]

Originally posted by King Cobra
What if the new G5 was in the form of a large and thick Powerbook? That way, if you have high amounts of heat coming out there would be plenty of room for cooling and a Superdrive. Why not get a 17.4 inch LCD screen with a super high resolution? And why not make it a metallic chrome, as many have suggested for the upcoming Powerbook G4?

You can plug it in, or leave it unplugged with a limited battery.

It looks like this:

i'm sorry but that would be sorta silly

if i buy a powermac i expect it to be a tower and only a tower

i want the freedom of choosing my own monitor(s)

[kishba]

oh and the tower is already as portable as it needs to be -- those darn handles are just cool

[King Cobra]

What can I say? I have every line of computer products from Apple (an iMac, an iBook, a PowerMac) EXCEPT a Titanium. I'm obsessed!

So maybe that would be a nice design for a 2003 Powerbook G5. Who knows?
________________

In the time it takes to read this message, an Apple computer will already have performed 15 billion float-point operations more than a consumer PC.

[mischief]

Originally posted by Tenniru
And besides, you have to go throug driver installing and plugging in and calibrating takes forever. My sister's iMac G3 was up within an HOUR! Hour! Geez, dude. And why is the cube so cool? I mean, not many ports, external CD (Maaan,) And it MELTS! That's why Apple canceled them. If it didn't melt, it would still be in. Oh, one thing. The towers are ugly.

When have YOU ever worked on a Mac?

The average mac takes 10 minutes to get running from the time you get it in the room. Plug it together, turn it on. Done.

The cube had built in DVD-ROM. What the hell are you talking about "external CD" ? Are you drunk? Have you ever seen a Cube? Or is all of this just nonmac propoganda from some PC idiot in your Algebra2 class 3rd period?

MELTS? ????? That's complete hogwash. I've sold, worked on and run HUNDREDS of Cubes.:rolleyes:

The biggest issue with the Cube was it's flat top and touch-sensitive power button. Having a Touch sensetive switch would have worked fine IF it had been on the front.Having it on the top just made accidentally putting it to sleep nearly unavoidable. The switch was in the place most likely to be randomly touched.

Go look at xlr8yourmac for it's mod page. A dude fit a DUAL 500G4 card in one.

Melt............Sheez...........the Cube was killed because people would walk right past it. It was TOO visually low impact. People would come in several times and think that it was a Subwoofer and......like maybe the Tower was somewhere else.:p I actually had to argue with the occasional customer and pull it all appart as far as pulling the guts out to prove it was the CPU. The Cube failed from the poor placement of it's switch and it's lack of visual impact.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by Tenniru
The towers are ugly.

By your standards maybe, but the Mac Towers totally blow the competition out the water in terms of design. Look at how every other computer manufacturer played catch-up when Mac started with none beige colors.

Until you can fit all possible options in a smaller space, towers will be around for a while, form follows function. If you don't like it, go get a laptop, your choice. Me, I want power, plain and simple.

I can't wait to see what they come up with when the new design is introduced.

[mischief]

Check out this monstrosity:

http://lowendmac.com/ppc/g3aio.shtml

That thing was the size of an Apple 21" CRT and had PCI slots and the whole shebang. It was however also the single UGLIEST Mac ever.:D

[iGav]

I'm glad that mischief answered that one...

I don't like ever accusing anyone of speaking total ******.......:p

I'm so inagreement with dukestreet... the new G5 Tower will be absolutely mind blowing!!!:D

Then the world can eat our dust!!!:D :D :D

[AlphaTech]

The power switch/button was actually a proximity type. That is why people that passed things close enough to it would either turn the cube on, or get the startup/shutdown options window.

[Tenniru]

Aah, umm, ah... if the newest Mac type has to use big time fancy tower crap, then look at the first G3. And the first Powermac? All in one. At least have a slot where you can slide a special monitor into the side of the tower. Two peice computers can take up lots of desk space.

[mischief]

THE TOWER DOES NOT GO ON THE DESK!!!!!!!!!!

[alex_ant]

I would like a version of the Power Mac that fits under (or, considering Apple is now all LCD, behind) the monitor, kind of in the same basic shape as the old Mac LC III but with a much-updated curvy translucent look. 2 PCI slots, a slot-load drive, VERY QUIET, video and everything else integrated onto the motherboard. It would cost less than a tower, as well, and it might actually better satisfy those who are calling for rackmount Macs.

I know towers are much more versatile and whatnot, but pizzaboxes are just so much sexier, and this would fill the niche for a computer that is a bit more flexible than the iMac but not the full-on power-user machine the Power Mac is (or could be).

No, on second thought, I like that liquid metal idea better.

Alex

[teabgs]

Originally posted by mischief
THE TOWER DOES NOT GO ON THE DESK!!!!!!!!!!

That's just too funny. If I didnt just go to the bathroom I might have wet my pants!

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by mischief
Check out this monstrosity:

http://lowendmac.com/ppc/g3aio.shtml

That thing was the size of an Apple 21" CRT and had PCI slots and the whole shebang. It was however also the single UGLIEST Mac ever.:D

That's all fine and dandy, but that machine was the precursor to the first iMac and therefore you shouldn't knock it.

I was really pissed off when I bought my PM5500, then suddenly saw this US-only model, as I really could have done with a G3 back then for Unreal as it came out. Actually I think the PCI slots made the ol' G3 All-In-One a better machine than the Rev A iMac. I mean, the Rev A looks pitiful compared with the Rev B and Rev C. Try playing even low-level games on an ATI Rage II.

I think the G3 AIO was quite a good machine for its era (as if you hadn't guessed by now):)

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by iGAV
It is!!
It is!!
It is!!

I I can't find a picture of the thing either:mad:

Anyone know where to find this puppy??

And wasn't it super cooled or something???

the reason you can't find it is because it wasn't Xtreme, but xtrem . If you try searching in Google for xtrem mac you should find lots of pages (though you may need to look at the cached versions).

I started a thread not so long ago to find out if anyone knew what had happened to xtrem and their vapourware project. It didn't get very far.

Anyway, their website no longer exists at www.xtrem.com

Shame, because it was a good idea to liquid-cool a G4. It was Intel/AMD megahertz-competition and liquid-cooled Athlons that initially got the x86 architecture towards 1GHz, it it wouldn't have been a bad thing for Motorolla to have been given the same kick up the arse 2 years ago.

[mischief]

Originally posted by Dunepilot



I was really pissed off when I bought my PM5500, then suddenly saw this US-only model, as I really could have done with a G3 back then for Unreal as it came out. Actually I think the PCI slots made the ol' G3 All-In-One a better machine than the Rev A iMac. I mean, the Rev A looks pitiful compared with the Rev B and Rev C. Try playing even low-level games on an ATI Rage II.



First off: It wasn't just US only it was Education only.

Although I agree it was better cuz of it's PCI and ZIF, it was also HUGE. It no longer meshes with Apple's design vision to have an 18" cube of stuff dominating the desk. Therefore a Tower makes more sense for Pro, which is what we're talking about here.

If you want to discuss iMacs with PCI please, go start a thread. I started this discussion to hash out what we'd all like to see in the G5 PRO model when it comes out.........not an iMac mutant with PCI.

It's also taken on the tangent of future developments (G6+). But the thread head was definitely about PRO DESKTOP models.

[iGav]

Aha...... that explains all then.......

Maybe Apple crushed them because they were too close to being a clone!!:p

Or

They all melted.......:p

They certainly had mind blowing specs though for the time!! And looked cool aswell!!!:D

[AlphaTech]

Anyone else praying for the G5 to come out at MWNY???

I will be paying down my credit card as much, and as fast, as possible in the next few months. I am seriously thinking about stepping up my time frame for getting a new tower. I have several Mac games that I want to be able to play (the TiBook just chokes too much on UT for me). Besides, I have a sweet 17.4" lcd that I want to use, and my FireWire scanner too. I will definately have them yank the modem out (on DSL) and not sure about the optical drive. No need for zip disks, since cd's are so much cheaper and with no moving parts, fail less often.

[iGav]

I can't wait for a new case to come out.... pref with the G5 bolted in under the hood!!!

As I have big interest in Product design (well the design of pretty much anything actually) when a new case is introduced, that's when I really perk up......

I'm not so sure if the new case will be as revolutionary a jump from the current case interms of functionality, like the Blue and White G3's was from the beige desktop and minitower versions......, but whatever it's going to look pretty stunning...... I have complete faith in Ives & co.

I still hope it's going to be like a bigger TiBook, clean, uncluttered and made out of some exotic material just like the TiBook....., with a lovely big Apple logo on the side.....

The thing is, I don't think it will be... I really think Apple are going to pull something really amazing out of the bag on this one...... I don't know what it is.... I just have this feeling it's going to be something special, oh so very special.......:D

[iGav]

Reverend Alphatech.....

I'm praying...... a G5 at MWNY would be mindblowing.....

However I hope that when Apple do unleash this monster on us, its because the G5 is ready........ not like what happened with the G4...... :(

The G5 is going to be such an incredible machine..... both interms of the perfomance, capabilities and the aesthetics.......:D but I really hope when the machine is released... it is ready to go..... and not have the same problems that plagued the G4 because of it's rushed announcement.....

Now everyone join the Reverend Alphatech and pray for the G5.........:D

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by mischief


First off: It wasn't just US only it was Education only.

Although I agree it was better cuz of it's PCI and ZIF, it was also HUGE. It no longer meshes with Apple's design vision to have an 18" cube of stuff dominating the desk. Therefore a Tower makes more sense for Pro, which is what we're talking about here.

If you want to discuss iMacs with PCI please, go start a thread. I started this discussion to hash out what we'd all like to see in the G5 PRO model when it comes out.........not an iMac mutant with PCI.

It's also taken on the tangent of future developments (G6+). But the thread head was definitely about PRO DESKTOP models.

No need to jump down my throat. I'm hardly the first person to take this thread a little off-topic.

A tower obviously makes more sense for a pro-level machine, but I have always thought Apple should have the foresight to include 1 PCI slot on their entry-level machine.

Was it you who suggested PCMCIA modem etc for this proposed 'I want...' PowerMac? Wouldn't that be much more expensive to implement than sticking with PCI throughout?

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by iGAV
It is!!
It is!!
It is!!

I I can't find a picture of the thing either:mad:

Anyone know where to find this puppy??

And wasn't it super cooled or something???

the reason you can't find it is because it wasn't Xtreme, but xtrem . If you try searching in Google for xtrem mac you should find lots of pages (though you may need to look at the cached versions).

I started a thread not so long ago to find out if anyone knew what had happened to xtrem and their vapourware project. It didn't get very far.

Anyway, their website no longer exists at www.xtrem.com

Shame, because it was a good idea to liquid-cool a G4. It was Intel/AMD megahertz-competition and liquid-cooled Athlons that initially got the x86 architecture towards 1GHz, it it wouldn't have been a bad thing for Motorolla to have been given the same kick up the arse 2 years ago.

[AlphaTech]

Dunepilot... double posting will get you hurt. We don't take kindly to people trying to artifically inflate their post count. Your last post is a direct dupe of another you posted further up the page...

Hope you have your fire retardant shorts on, cause you should expect some flames...

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by iGAV
Now everyone join the Reverend Alphatech and pray for the G5.........:D

How about we hold a midnight vigil the eve before the keynote??? :D... everyone get your lighters ready

[iGav]

R.E.M.'s 'Everybody hurts' ready.....

just incase Apple bum us out!!!:p

[mischief]

PCMCIA is already implemented for Airport. It may be specialized for that particular card but it is on the mobo running through the comm circuit.

The idea was to get inexpensive, readily available components like the modem off the mobo and provide flexability in adding other similar devices.

As to adding PCI to an entry level machine: Why? It's a waste of space. If you're too cheap for a Tower you shouldn't complain.

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by iGAV
R.E.M.'s 'Everybody hurts' ready.....

just incase Apple bum us out!!!:p

How about Talking Heads Burning Down the House... Or better still, some heavy metal, in case the new towers are made from some metal (outside) like the TiBook is :D. Chrome up the outside (hard chrome so that it wears well) and you will have a hit. Even if they stick with G4 processors, I will go with a new tower in that case.

Just a confirmed chromoholic here :D

[AlphaTech]

mischief, how many of the pcmcia slots would you like to see??? Have you seen the price of pcmcia modems lately?? A good one (that won't crap out after a few months or year) runs over $100. I would rather have the modem plug into the motherboard then into a slot in the back. I know many people don't want to sacrificed PCI slots, just to have a pcmcia slot that they will probably never use.

Besides, pcmcia is used in laptops because of space restrictions, not for speed of interface. They also cost more (the cards do). Just check the cost of a FireWire PCI card and then a FireWire pcmcia card. You can also get dual function PCI cards (USB 2 and FireWire, USB 1.1 and FireWire as well as FireWire and SCSI) for not a lot of green.

In my opinion, pcmcia is an interface that is on it's way out. More and more laptops are coming with ports built in that used to be available via pcmcia cards (like modems and ethernet). Eventually, the laptops will have everything onboard (like the Mac's do) that you will need. If I was to guess-timate when pcmcia will be gone, I would have to say in under three years it will be no more. I see it going the way of adb.

[mischief]

I was effectively thinking aloud.

I basically would like to see modems go beyond 56k and be configged off the mobo.

I want a mac that I doesn't need a Cable or DSL modem. And I see no reason for having these components taking up space on an already cluttered mobo.

[iGav]

Chrome........... Oh yes, that'd be cool....... Especially on the TiBook......

I think they could well introduce a new case for the G4, the same way as the did with the Blue and White G3........ then they just changed the colour when the G4 came out....

Although imagine......... Apple release a chrome case for the new G4 and then when the G5 is released, they turn it......... SNOW....... Eww......:p

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by mischief
I was effectively thinking aloud.

I basically would like to see modems go beyond 56k and be configged off the mobo.

I want a mac that I doesn't need a Cable or DSL modem. And I see no reason for having these components taking up space on an already cluttered mobo.

ok... cable modems use the ethernet connection from the computer (best on the motherboard).

As for dial-up modems, the fcc (I believe) restricts the speeds to 53k maximum. Where Apple has the modem plugging into the motherboards presently is a good place. I can't see anything else using that spot. Also, with just the one plug in the back of the computer for the modem, it is very streamlined. Use it or don't, get the computer with, or without the modem, your choice (a bto option on all towers). You can also pull the modem off the motherboard if you want, and try to sell it to someone that needs, or could use, it.

Until Airport technology gets up to gigabit speeds, you will always want a network/internet connection on your computer. Laptops especially, since you never know what you will need when you go someplace. Most locations/companies have ethernet in place, but I am sure that there are some that haven't set it up yet and are still on modems to get ouside.

When was the last time you looked at an Apple motherboard??? Everything since the sawtooth motherboard was mostly function, but had some form thrown in. They have shifted things around some with the QuickSilvers. More to allow for better chip cooling and the extra PCI slot (when that was added) then anything else.

I wouldn't mind seeing an extra pair of FireWire ports off the motherboard, mainly for all the drives and devices I have then anything else. Then again, with a FireWire hub, that need goes away.

[AlphaTech]

iGAV, the only things snow is really good for is fights (snowball fights that is) and writing your name in :D

If Apple does make a white tower, they should call it something better... maybe ivory or alabaster... something better then a seasonal color, something that lasts for a long time.

Just an opinion/though...

I wonder who we should contact with suggestions for case colors.... Someone at Apple that will be make a difference. Anyone have Jobs email addy??????

[3rdpath]

i've been sitting on my checkbook for so long my backs out of alignment-truly i've been waiting since december-did get tempted by the dual1ghz but that just seems so stop-gap...

i think in light of apple's new hi-end lcd imac, we're gonna see a new case and design for the g5 that'll take us by surprise. my guess is an industrial yet cool design with easy internal access and an option for a horizontal rack mount configuration. i think the machines going to be much quieter to answer all of the jet-noise complaints. i also predict much more user-ordered configurability( pci slots, etc.) and a higher price to boot.

i'm thinking the price of the new g5 will really seperate the pro line from the consumer line-and i hope i can still afford it....:eek:

[mischief]

The idea was to be able to plug in directly.......no outside box with power brick in tow. 1 comm card for Cable,Ethernet, DSL and 56K. Either that or one each.

Basically I feel that the modem is better off if it was elsewhere.

Granted: The existing mobo is quite steamlined by industry standards but the Cube proved many of those functions could be done in half the square inch area of the existing mobo.

I think the traditional mobo is the most sensible but from a Geek's prespective I'd like to be able to swap or omit more components without resorting to a solder sucker and a pair of tweezers.

I want to see Apple do a mobo that can be continually upgraded the way nonmacs can. You bought a Harley cuz it will last you a LONG time and be at once easy to work on and easy to add to.......I want a G5 tower built on those principals.

[iGav]

I believe you could well be right with regards to the new price, making up peoples minds for them..... with regards to buying a iMac or a Power Mac....:(

I think the new Power Macs are going to be......... rockin'... I really cannot wait.... and you could also be right with an industrial looking design.....

as long as the thing ain't SNOW.........:p

Eww......:p

I think highly polished chrome..... the same for the TiBook....... someone must know Mr Jobs' email address, if not... maybe Mr Ives........ they must have friends........... other than each other that is.......

If anyone see's Jobs and Ives in a pub, then go up to them, and keep buying them After Shock, and see if you can get some gossip out of them...... failing that, leave the pub before they do, as obvioulsy you'll have started the Tab in Mr Jobs name!!!:p

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
Dunepilot... double posting will get you hurt. We don't take kindly to people trying to artifically inflate their post count. Your last post is a direct dupe of another you posted further up the page...

Hope you have your fire retardant shorts on, cause you should expect some flames...

I've no idea how that happened - I didn't choose to post it again. Is it something to do with the back button in the browser?

BTW - is immediately having one post following another also bad netiquette and is that what you refer to as a double-post?

If so, you did it 3 times there Alphatech!

[AlphaTech]

Individual postings, even if they are moments apart is not considered bad. I have two with one right after the other that came out that way, only becuase I had posted one, then saw something else to reply to. There are tons of times where you see a post, make a reply and then see that someone else made a comment that you want to answer to. Sometimes you can do it via an edit, but not always.

Just don't use the back button so much. You can use the control panel to see what is new and such (the CP).

[mcrain]

Ok, with all the gum flapping about repeat postings, I'm leary about saying this here, considering I made the same point in another thread, but you know, I just don't care, so here goes.

Everything seems to point to something major going on at MWNY, but no one can quite point to what model is getting the "major" treatment. Some are saying new powerbooks (please, I hope so), or maybe new/updated ibooks, or a new pro tower, or maybe something else.

That sounds to me like the "major" something may affect all of the products.

I can see it now. Everyone gets all excited and holds candle vigils and prayer sessions. The day comes, and Jobs announces:

What?

Drum roll!

Firewire 2!!!!

A huge sigh from the mac community arises and drowns out the rest of Steve's keynote.

[Dunepilot]

that would be a travesty.

We all get so wound up about future developments of the Mac, because, let's face it, we wouldn't be posting if we didn't (alright, GoCyrus excepted).

It would really suck if all this hot air conjecture amounted to Firewire 2.

The phrase 'instant flopper' springs to mind;)

[Dunepilot]

Originally posted by mischief

As to adding PCI to an entry level machine: Why? It's a waste of space. If you're too cheap for a Tower you shouldn't complain.

I'm not 'too cheap' for a tower (which'll soon be my second pro-level Mac purchase), but I think it would be fair for consumers to have just one PCI slot in the lower-end line. It would add a lot of options but not cannabalise the PowerMac line.

I'm thinking of an iMac with just a little more longevity that won't be written-off by the wintel world for not having any PCI slots.

I just think that there are individuals who would benefit greatly from the option of one PCI slot that wouldn't really need any more given the abundance of most other things (USB, firewire etc) on the Mobo. For instance, if you wanted to do a bit of recording, being able to add a PCI sound card would be nice.

I also realise this won't happen as it doesn't fit the iMac philosophy (for whatever reason).

As for the pro-line, I would like to see the next PowerMac return to the six PCI-slot days as with the last Umax Pulsars. I'm sure this wouldn't add much to cost if they were straight PCI. Having said that, there is all this talk of new RapidIO etc may make six slots unlikely, particularly if the new PCI-replacement is an expensive, bleeding-edge solution.

[alex_ant]

Originally posted by Dunepilot
I'm not 'too cheap' for a tower (which'll soon be my second pro-level Mac purchase), but I think it would be fair for consumers to have just one PCI slot in the lower-end line. It would add a lot of options but not cannabalise the PowerMac line.

I'm thinking of an iMac with just a little more longevity that won't be written-off by the wintel world for not having any PCI slots.

At least one other person is in favor of my pizza box idea, I see. :)

Alex

[mischief]

There were some good "Look and feel" ideas from iGAV, Oldmac, Mindtrics, tortus, wrylachlan, 3rdpath, lordsinforge, myself and others about a modular architecture.

I'd like to try to sum up:



Drive unit:

6" by 6" by 17". Titanium case............minimalist, a monolithic ammo box that can be affixed to it's accompanying Printed Circuit case (detailed below).

2 Optical-size drive bays.....one Superdrive and one accesory drive. 3 HD bays pre-installed with sled-style, 2-up drive trays.

"Sub-panel" style Power head in rear quarter with 8 drive leads. ATA or SCSI
"round" drive cables provided for 8 drives.

Drive sleds can be mounted on either the sides or "bottom" of case.

Pizza box style lid with cable passthroughs and cross bracing.

2x 4" VS fans that attatch at the unused mid-box sled points.



Printed Circuit unit:

6"x 11" x 17"

Mobo along left/bottom of case with minimal on-board high-volatility tech.

500Mhz Rapid I/O backbone running 266 DDR and support for up to 8 processors. 8 RAM slots.

USB 56k, Cable, DSL modems available to run off a PCI comm card.

6 PCI slots arranged on the mobo.

The whole board assembly is rotate-able 90 degrees to allow top or rear access to PCI and ports. A cube-style switch assembly is fitted on the front of the mobo and actuates from the Apple set in gloss frosted white on the front panel.

The right panel is not hinged but lifts off clean. The frame of the case is less steel panels and more Tibook style rigid-composite hybrid construction.

Venting is provided by a 4" processor-dedicated VS fan and a 4" VS case fan. PCI bracket is drilled for venting.



Overall aesthetic:

TiBook style monolithic lines in the same powdercoated TiBook finish. Ventelation is provided by obscured slit vents fore and cage vents aft. The 2 cases connect frame-to=frame with the side panels hoding it all together.

A powerbrick with built in power-strip and powerconditioning sits in place of your original power strip.

[3rdpath]

apple, you've got three months to get it together otherwise


i'm buying whatever you come out with....

and that was my best threat too!

[iGav]

8 processors..... *sighs*

Render time?????? What Render time........:p :p :p

Just one question though Mr mischief........

Does it come in chrome too???:D

[mischief]

I think it's fair to add some chrome trim to the fittings to dress up the edges and Logo and such. like a quality Lux Auto.:D

Oh! I almost forgot but I didn't know how much space I had left:

Comes with Rack brackets! The corner pieces are chromed with rubber stopper-feet in the rack screw holes.........unmount, flip over and screw into the rack........the case clips into them from there.

[AlphaTech]

mischief,

I fail to see why you want to purchase a high speed modem (ie. DSL or Cable)... Since the tech could change in a short amount of time, that could be wasted money. I also happen to know that some ISP's require that you use a specific high speed modem (they provide it for FREE). I would much rather have the internal ethernet port then have to shell out more $$ to get all the connections that come standard now. PCMCIA is a aged technology, which I can see being fazed out. It might be fine for some applications (ie. dial-up modems), but for anything where you need sustained high speeds, fagedaboutit already.

IF you are able to produce something close to what you spec out, I wonder how many revisions it will take before it is stable, and affordable to more then the stinking rich.

I would much rather see Apple come out with a cooller looking case (different finish and maybe a slightly more modern feel) while keeping everything inside of it. Anytime you start having connections outside the case, you are inviting corosion, dust and other nastiness. That wouldn't work in any areas where corosion is an issue (ALL of Florida and most of the gulf states, not to mention along the east and west costs). Apple has an item that works, pure and simple.

All you have to do is plug in the keyboard (and mouse), monitor, and a power cord. From box to up and running in under 10 minutes (5 if you are using a monitor you already have). I wonder how long it would take for your config. If you ever do get it to work (big, nay HUGE if), I hope you have a ton of tech support people manning the phones for the first year. You will be needing them.

There are reasons for why computers are designed the way they are and not as you put above...

[mischief]

Who said anything about INCREASING the # of peripherals?

Where in that post did I mention PCMCIA?

I described a dedicated 7th PCI slot for hosting smaller cards like the existing generic modem used in the Quicksilver. Have you ever opened up a DSL modem? They're not much bigger.

Adding a modem that can do a DSL signal and supports the common 4 or 5 DSL login standards is a good approach.

The thought is this: Apple has already made it so OS X can be a Virtual Base station (router) and built in Firewall. Adding a number of small cards to a "master" comm card allows for swap out later. I think you're probably correct about PCMCIA but the boards neccesary to do the job are certainly small enough to go in the case. The key is to swap out cards with redundant plugs. I'd much rather have a single phone plug, Ethernet and a Blank for an extra than a number of external boxes.

Moto could certainly handle building such a network widget.

In regards to config:

All of these nifty options are just that: Options. It all comes down to those BTO config menus on Apple's website.

ATA 133 or SCSI 160? Just Ethernet or Ethernet and DSL? How about Ethernet, 56K and Cable?

[sturm375]

Here is a simple solution to all problems, well most at least. Why not have Apple make their Mother Boards ATX compatible? Apple can make an aesteticly pleasing tower for the G5, and us geeks can then go to www.antec.com or elsewhere and buy our own case. Heck, we can even Mod our cases then. "Think Different" = "Think outside the Box" :)

[diamond]

:) , Wall mounted+modular+metal would be my suggestion....

[iGav]

Wall mounted???? hmmmmmmm.... It'd look like a Bang & Olufsen.........**:p

I think there is definitely something in the modular idea, but whatever, I'm sure it'll be cool.......

Trust Ives :D

P.S This thread wil never die......... well only when the G5 is actually released.... then it'll mutate into the G6 Tower design.......:p

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by diamond
:) , Wall mounted+modular+metal would be my suggestion....

I wouldn't want one. It would have to be permanently mounted to the wall which just doesn't seem right.

Now putting a 48"x36" OLED display on the wall, well thats a different story.

[iGav]

Now putting a 48"x36" OLED display on the wall, well thats a different story.


Definitely...........

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by sturm375
Here is a simple solution to all problems, well most at least. Why not have Apple make their Mother Boards ATX compatible? Apple can make an aesteticly pleasing tower for the G5, and us geeks can then go to www.antec.com or elsewhere and buy our own case. Heck, we can even Mod our cases then. "Think Different" = "Think outside the Box" :)

I remember seeing some items about people taking the guts from a G4 tower and transplanting them into a peecee case. IF I was to do this, there is no way I would use an antec case (butt-ugly). Go with one from Cooler Master (http://www.coolermaster.com/home.html), since they are made from 100% aluminum, and come with at least a few fans. They have several styles and colors to choose from. Cooler Master also makes high flow, low noise computer fans along with a few other items. You might even be able to fit a G4's guts into one of their rack mount enclosures. Worth looking into at least.

Oh yeah, I believe that the plug on the logic board on the G4's is the same as on the ATX type power supplies. I would need to do some checking on that. Even if they are not, I am sure that someone can make an adapter to get the correct wires into the correct plugs. Sounds like a winter, or rainy day/week project :D.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech

Go with one from Cooler Master (http://www.coolermaster.com/home.html), since they are made from 100% aluminum, and come with at least a few fans. They have several styles and colors to choose from.

But you know, they still look like a PC. If I had an Apple, I'd want everyone to know it. Apple put the C(urve)omputer.

Just say no to a 'box'

[diamond]

Why would it have to be"permanently" wall mounted ?
May be a kind of hook. Just seems nicer than hiding it under the table or cluttering up desk space.
I like the idea of a tabletop "satellite" to quickly hook up peripheral stuff. On the other hand the monitor's already there so you might as well use it as main plug in point.
:p

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by diamond
Why would it have to be"permanently" wall mounted ?
May be a kind of hook. Just seems nicer than hiding it under the table or cluttering up desk space.

All I see is a Mac Flower Pot hanging from the ceiling with wires coming down, ha! Actually it would be more like an octopus.

But you could rig a computer to do this right now, it wouldn't take too much. An d I don't know any one who has done it. It just doesn't seem practical.

[diamond]

Think more like low "squares" on the wall. More skulptural. Nobody has done it because the boxes are to deep...

Anyway, just thought it would be a fun option:D

[AlphaTech]

Originally posted by dukestreet


But you know, they still look like a PC. If I had an Apple, I'd want everyone to know it. Apple put the C(urve)omputer.

Just say no to a 'box'

You could always put a window in it, and have an Apple logo etched into the plex. Put in a neon light (color of your choosing) and you start to get outside of the normal box.

They have nice rackmount enclosures, one even has two USB and one FireWire port in the front (the ATC600). The entire case is 145mm tall, which is the height of the PCI card slots. That might be a viable solution for people looking to rack mount the G3's and G4's. It also has room for two optical drives (or 5-1/4" drives) and two hard drives. With three fans, one left, right and rear, it should have enough air flow too.

If you wanted to add several hard drives and such to your G4, then their cases are a good option. Get one of those, a couple of ATA100/133 RAID cards and go to town.

I can see having an 'Apple inside' sticker where the intel inside would normally go... Power it up and have the Mac OS show up where people would expect windblows... :D... Shock value alone would be worth the money.

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by AlphaTech


You could always put a window in it, and have an Apple logo etched into the plex. Put in a neon light (color of your choosing) and you start to get outside of the normal box.

If you're going to do that, but a projection light and have it shoot out a big Apple logo on the wall.

I will agree if you're going to customize, you have a lot of fun options. But it would take a bit of work to make it something more than PC looking box.

And on the other side of the coin, any fanatical pc techie could do the same to his machine.

[AlphaTech]

Go real high tech and have a hologram shooting out of the top with a spinning Apple logo :D.

I usually tuck my cpu's under the desk to keep the clutter down. That way, all I need on the desk is the monitors, keyboards and mice.

Whatever Apple does, I hope it comes out soon. I seriously miss having a second Mac system, especially with my TiBook being repaired yet again (third time shipping it to Apple, and now they are waiting for logic boards to arrive there :rolleyes: ). I might get some satisfaction if it goes beyond the 3-4 business days that they tell everyone, since it is now on day two. Either way, I hope, and expect, to have it back next week.

I might put an ad out for my current TiBook and get for a new one after MWNY. All depends on what gets announced. If nothing really exciting comes from Apple with the powerbooks, then a new tower is on the chart. At this point, I don't care if it is a G4 or G5 and what the case looks like. I just want the single processor to be over the 1GHz mark.

[mcrain]

Originally posted by dukestreet
And on the other side of the coin, any fanatical pc techie could do the same to his machine.

The guys on Tech TV's screensavers had a computer that had been modded a bunch, and it sort of looked like something a PC guy would come up with if he was trying to make his computer look cool, like an apple.

[mcrain]

Originally posted by AlphaTech
At this point, I don't care if it is a G4 or G5 and what the case looks like. I just want the single processor to be over the 1GHz mark.

I saw a PC motherboard that could handle 4 gig of ram, duel processors, and various other fun things (DDR memory).

Apple could do so much more than just put a faster chip in its computers.

So, since it can, I think it should. I want a faster computer with all the stuff that's possible. Gimme gimme gimme.

Stevie, don't make me tell mom that your holdin out on us.

[sturm375]

Originally posted by AlphaTech


I remember seeing some items about people taking the guts from a G4 tower and transplanting them into a peecee case. IF I was to do this, there is no way I would use an antec case (butt-ugly). Go with one from Cooler Master (http://www.coolermaster.com/home.html), since they are made from 100% aluminum, and come with at least a few fans. They have several styles and colors to choose from. Cooler Master also makes high flow, low noise computer fans along with a few other items. You might even be able to fit a G4's guts into one of their rack mount enclosures. Worth looking into at least.

Oh yeah, I believe that the plug on the logic board on the G4's is the same as on the ATX type power supplies. I would need to do some checking on that. Even if they are not, I am sure that someone can make an adapter to get the correct wires into the correct plugs. Sounds like a winter, or rainy day/week project :D.

I have no experiance with coolermaster cases, so I cannot comment on thier properties. However I have put together many PCs in my past and bar none, the Antec cases are the most solid, and easy to work with around, that is why I singled them out.

The whole point I was trying to make was that people should have the option to put it in any case they want, without trying to put a non-standard Motherboard into an ATX case. One thing I hadn't thought of until now, the standard ATX doesn't have a spot for on-board firewire, that may be a problem. I guess they could always do what Creative Labs among others have done, and allow cabling to put firewire in front of the case in a drive bay.

By the way, Antec cases, at least the Pro-Line, comes with 2 case fans, and the newer models are rumored to come with Antec's Quite Power, 450 Watt power source. It has a less noisy fan, and multi-speed fan that senses the heat in the box, and adjusts the speed.

(thinks to himself..... Now if only I could use my Soundblaster Audigy, ATA 133 card, GeForce3 Ti4200, in an Antec Full Tower, with a Mac Dual G4 1 GHz, running OS X.1.3 .......Drooling)

[AlphaTech]

sturm375,

More then a few of the Cooler Master cases have dual fans in the front, plus one in the rear and one in the top of the case. The all aluminum construction also acts as a large heat sink, pulling heat away from components. Many of them also have dual USB ports in the front of the case. I will check on the ATC110 that I have at home (going to toss the peecee's guts into it soon) and see if they have any place for FireWire porsts. If nothing else, get a dremil tool and make the ports. If you want to get really finished, make a template and take it to a machine shop and have them make you a plate. There might even be a market for those, if enough people want to transplant their lovely G4's into peecee cases (to get the extra space and such). Then again, I probably wouldn't be one of those doing it. With a no extra work, you can get five hard drives into a G4 tower (put one where the zip drive would go, plus the four on the floor). If that doesn't give you enough storage, then you need to get some external drives.

[mischief]

Theoretical Tower configs as per newest speculation:

CPU:

2, 4, or 8 G5 or "G4+" processors.......probably of IBM origin.


RAM/BUS:

8 slots for 266DDR "choked down" to 250x2 to sync with a 500Mhz RapidI/O system bus.Max of 4 Gb of RAM.


Expansion:

6 Full length RapidI/O PCI/AGP slots.


Drives:

Integral ATA133 RAID, 2 channel controller. Optional SCSI RAID card.


Video:

nVidia GeForce4 Titanium, Radeon 8500 or Apple multimedia card.


Apple Multimedia Card:

2 nVidia designed and AMD built GPU's @ 1Ghz each,2x256Mb 333Mhz DDR RAM.Supports realtime rendering of openGL and video FX.

Outputs (AMC):2 independant ADC plugs, S-Video, S/PDIF, Optoinal Mobile I/O 2882. Optional DTS/THX/Dolby decoder box.

[AlphaTech]

With all those slots and chips (what kind of dip are they serving??) they would have to chuck the current tower. Just not enough room for the 6PCI slots and 8 memory slots... on top of everything else. If they do toss the current tower and make something new, I hope it is more radical looking then the QuickSilver is.

Correct me if I am not right on this one, but isn't IBM only making the G3 chips?? I thought that only motorola has the alitvec tech, and thus the G4 chips manufacturing.

[mischief]

I am praying at the Silicon Alter for an IBM/Moto liscence deal or Apple buyout of Altivec.

Oh yeah,

The towers HAVE TO CHANGE.

As cool as they are it's always been clear that they're a research piece for something more refined (see entire preceding thread).

[StealthRider]

Originally posted by wrylachlan
I keep posting this idea, but then the thread always disappears before I get any feedback.

Modular design with two units: a CPU Module which sits under the desk and has the motherboard and pci bus connected by a Cable Bundle to an Input Module (looks like a smaller iMac base) that sits on the desk and has the ports and optical drive, and maybe an open drive bay for a zip or second optical drive.

The CPU module would be more efficient at heat dispersal because without the optical drive in the tower you could put fans on the back and front - lots of air flow.

With all the things you need to connect to on your desk, no more stooping over to put disks in the drive, or dealing with ports underneath and in the back of your desk.

This would sort of go with apple's design philosophy of each part being "true to itself" (admittedly some pretentious jargon). The CPU Module is for heat dispersal, and the Input Module is for connectivity.What do you think folks?
Sounds like something IBM had out for a while! :-)
:-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-):-)

[mcrain]

Originally posted by StealthRider

Sounds like something IBM had out for a while!

In fact, I had one of those black beasts.