Filed under: Hardware, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, Apple, Mac mini
The Mini Kit

The Mac min Kit is what you would expect, a Mac mini setup complete with keyboard, mouse, and monitor, in a case. The case even has a cut so that you can load media into the Mac mini. This is a very cool idea, but I wouldn't want to try to go through Airport security with this rig.
Thanks, Mr G.

![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Zeke said 3:15PM on 8-30-2006
My question is a practical one.... (see last image) Why does this dude need all that gear to shoot erotic movies?
Reply
Brendan said 3:18PM on 8-30-2006
Since the MacBook's came out this seems a little unnecessary, and the MacBook's are faster ;)
Reply
Billy K said 3:23PM on 8-30-2006
Very nifty, but get that man a real mouse! In the year two-thousand-and-six, mouse pads should be something we speak of only in the past tense!
(And a BT mouse would rid the rig of one more unwieldy cable.)
Reply
Jonathan said 3:28PM on 8-30-2006
It looks like something soldiers are suppposed to use in the year 2024, to control fighting robots.
Reply
Noel said 3:38PM on 8-30-2006
WOW! A computer that's actually portable! Think of all the work I could do -ON THE ROAD! Technology just amazes me...
Reply
eric e said 3:40PM on 8-30-2006
isn't this precisely why the laptop was invented?
Side note; there are custom fitted matte boxes for powerbook and macbook pro screens...
Reply
thecompkid said 3:52PM on 8-30-2006
What the hell??? Seriously, has this guy ever realized that he probably spent enough money to buy a macbook pro on building this thing, not to mention that it is probably pretty slow. And he even has to plug it in.
LOL.
Reply
Alan Hoffman said 3:56PM on 8-30-2006
Why not just buy a Macbook? Puzzling.
Reply
LD said 4:23PM on 8-30-2006
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Reply
Steve said 4:25PM on 8-30-2006
At first, it looks like the dude wanted a rugged/mostly-waterproof package... then he goes and cuts holes in his Pelican box... not sure what his motivation is here.
Reply
lifix said 4:36PM on 8-30-2006
The only reason I could see to do this would be to get the 23 inch display.
Reply
the other steve jobs said 5:17PM on 8-30-2006
I noticed the cut pelican case too.
This is so lame just for that reason alone - it should not have been put on this site...
I can see a few good reasons for a pelican-cased mini with big-ass monitor setup - but not with a hole in the case.
Reply
ABL said 5:38PM on 8-30-2006
Sweet. Kinda like a really large black MacBook. Only larger, slower and probably more expensive. :-)
Reply
Sean D. said 5:48PM on 8-30-2006
Talk about over-thinking the solution! There are many holes in the case- for fans and power as well. I cast another vote for "why?"
Reply
Catt said 7:34PM on 8-30-2006
For all you folks raggin on the guy. Whatever happens to good ole fashion doing something different just coz you can. He probably had a Mac Mini an wanted to ruggedize it a bit maybe he hust wanted to do it just because... Its OK its his money and time. Remember though that some people just like to tinker and build things it doesn't always makes sense to everyone.
Reply
spil said 7:54PM on 8-30-2006
That's pretty cool. I think someone should make a carying case for a mini that's like carrying padded sleeve or something. Then I could bring it on trips and just hook it up to a TV in a hotel room or something. that would be pretty cool.
Reply
Yotta, a.k.a Cyberpsycho said 10:54PM on 8-30-2006
I think its cool, i have a similar setup without a case, but i want to built one like that. i have 4 external fw hd enclosure ,
( 250, 250, 160, 120 ) , macmini G4 , and a Nec 19" Lcd, i want to put all that in a Pelican Case, im thinking of the 1610 case without foam. And for sure, i wont drill holes in the case. i need a solution for the power supplys of the external enclosures, im thinking of putting AA, C, or D, series of Nimh Batt.
I have linked a setup i made a while back , now its dismantle since i have 4 enclosures.
I think the minikit is great expept for the holes in the case.
Reply
Tony said 11:55PM on 8-30-2006
#15: If you're going to do something just 'cause you can, then do something *cool*...like this:
http://www.deloreanmacmini.com/
Reply
bobics said 3:14AM on 8-31-2006
Hey, at least the CPU is upgradeable!
Reply
Dave said 7:43AM on 8-31-2006
Actually, this is a pretty cool idea for certain applications. We routinely take mini's with us all over the country and in Europe to use as servers during short term projects. Notebooks are a pain and the screens are too small for certain things. I would think that someone could sell a lot of these solutions to companies like ours. Don't bash the guy just because you don't see a personal application for this.
Reply