My recent experiences working with vintage machines has made me curious if there's some sort of service for modern reproduction Mac cases. The inner hardware may be made to last, and the system software and UI/UX definitely has staying power, but the plastic is more questionable, getting brittle and either hard to work with, and/or easily broken. I understand in some cases the plastic is an essential part of the aesthetic (it's hard to imagine a Bondi Blue iMac or Yosemite B&W tower in anything but its original form), but I suspect a Power Macintosh 7x00 'Outrigger' desktop case would be almost as beautiful in platinum-colored aluminum as in its original plastic, especially when the plastic is falling apart and as much aged-beige as platinum.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Custom Vintage Cases?
- Thread starter James Gryphon
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The way I see it. The old Macs are collector pieces. At least outside a small subset places which may have to use them. Because they are using custom software, lab equipment, industrial equipment, &c. Which require them to function. They are for collectors and hobbyists who love them and find uses for them.
For collectors, condition is everything when determining price. As such I can't imagine a reproduction case would hold value compared to the cost of producing such a case. It's not like they'd sell in high volume. So manufacturing would be high.
What I could see though. Is reproduction cases designed for ATX, mATX, mini ITX and so forth. They would need to look like the original. Mainly redesigned in the rear and internally for modern components and bottom for fans. As cooling needs are higher now. I wouldn't mind a Mac II, IIcx or Quadra 900 desktop design.
For collectors, condition is everything when determining price. As such I can't imagine a reproduction case would hold value compared to the cost of producing such a case. It's not like they'd sell in high volume. So manufacturing would be high.
What I could see though. Is reproduction cases designed for ATX, mATX, mini ITX and so forth. They would need to look like the original. Mainly redesigned in the rear and internally for modern components and bottom for fans. As cooling needs are higher now. I wouldn't mind a Mac II, IIcx or Quadra 900 desktop design.
