This week's rig was chosen for one reason only: It made us shudder. We realize that the Cube wasn't exactly Apple's greatest success, but this is like using a Ferrari as a doorstop. At least we can take consolation in the fact that it's not at the dump. Poor little Cube.

G4_peaceplant_2 by erlendekseth

If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Each Sunday we'll comb through the most recent entries and declare a "Rig of the Week!"

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!

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports that the glass Cube Apple erected earlier this year on New York's tony Fifth Ave, dubbed Apple Mecca by many of the Mac faithful, is offensive to Muslims due to the Cube's resemblance to the Ka'bah (aka The House of Abraham). The report goes on to say that there's a genuine belief that the design of the store was specifically meant to provoke Muslims and cites other contributing insults such Apple housing "bars" that sell alcoholic beverages within the Cube structure and it being open 24/7.

I'm speechless. But, as you know, that rarely stops me from speaking anyway. I'm hesitant to get into this territory for obvious reasons and I truly mean no disrespect to anyone, but... you and I both know that the design of the 5th Ave store has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, Muslims, Mecca, Abraham, the Kaabah or any religious icon, affiliation or idol whatsoever. It has everything to do with Steve Jobs' affinity (fetish?) for the design of the Power Mac G4 Cube (a fetish of mine also), as well as his pet NeXT Cube. We also know that the "bars" in question don't sell anything resembling alcohol.

It's unfortunate when anyone gets offended by wholly innocuous things that were never intended or designed to offend, and much more so in the current world climate, but seriously... there's no there there.

The MEMRI report is dated October 10, 2006, though it clearly was written before the 5th Ave Cube was completed, based on the references to stopping the project before it progressed. I'd like to think that now that the black panels have come down, the clear glass Cube that is NYC's flagship Apple Store is recognized to be nothing more than a den of iPodolatry, rather than Idolatry.

[via The Apple Core]

UPDATE: I have added a question mark to the title of this post in an effort to keep some of the commenters and, indeed, the community as a whole, from becoming more enraged than they may already be. I am also working on a follow-up post in response to the uproar, which I'll put up within the next few days. Some of you make some very valid points and I am anxious to address some of the concerns expressed here.

UPDATE: Follow-up post is here.