Filed under: Hardware, How-tos, Cult of Mac, Mods, Mac mini
Here's what happens when a Cube devours a Mac mini
This is just so perfect I want to cry.
Those that know me already know that I'm an Apple Cube fanatic. And if you didn't know - well now you do. My own Cube sports a a shiny black aluminum PowerCube enclosure (with obligatory white Apple logo affixed to the front), a Dual 1.7GHz 7447A CPU, 1.5GB RAM, 250GB WD HD, an FX 5200 video card with Dual 24-inch LCD Displays and an 8x DL SuperDrive. It's a sweet rig and I rarely find myself wanting or needing more from a desktop computer. Even with a base fan and a small blower on the video card it's also still virtually silent, as a Cube should be. And it looks stunning on my glass top suspended above a powder-coated steel desk.
I must admit, however, that this mod takes the Cube to an entirely new level. Presenting Anthony's Mac mini Cube:
"My inspiration for this project came from the Fifth Avenue Apple Store and the recently released black MacBook. I wanted to recreate the G4 Cube as if Apple had never discontinued it and make it into a true media center. I did not want to simply put the 'guts' of an Intel Mac mini inside and 'dress it up', but to refresh the Cube and create something that could stand out. Here are my confessions of the project, enjoy... "
Dear Steve Jobs: If you build it, they will come. I'm just sayin'...
Check out all the glorious pictures as well as an admirably detailed description of the process - which is far more elaborate than you might be thinking - at 123Macmini.
Great job, Anthony! Thanks to Jamie, Rick, and the hundreds of friends, relatives and readers who sent this tip directly to my inbox!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew said 9:32AM on 11-03-2006
Nice. Really.
Makes me miss my Cube. In fact, just last week I was hitting eBay and Craigslist for a replacement. Then I remembered why I got rid of it originally.
That said, I need to get another just to put next to my first Mac, a Mac Plus, which still works.
Retro Macs are very cool.
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Matthew said 9:34AM on 11-03-2006
Nice. Really.
Makes me miss my Cube. In fact, just last week I was hitting eBay and Craigslist for a replacement. Then I remembered why I got rid of it originally.
That said, I need to get another just to put next to my first Mac, a Mac Plus, which still works.
Retro Macs are very cool.
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Paul Richardson said 9:58AM on 11-03-2006
My god. That is so beautiful.
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icerabbit said 9:56AM on 11-03-2006
I am super impressed ... and would give up my tower for that in a heartbeat.
I'm with Laurie in that Apple should resurrect the cube with improved Mac Mini components like the 3.5 inch hard drive, non-integrated graphics, ...
Are there some extra detailed instructions and higher resolution images available? I really want to have a closer look at some of the aspects of the build.
This mod is so great.
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dave said 10:26AM on 11-03-2006
hell yeah, Apple should absolutely resurrect the cube. That design was YEARS ahead of its time. And I completly agree with icerabbit. That should be the next upgrade to the mini! ;) Pay attention Steve!!!! I'd sell a kidney to get one.... not one of mine mind you.
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Uncle Jerry said 10:53AM on 11-03-2006
Oh yes. I would make this my next Mac if Apple where to build this. And with Steve's love of the cube, I'm surprised this hasn't already been done. (the mini is not a cube so don't say it already exist)
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Alex Paris said 11:21AM on 11-03-2006
Thats hot.
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Aaron Priven said 12:58PM on 11-03-2006
I liked the silence of my Cubes, but I gotta tell you, wiring on the bottom sucks.
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Ed said 1:00PM on 11-03-2006
Well, its not as mini as the mini so I guess most people would criticize the fact that the mini would get larger! The could reintroduce it was the cube though, but Apple have never really gone in for producing two products that are similar in components but different in design, that I can think of anyway.
Don't see the cube being remade, at least not unless they can make a mini smaller and shaped like a cube.
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tnkgrl said 2:54PM on 11-03-2006
Sweetness, Laurie! That may just be my next Cube upgrade... I may just try to keep my Cube stock looking and even try to use the original power supply.
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Riine said 5:09PM on 11-03-2006
Nice one Thomas.
And I must say that this is a nice project that Anthony has done. It makes me too want to search out a G4Cube and make my own miniCube.
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Ben Englert said 9:25PM on 11-03-2006
I would love to know how you got that 1.7GHz x 2 card into your Cube...
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Louis said 8:11AM on 11-04-2006
Love to do that mod to the 20th Anniversary Mac. Without the spray painting though :)
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