Amazing Computer Enclosure

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Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know this thing has a Mac in it but you gotta give props where they are due and I think all of you will agree that they are definitely due here. Now, just replace the Mac with a PC and we’re all set.

This piece of art is about 5′ tall, and weights close to 300 lbs. It is mounted on wheels, features oversized handles, and has three doors, two on front and one on top. It is home for an Apple Mac Pro computer with 4TB of storage, an Apple Cinema Display 23″, a Music Hall Mambo amplifier (also made of aluminum), and a pair of aluminum-enclosed Webern loudspeakers manufactured by Vienna Acoustics. Essentially, my trunk could be described as the first 4TB iPod.
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I think its great for its purpose (though I think the dude should of use a 30" ACD now). Being a person that goes to a lot of lans I've incorporated small things to make my moving of my rigs(s) easier like use of a cart or placing my 24" lcd monitor in a backpack so with one trip I could park, then with my rig in one hand (with carrying strap) and accessories in another hand (in appropriately sized bag) and my monitor on my back get in line, register and setup with less fuss and in less time. But then I remember seeing some guy bring his rig in one of those luggage pieces that have roller wheels on them (the medium sized kinds you see at airports) and thought that something a bit larger could both fit my monitor and accessories leaving only 2 things to carry with me.

So I can definitely see the allure and functionality of this giant "carry everything" version of that. I recall that John Meyer uses a similar setup for his Xbox setup when he tours.
 
If it were me, I'd like a triple moniter set up. One 24" in the lid and two 22"s in the face of the unit. Just use two swing out monitor arms on a sliding rail and you could do it easily.

http://www.****************************/pc_trunk.jpg

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fear my awesome MS Paint skills! That is a top down view of how it could work, that dude better not steal my idea unless he sends me one! (the enclosure, not the Mac ;) )
 
Do you think the magnets in the speakers would cause any problems if you closed the doors?
 
Or the guy could have used an Imac and not had to make anything fit, lol
 
Looks like it is built using Aluminium profiles that you can get from Bosch Rexroth.
 
pshh.. This idea isn't new. I've done several builds over the years the same way with road cases and video editing units for ENG shoots. Just get some nice road cases for equipment, mount it in there with slide out racks and stuff, and there you go.
 
The last time I saw a box that big was......

Seriously I don't get it, you just made your computer 290lbs heavier.
 
Color me unimpressed - he simply used 80/20 or any other mfg. of extruded aluminum. At least if he used Darlex he could have gotten it black powder coated.
 
While I don't consider the case all to impressive (I've seen entire portable cubicles,) what's with the Mac hate?

Like any of you wouldn't like to have a dual quad-core system.... The fact that it's pre-built by Apple doesn't make it suck any more than one pre-built by Dell (Alienware), HP (Voodoo,) or Falcon NW. The only difference is the logo, and the default OS.
 
CharonPDX said:
While I don't consider the case all to impressive (I've seen entire portable cubicles,) what's with the Mac hate?

Like any of you wouldn't like to have a dual quad-core system.... The fact that it's pre-built by Apple doesn't make it suck any more than one pre-built by Dell (Alienware), HP (Voodoo,) or Falcon NW. The only difference is the logo, and the default OS.
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I personally dont care for a company telling me what hardware i can and cannot have and then charging out the anus for last years shit. Apple would be fine in my eyes if they actually competed as an OS instead of tying it to their prebuilt machines. At least with windows and linux i can install them on whatever the hell i want. They can give whatever cute marketing reason they want they tie OSx to thier hardware because if it actually had to compete as an OS it would be slaughtered.

The difference between Apple and other OEMs is really simple when your break it own.

A) No other company offers an operating system completely specific to thier hardware (You dont have to buy a prebuilt machine to get windows, linux etc.)
B) Other OEM companies usually charge about 1/3 less for the same level of hardware meaning apple thinks its OS is worth the difference.
C) Apples response to windows programs that that are not ported to OSX is bootcamp so whether you love it or hate it your going to have to buy a microsoft OS anyway if you need those programs.
D) None of the OEMs have marketing campaigns that outright lie and prey on the ignorant. (Dude your getting a dell is alot different than dude your dell said your fat.)

I always get a chuckle out of the apple fanbois that pay out the anus for thier macs then have to turn around and buy windows for thier games etc. anyway. Thats showing bill gates whos boss!
 
pfunkman said:
B) Other OEM companies usually charge about 1/3 less for the same level of hardware meaning apple thinks its OS is worth the difference.
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Price an equivalently specced Mac Pro against a Dell Precision or the equivalent HP workstation. The Mac Pro is currently the cheapest OEM dual-CPU quad-core Xeon workstation out there. You can drop the specs down on other manufacturers to single CPUs and dual cores and get them cheaper, but get the specs to be the same (dual 2.8 or 3ghz Woodcrests, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, 3 year warranty, etc) and we are talking about a difference of hundreds to well over $1000 there.

Yeah, I didn't believe it either.
 
Looks like he's got a lot of wasted space. I mean its nice looking & all, but the monitor could have been on the lid, as someone else pointed out, so it could have been shorter & more compact. It looks thicker than it needs to be. Possibly b/c of maybe a standard box for the storage whatever size it is... like 4U or something.

Just seems like a fancy server rack with speakers on the doors to me. (ie: not that original)
 
since I haven't done it for awhile, I just specc-ed out a Mac Pro and a comparable dell. I used the 8 core mac pro, everything left as the default option except the video card- I upgraded that to an nvidia 8800gt. So, you get 2 quad core 2.8 ghz xeons, a 320 GB drive, the 8800gt, and 2 GB of fully buffered RAM (boo to the FB RAM!!) and that'll run you $2949.
The dell I used was a precision t4700. To get it to match the Mac Pro, I upgraded it to 2 2.83 Ghz Xeons, 2 GB of RAM, a dual layer DVD burner (since the mac pro has one) and a 320 GB drive. Cost for that is $3973 after $200 instant savings. Ouch.
Of course, the mac pro buyer will probably still need to buy windows, so add $150 or so for that, and you still have the mac costing nearly $1000 less!
 
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