Ideas for Mid-Range Headless Mac

[feakbeak]

Hmm... do you really think Apple would do this after what happened to the Cube?

The Cube is exactly what I don't want and why I was underwhelmed with the Mac Mini. I don't want a new cute design, I want the best specs Apple can give me for my dollar without a display attached or specs compromised for design.

Don't get me wrong, I love Apple's designs but not at the expense of performance.

Example 1: Mac Mini, cool design, nice budget Mac. Compromises: slower/small HD than could have been used if they would have used cheaper, faster 3.5" drives, slower optical drives, non-upgradable GPU. In short, the machine's specs are lowered because most of it is laptop parts to keep it so small. While it is neat that it is so tiny, I don't really care!

Example 2: iMac G5. I love this design! However, in cramming all that stuff behind the LCD that hot G5 proc heats up too much to let it run full blast all the time so they throttle performance down. While you can turn this off when you need more power the fans then go nuts. I think it would be better to design it so that it can run at maximum performance all the time at a reasonable volume. Also with this design you can't put a second HD in, upgrade the GPU or use any PCI cards.

I don't like beige boxes either, but what's wrong with a reasonably sized tower, styled like the PM or something different. I just want a somewhat traditional case so that cooling and/or fan noise is not an issue and that I can upgrade the thing quite easily. I'm sure after all my posts many would just say "Buy a PM and shut up!" and you'd have a point. The old SP PowerMac was close to what I wanted at a price that wasn't too bad. However, I think they were just stretching the PM line down, it was obvious. If Apple designed a consumer tower from scratch I think it would be a hit - just a gut feeling I have and it is something I've always wanted. Perhaps, that is why I am biased.

 

[AP_piano295]

How did you make that image?

I love it meaning wat software did u use

 

[BlizzardBomb]

The Cube is exactly what I don't want and why I was underwhelmed with the Mac Mini. I don't want a new cute design, I want the best specs Apple can give me for my dollar without a display attached or specs compromised for design.

Don't get me wrong, I love Apple's designs but not at the expense of performance.

Example 1: Mac Mini, cool design, nice budget Mac. Compromises: slower/small HD than could have been used if they would have used cheaper, faster 3.5" drives, slower optical drives, non-upgradable GPU. In short, the machine's specs are lowered because most of it is laptop parts to keep it so small. While it is neat that it is so tiny, I don't really care!

Example 2: iMac G5. I love this design! However, in cramming all that stuff behind the LCD that hot G5 proc heats up too much to let it run full blast all the time so they throttle performance down. While you can turn this off when you need more power the fans then go nuts. I think it would be better to design it so that it can run at maximum performance all the time at a reasonable volume. Also with this design you can't put a second HD in, upgrade the GPU or use any PCI cards.

I don't like beige boxes either, but what's wrong with a reasonably sized tower, styled like the PM or something different. I just want a somewhat traditional case so that cooling and/or fan noise is not an issue and that I can upgrade the thing quite easily. I'm sure after all my posts many would just say "Buy a PM and shut up!" and you'd have a point. The old SP PowerMac was close to what I wanted at a price that wasn't too bad. However, I think they were just stretching the PM line down, it was obvious. If Apple designed a consumer tower from scratch I think it would be a hit - just a gut feeling I have and it is something I've always wanted. Perhaps, that is why I am biased.

Yes, I see where you're coming from. People wanted a headless iMac not a headless eMac. Just remember if you want a removable GPU and PCI slots etc etc. it'll be bigger than the design posted. In fact, turn that box on it's side, make it taller, chop down the width and OMG its the Mac Mini! and I can imagine that thing getting blown over by you walking by it

 

[blenderdude]

How did you make that image?

I love it meaning wat software did u use

Thanks! I used Blender (a free, open source 3D app) for the computer, and photoshop for the reflection, the text, and the compositing.

 

[TBi]

Here's a small update:

is PowerMac mini a better name?

I changed the Pentium D to a Pentium M, perhaps that would make the $999 price point more realistic.

I like the name, it's the one i thought of myself. PowerMac Mini sounds cool.

Nice set up but maybe a bit too fast for the price. Personally i'd like the power of an iMac in a smaller package. In other words the exact same specs in a different case.

Maybe a case similar to the full PowerMac, just tall enough to fit a 120mm fan at the front and a dvd writer above it and deep enough to house the dvd drive. Dual DVI, 2GHz single G5 so as not to canibalise sales of the power mac, 2 Ram slots, full size superdrive, 3.5" hard drive (don't really mind if it only takes one) and don't really care if the graphics is not upgradable. You can put a big tall (heatpipe?) heatsink on the G5 and radeon and the 120mm fan can spin slowly and quietly to keep the whole thing cool.

BTW i do like that case you designed, very fancy. Looks a bit too much like the XBOX 360 though...

 

[TBi]

Hmm... do you really think Apple would do this after what happened to the Cube?

As far as i remember the cube was over priced and thats why it didn't sell well. (although i'm newish enough to mac's so i could be wrong)

 

[supergod]

I like the design you have, but I have a couple of thoughts. It's interesting how you decided to blend the Power Mac with the Mac Mini with some newer Apple shapes like that of the Cinema Displays (that is what I see most when I look at this, with it's rounded shape). I think you need to borrow a bit more from the Power Mac to make this work.

As much as I hate to say it, this box needs some handles. Not necassarily of the Hummer-Esque badass Power Mac G5 variety, but there is no way to pick this thing up. That isn't a problem when you're a mac mini and quite tight and small, but this thing would need two hands and at least give the user a place to hold it from. Handles are an absolute must.

On the same aspect of practicality it should have a USB,Firewire and headphone port on the front. And a power button might just be useful.

It's interesting that you've borrowed the Apple Logo idea from the mini, putting it on the top, but you didn't really work it thoroughly. Each Apple product is designed to have the logo be visible and part of the design: the mini puts it on the top because the machine is expected to go right on the desktop and is so low that putting it on the front or side wouldn't give it enough visibility. Likewise the iMac has it on the front because that is where you will be looking. This machine will go on the desktop and I think it is cool in your render the way you draw the connection between the box and the mouse: but this doesn't make any sense. The box would be much taller than that.

Now, unless we're talking about giants here, no one would be able to see the logo while they were using the computer. The design is cute, but not really practicle. And I know what I'm saying sucks too, because it means that the use of white plastic on the top becomes almost redundant without the grey contrasting logo, but there is a workaround.

Take the logo and put it on the "right" side of the machine. And then take the USB/Firewire ports off the front and place them on the top. Alternatively you could use the top for a different purpose, for instance, putting a built in iPod dock on the top.

 

[TBi]

A case that looks like this

 

[andrewag]

When the mini was introduced i was kind of disapointed that the specs were so low. I was hoping for something more like this. Or, with the same specs as the mac mini but with 3.5" HDD etc.

I guess the small form factor is the gimic that helps sell the machine.

 

[prostuff1]

While i could see something like this working and being sucessful i really don`t see it hapenning until a while after the intel switch.

Like someone else pointed out the thing does need handles and the case needs a little tweaking. Front firewire, USB 2.0 and audio would be good.

It would be cool if you put a logo on the side that lit up when the mac was on or off ( it could be the power light??). And can this thing be laid on it side?? If so then maybe some cool things could be done so that the computer knows what way it is an make sure the apple logo is right side up. Now what i meen?? If the box was up and down the logo on the side would be up and down, but when the box is layed flat the logo would rotate so that it would still be in the correct postion.

I think most would be happy if it had one HD bay (could always use and external), user upgradable GPU (which would be really nice) and no PCI slot(as long as there are enough firewire and USB). Then you could price it below the iMac and not worry about it cutting into sales of the iMac

The only thing i can see wrong and that would hinder this from being made is that almost to much of it is upgradeable. I meen if you pay $1,000-1,500 for it and it is that upgradeable then why buy an iMac?? Just go get a cheap monitor and you have something that is more expandable at less cost. I think you would have to price it almost exactly the same as the iMac to make it work!!

Just my thought

 

[jamesW135]

Very nice idea. Send it to Apple.

 

[RobHague]

*prays that something like this is what will be announced next month*

I agree completley with the points made here, im trying to break into the 'Mac World' of computers and finding it extremley difficult to make a choice. There simply a lack of flexability.

Mac Mini - Seems Perfect! Compact design, I can buy an apple screen to go with it, which i can also then connect other equipment upto later! Problem, the specs of the Mini are low, the hard drive is limited (80Gb wouldnt be even nearly enough for me) and the graphics system is urmm *pathetic* .

eMac - Slightley better specs than the mini, but still not that great. Its also got an in-built CRT! Too big and clunky and i cant use the screen for other external devices.

iMac G5 - More like it! G5 at last and upto 400gb HDD. Problem, screen is built into it still - even though that makes it great, a slim design(thats perfect for me) i cant use the screen for anything else. Why couldnt they have added an input for an external source???

Next Problem is the onboard graphics, the rest of the system is fine but with a 20" screen im going to want to play UT2004 at the screens native res with some spangly effects and such.... and i cant even get a BTO option to change the 9600. So while ill be set for most things, im going to be even more limited witht he limited amount of entertainment software out on Mac. And when you are spending £1500 thats not that reasuring.

Plus! What of the 9600 in a year? Its already looking bleek now, in a years time it will look ancient. No no ><

Leaves me with PowerMac

Great spec, can get a top-class graphics card. Lots of upgradability, big hard drive. Problem, its like the PC i just got rid of...(size, weight, cables) and problem 2 is that its the most expensive of the range.

If i go with the PowerMac id have to leave out/cut back on options i would be able to afford with the imac - if i get the iMac im going to be disapointed when i try and play Doom3 or UT2004 on that nice 20" screen...in the transition from PC, while i plan on buying a console at some later date i do still want to game on the mac.... my account will be devistated after the Mac purchase so i might not be able to get a console as soon as id like...

Basically any system apple could come up with that included the G5 and an upgradable graphics system would solve all my concerns/problems.

I remember the very first time i actually was drooling at the Mac's was when i saw a G4 CUBE in PC World with all the kit attached. It looked sweet. If there was a 'G5 Cube' id buy one in a shot.