Your cube design just looks like a fat mini. Need to think out of the box... er cube. How about a unit that clips onto the back of an LCD display. This way you can replace your computer box without having to buy a new display. Upon looking at it, it would look just like the aluminum displays they have now, only fatter.

I'd suggest moving a few things to the front of the box. Notably, the headphone jack and a USB port or two. Also, use the "universal" symbol for power instead of 1/0.

I also wonder how this would look with rounded edges.

But schneb has a good point. I think it's going to be hard to come up with something that is functional and Apple hasn't already done (or at least, come pretty close to). Aside from the texture and the screen on the front, this could be a G4 Cube.

OK, well I'm adding some buttons anyway, so I don't see why I couldn't add some form of button to display system information. Wouldn't be a very Apple-way of doing things though, because that sort of information shopuldn't be important in Apple's books. What there would be, would be a way of programming the output on the screen and the buttons, so I suppose this could be written as a preference pane extension or something.
As for rounded corners, I will have a quick go. Do you mean XYZ rounded corners or just XZ rounded corners like in the Mac Mini?

Where would the monitor/keyboard attach? Those who would want a cheap computer might be put off at the thought of having to buy uncountable extras to make their system actually *work*. (or, I guess they could do what the rest of us do, and roam the streets during council cleanup for a monitor - are IBM monitors compatible with Macs? - and then fork out for a keyboard)

I like this idea - the OP should consider how should they attach, though? Would it be portable, then? Maybe have like a glove for the screen and a boxy-thing for the rest of it. Does it need to be portable?

I *so* second this - anything that's going to be coming in/out very often needs to be at the front, where one can reach it easily. :)

If it's going to be portable / sold to the disabled/elderly - how heavy would it be? What kind of specs would it have? Rounded edges would also be good from a safety perspective. :)

Are you sure that's the best place to put the ventilation, smack-bang on the bottom? (or at least, that's what it looks like...) Maybe move it to a side - at the back and it could be a fire risk, at the front and it wouldn't be pleasant for the user. Maybe also move the power button, so that you can put stuff on the CPU without risking shutdown.

wireless
 

My vision of the future Mac is of a multiple users wireless system. You would have a main computer acting as a server, and some wireless stations. The stations would be a liter version of a Lap top- all major CPU duties would be handled by the server.


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Hmm... That would be a bit of a return to the dark ages I think. IBM mainframe anyone?

Nice ideas though, very much appreciated. Box behind the monitor you reckon? Hmm... Thing is my brief (although I can change it) states that I should design just the case. Although reading through it again, I suppose it's open to interpretation.

Can someone give me a clear(ish) specification, and I'll make a 3D model so you can tell me what you think? Thanks :-)

Rounded edges are good not only from safety but also manufacturing.

The reason why sharp edges are so dangerous is less their er sharpness, but the fact any manufacturing process has a hard time producing high quality edges that don't resemble a serrated knife. Cutting processes tend to pluck pieces of the material from the surface facing away from the cutter, a casting has to have rounded edges because surface tension in the molten metal pulls the metal away from corners, bending the metal also always leaves a curved corner.

So whether you want rounded edges or not, you will get them.

Also think a bit about what sort of material you are going to use. Be aware that replicating the appearance of a Mac Mini with a CADCAM machine is going to be tricky as a CADCAM machine was probably not involved except for the prototypes. I don't have a Mac Mini, but I imagine the casing was pressed or cast into the shape you see as a single piece, and then anodised. My point is your school probably doesn't have access to these processes, and it will be hard for you to produce something that resembles a brushed aluminium finish, which could be a problem if you say in the paperwork that it will have one.

This might be a case of you going to see whoever looks after the CADCAM machine and finding what materials you can use with it, and going for one of those. Note that using a CNC machine (which is what I'm assuming you've got access to) to cut a large lump of metal into a thin shell will not win you brownie points with the operator. On the other hand, cutting holes, slots and access ports into a strip of metal, and then bending into the casing shape is good. Unfortunately, the finish will look bad, and you probably don't have access to appropriate process to make it good.

So look at coloured resins and plastics that can be cut into the casing shape with a CNC machine. If you pick the right material, you can finish the surface with a bit of sandpaper (tip - use toothpaste to give a final rubdown :))

Also have you thought about making a peripheral for a Mac Mini instead of a new Mac Mini? Their site is currently down, so I can't post a link, but Lacie are now making a hard drive for the Mac Mini that is the same size as a Mac Mini and fits under it (I think). How about a peripheral for a Mac Mini that fits under the Mac Mini and allows people to control iTunes on the Mac. The Mac wouldn't need a display, could also be a client on an Airport network allowing streamed music to be played from a server, or music from the Mac's hard drive. The peripheral could also be an amp with speaker output ports on the back so ex-punks like me can continue playing The Clash through our old speakers. So the whole thing resembles a tower hifi updated for the 21st century. Make it as a non-functioning model though.

That seems to be the antithesis of a Mac. Macs are made for individuals. So-called thin clients are the dream of IT types who would then have total control of the system again, as they did back in the mainframe's heyday. This would be my nightmare Mac. :eek:

Ah, that's already possible...
 

Ever played around with Apple Remote Desktop? I have a demo version of it, and it seem it is pretty easily possible to get a system similar to a mainframe: The administrator of a Remote Desktop environment controls everything going on on the clients, and can do anything from remotely locking them to invisibly installing software without user intervention.
It's a great toy to play with at home as well: I was sitting opposite to my Dad who was trying to get some work done, and he was moaning about how much money he always spends on me. He's not too good at computer stuff, although he's really good at graphicsy stuff, so I locked his screen with the message "Screen locked by Lawrence Dudley, unlocking cost: 200CHF".
Hehe, he soon shut up when he realised there was NOTHING short of hard-resetting his powerbook and losing his open work that he could do...
Life's tough being a parent :p

You folks may want to take a look at the latest version of OSXvnc.

Yeah, but VNC isn't scaleable to more than one computer is it? With ARD you can view 50 desktops at once, and install software on them all, at the same time. You can also sleep them all, wake them up, shut down and restart them. That power can't be built into a pure VNC system because it lacks the appropriate extensions to handle installations and the like.

Thats because Apple did the sensible thing (from network management point of view) and built that functionality into the OS.

I have the full version (to manage 4 machines lol) and it totally blows anything else out the water. I have even remote controlled my mates iMac over 48k dialup before now, and its much much faster than VNC (thankfully!)

How do you do that? Do you need to use SSH? Or can you just do it by IP?

I know it's possible, but I don't have to like it. ;)

Yes, classic geek mentality: Nothing's pointless, as even if something is pointless, then it's point is that it can be done.
Not to get this thread tooooooo far off-topic, are you guys agreed on that I need to find a design that is innovative, new and functional? I will have a look at some wacky stuff :-)

I think that just about every practical shape has been done. Now it's a matter of style and squeezing more technology into the same space.

yes, this is for a design class...right? then it should be different from what's currently being offered. box cases are too ordinary. I'd learn more towards a case that's hardly noticable, or one that has an added function.

a computer built like one of those old school desk calanders would be cool. you know those calanders that were huge...took up the whole desk. That could have an integrated keyboard, iTunes/widget display, etc. and when you're done with it could be rolled up/folded and put away.

IMO a twist on the desktop box isn't going to grab a professor's attention. An entire different way to use that space will.

How about a power-strip computer? All the cables could be run in a single cable management tube from the desktop...down under the desk where the "computer" will have a VGA/DVI, ethernet, USB (x2), FireWire, and one extra power input. You can be the first in your class to declare the death of CDs. Who want's CDs when flash memory is sooooo much more robust?

That's a very interesting idea actually... You mean basically a contraption of some sort that sits under the desk that contains everything, and just needs to be fed with power?
The roll-up idea sounds pretty cool too, if a little elaborate. The whole thing has to be technically feasible (i think), so I don't know if a flexible computer is such a good idea.