The MacMini Portable

Some ideas are so brilliantly simple, we're surprised no one has thought of them before. Such is the case with Peter Green's MacMini Portable Project, in which the titular Mr. Green adds an 8-inch folding LCD, Li-on battery, thumboard, and trackpad to a stock Mini for mobile OS X action that costs less than an iBook. Green scored most of the gear on eBay, and ended up spending under $700 for his one-of-a-kind creation, although that figure doesn't factor in the opportunity cost of the many hours spent on this build. It seems like there might be some money to be made from commercializing a kit with these features- any takers?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2006 1:59AM]

I think i a great idea. But it doesnt fit Engadget well. On DIY sites that can be cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2006 6:30AM]

Great Work Mr Green. I am truly inspired to go create something today. Now if only you could add an isight.. haha

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2006 9:53AM]

I think the people who have been dissing this project have gotten old, tired and forgotten the joy of the hack.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 4:50AM]

WOW!!
this is so incredibly lame! looks like a cash register to me...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2006 1:05PM]

Hey this is "insanely great".

You mentioned using a touch screen in a later iteration, perhaps when you do that you can build the screen hinge so the screen can lay flat, screen up on top of the Mini.

You could make it so the screen hinge is on the front edge and you have a choice of "MAC SE" mode with the screen up (using external keyboard and mouse) or "Really Thick Tablet" mode with the screen laying down and a finger or a stylus.


Does the Mini come out easily for repairs, or extented desktop use? When you are
home do you plug in a bigger screen and or a regular keyboard?

Could you have used a full sized bluetooth keyboard/mouse? ( didn't like those for size or price or some other reason?)