Hide a Mac Mini in a PC case?

Ok, now calm down, I have a real reason for looking into this. My work won't allow me to hook my Powerbook up to the network. I got Virtual PC and got every version of Windows, from NT 4 up to XP Professional, running on the powerbook. But when they walk into the office and see the apple logo, they turn around and walk out. The head of IT actually sent an email to all IT workers that they were not allowed even to talk to me about connecting an Apple to the network.

So here's my idea: somehow hide the Mac Minin inside a PC case, with an opening for the CD drive, so the IT guy can insert their CD with all their Windows junk into the computer. The case hides the Apple logo, and I just tell IT I got a No Name PC. Fire up Virtual PC before they get there, and when they walk in, they think it's just a PC. They connect my computer (through Virtual PC, but they don't know that), they walk out, I can then toss the case if I feel like it. Of course I would have to use Virtual PC to connect to the network, but I bet I could then print to the PC printers and go on the internet in OS X (I've done this at other all PC sites)

What do you think? How could I do it?

Why use a mac instead of a pc? well, I find pc's slow, irritating, and counter-intuitive. I also have an extensive filemaker database that I have all my information. I asked them to put filemaker for the pc on an office computer and they refused.

They seem to run a Windows NT, now 2000, server. No unix that I can tell. I can plug the Powerbook ethernet cable in and get one website, that allows me access to the company email. When I use it, no PC police come to break down my door. So as far as I can tell, it shouldn't violate any actual physical aspect of the network to do what I want.

I want to emphasize also that I would be using Windows, which they would control completely. As I said, they refuse even to look at the Windows screen and consider connecting it to the network if the machine has an apple logo on it. Yes, maybe just a sticker on top would do it.

What I was thinking was a box just wide enough to fit the Mini, with either a window big enough to show the cd slot, or maybe an actual bay the right size for the mini - like the automobile radio slots people are saying are the right size for the Mini.

clayjohanson said:

I think you're playing with fire here*. They want you to use a PC; they don't want you to use a Mac; you insist on trying to use a Mac. It doesn't really matter whether you think no harm will come from it; it's their sandbox, and they make the rules. If you can convince them that no harm will come from running Virtual PC on a Mac, great. But clandestinely (there's your 25¢ word for the day) bringing a Mac into the office when they've already made it clear they don't want Macs there is gonna get you fired the instant they find out about it... and they will, someway, somehow.

My recommendation: Let it go. Use what THEY want you to use at work, and use what YOU want to use when you're NOT at work.

* Just realized I used the exact same words as vga4life. Regardless, it's the most appropriate phrase for what you are proposing to do.

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Yah, I suppose so. I use my powerbook with full approval of department chairman, who (along with everyone I work with) is extremely impressed with my database. Much more useful than anything available in the rest of the organization. They let me use my Powerbook, with my database, and in fact rely on it all the time. In fact I got a grant for the PC version of Filemaker and installed it on some PC's in a secondary site (not controlled by IT, but approved by the Department) and everybody there raves about the utility of the database. So it's not exactly that the organization is against my using it. But for sure IT refuses to accept it into the network.

Still, what a great idea, eh?

Nermal said:

Do other people bring their own PCs in? If so, I don't see the company's logic - you're bringing in your own Windows PC (thanks to Virtual PC) but they won't support it, yet they'll support other people's Windows PCs.

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Not sure, I think people do have laptops they use, and of course as I said when I or others get grants that allow purchase of new PC's, IT comes in and hooks them up; cripples the operating system of course so it is only a slave to their system, but still, it works.

It's strange and hard to parse actually. For a long while I was told I had to get NT 4, which of course is not sold any more. I tracked down a copy on ebay finally. I don't understand how they could require an out of date database but not supply it themselves?! My pet theory is that the IT department is actually completely out to lunch.

One idea I had is to wait; about every 6 months the entire IT department is fired or quits (not all at once, but one after another) and I'm hoping someday a new head of IT will not be aware a previous one banned Mac based Windows computers.