Macworld: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue ...

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20 Replies Last post: Feb 16, 2005 5:18 PM by jdb8167 1 2 Previous Next

MW Forums

12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004

Feb 16, 2005 5:10 AM

New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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

89 posts since
Oct 4, 2004

1. Feb 16, 2005 5:25 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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.)

bredlo

5 posts since
Oct 26, 2004

2. Feb 16, 2005 5:43 AM

in response to: NaOH

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

Yeeeah, I'm gonna give up one of two USB ports for THAT.

Good luck, Plasticsmith - this one's a stretch.

chewygoat

215 posts since
Sep 2, 2004

3. Feb 16, 2005 5:43 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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

1 posts since
Feb 16, 2005

4. Feb 16, 2005 5:44 AM

in response to: MW Forums

What about the cooling?

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

348 posts since
Feb 23, 2004

5. Feb 16, 2005 5:44 AM

in response to: chewygoat

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

and a KVM switch, please.

coolfactor

91 posts since
Sep 29, 2004

6. Feb 16, 2005 6:19 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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

74 posts since
Aug 31, 2004

7. Feb 16, 2005 6:31 AM

in response to: NaOH

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

In reply to:<hr />
(Imagine having a series of stackable modules with the same form-factor as the Mac Mini.)

<hr />

Apple meets Ikea!!!

leicaman

1,238 posts since
Dec 4, 2003

8. Feb 16, 2005 6:39 AM

in response to: bredlo

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

Whadda ya mean one of two USB ports? The on/off switch is controlled from the keyboard, and that takes up the other port!

Just kidding...

Eric

There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence. - Will Rogers

RobertDupuy

23 posts since
Jan 19, 2005

9. Feb 16, 2005 6:45 AM

in response to: MW Forums

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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

133 posts since
Oct 19, 2004

10. Feb 16, 2005 7:28 AM

in response to: zzen

Re: What about the cooling?

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

imdylbert

42 posts since
Jan 11, 2005

11. Feb 16, 2005 7:39 AM

in response to: RobertDupuy

Re: New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

"...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

168 posts since
Sep 23, 2004

12. Feb 16, 2005 7:49 AM

in response to: zzen

Re: What about the cooling?

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

577 posts since
Aug 30, 2004

13. Feb 16, 2005 7:53 AM

in response to: zzen

Re: What about the cooling?

In reply to:<hr />
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?

<hr />

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.

dbe4411

42 posts since
Sep 2, 2004

14. Feb 16, 2005 8:35 AM

in response to: sigma8

Re: What about the cooling?

I won't bash this item, but I agree I'd love to see a combo USB/firewire hub the same x/y dimensions as a mini (but much shorter). I have 5 firewire devices and hubs are not only expensive, almost nobody makes them. Yes, you can daisy chain, but you have to have all the "upstream" ones powered on and mounted to get the farthest one to work properly.

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Feb 16, 2005 5:10 AM

New mini Skirt gives Mac mini a blue glow

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