[MW Forums]

The Plasticsmith on Wednesday introduced the mini Skirt blue-glo, a pedestal designed especially for the Mac mini. Like the Plasticsmith's original mini Skirt, the mini Skirt blue-glo raises the Mac mini three-quarters of an inch on an acrylic base -- but this one glows blue using a built-in LED that's powered by any available USB port. There's an on-off switch too. The mini Skirt blue-glo sells for US$29.95. more

[NaOH]

Mmmm.. Roadlights for the Mac Mini
I would like someone to make a pedestal with a built-in USB and FireWire hub/switch.
(Imagine having a series of stackable modules with the same form-factor as the Mac Mini.) /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[bredlo]

Yeeeah, I'm gonna give up one of two USB ports for THAT.
Good luck, Plasticsmith - this one's a stretch.

[chewygoat]

So in return for the loss of one of the only two USB ports, you get a blue glowing base that makes the mini larger than it was before. Hmm. Agreed that this would actually be cool and useful if it incorporated a USB 2/Firewire hub, preferably with at least a couple front-panel USB 2 ports (I'd prefer 4) and a front-panel firewire port. Also, since it's custom for the mini, it should use rigged C-shaped connectors to the USB 2 and firewire ports on the back of the mini to eliminate cable-clutter.

[zzen]

Uh, here I thought at the bottom of the mini you have those vent holes. How about those?! If you seal the air under the mini, won't the closed-circuit air-flow overheat that little bugger?

[pcharles]

and a KVM switch, please.

[coolfactor]

- backup battery (power supply is external already)
- USB/Firewire hub (muchly needed on mini!)
- KVM switch
- mini "drawer" (for iPod mini socks)

[mac_the_knife]

In reply to:

---

(Imagine having a series of stackable modules with the same form-factor as the Mac Mini.)

---

Apple meets Ikea!!!
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[leicaman]

Whadda ya mean one of two USB ports? The on/off switch is controlled from the keyboard, and that takes up the other port! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Just kidding... /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[RobertDupuy]

Agreed. Plasticsmith, if you are listening, I would gladly put up with the obnoxious blue glow, if this had front panel USB and firewire Ports.
The lack of ports on this machine, and the lack of convenient front ports, is an opportunity...something in the same form factor would be ideal.

[Monkeypox]

Air vents - exactly my first thought as well....

[imdylbert]

"...the obnoxious blue glow..."
the product is not targeted at people who think the blue glow is obnoxious. They also have a plain clear one. I have a friend who absolutely loves anything that glows blue. That said, both products (blue glowy and plain clear pedestals) are useless and it's definitely not worth sacrificing one of the usb ports on the mini for it. although i do personally have a usb hub i could use to make up for it. the ideas expressed about having a hub built in with ports on the front could be cool...or at least on the side. That would make it useful. And if they did that they would probably make a plain one without the glow for you.
*edited for a spelling mistake i saw

[jhmaughan]

The mini has a rubber mat thing that raises it up about an eighth inch off the table or stand thing and the cooling vents are around the edge, so if it was on this stand it would still be able to circulate air.
Hmm...that didn't come out very clear but i figure it makes sense... hope so.

[sigma8]

In reply to:

---

Uh, here I thought at the bottom of the mini you have those vent holes. How about those?! If you seal the air under the mini, won't the closed-circuit air-flow overheat that little bugger?

---

It appears the top surface of this skirt is flat. So how would using it be any different than having the mini on your desk? Apart from the slightly higher temperatures that extra inch of altitude may provide ;-)
In fact, if you go to the link in the maccentral article, you can see more detailed pictures, and it clearly offers the same degree of clearance underneath. The skirt isn't contoured to eliminate the gap that the rubber feet provide.
And who cares about the port. This is a gimmicky luxury item anyway. If you are buying extra usb-port hogs like this, you probably have a usb hub already.