Apple's Mac mini gets ruggedized, aluminum shell

While there's long since been ways to make your Mac mini even more portable, the vulnerability typically increases right along with the downsizing. VictorSystems is out to throw mobility to the wind in exchange for assurance that your precious mini can withstand just about anything the world throws at it. The company has conjured up an entire computer system, peripherals and all, that is based around a mini and its accessories being sheathed in "aircraft grade aluminum alloys made from wrought plates, extruded rails, and finned heat sinks." Attention to detail was crucial, as even the power supply, a flat-panel display, keyboard, speakers, printer, and mouse were also given the ruggedizing treatment for a lengthy stay in the Amazon wilderness (or similar). Unfortunately, the setup doesn't sport a pricetag due to the BTO nature of the company, but if you're interested in removing every ounce of sexiness from your machine in order to carry it through unthinkable circumstances, VictorSystems can apparently do it up.

[Via Slashgear]

[Pedro @ May 10th 2007 9:31AM]

Why? Just why...?

[Christian Martin @ May 10th 2007 9:39AM]

Poetic that it's done by a company called VictorSystems when the keyboard now looks like a Vic-20...

[Matt @ May 10th 2007 9:53AM]

Commodore64 anyone?

[Darth Tony @ May 10th 2007 10:47AM]

Beige is back! NOT.

[aeo @ May 10th 2007 11:11AM]

You're not so little and cute now, are ya biotch!?!

[WillTheSecond @ May 10th 2007 11:35AM]

What have you done to it, you sickos? How COULD you? I feel ill just LOOKING at it.

Seriously, though, that things ugly as hell, it makes Alienware's stuff look like to epitome of beauty by comparison. Unless I was planning a parachute drop in North Korea, and was planning on letting this freefall next to me in the vague hope that it would survive, why else would you want this?

Usually I'd say something can have a retro charm, and the description posted makes it sound cool, but that kind of retro just wasn't made to be looked at, it was made to be shut away in a dark room...

[Ryan Devine @ May 10th 2007 12:17PM]

i think you guys are all missing the point. this is for the military to use on the ground where it can be thrown around and not take any damage. these things are tanks and it is really cool that they are using mac minis because of its smaller footprint.

[crescentdavid @ May 10th 2007 12:22PM]

It's the shame the military never heard about the ruggedized laptops. But then, I guess they wouldn't have the job of trying to keep all the pieces to gether. Epoxy, anyone?

Dag nab it! I guess I gave away next decade's super secret!

Oh, I guess I didn't: http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=RC974327&l=en&s=fed

[KC @ May 10th 2007 12:24PM]

Yep. Your tax money to be used to pay for style in the army.

[dj @ May 10th 2007 1:34PM]

I'm all for Mac's but if ruggedness and durability are the goals then why not a Panasonic Toughbook? A lot less to haul around.

[REDbULL Runner @ May 10th 2007 8:31PM]

This actually looks like something that could be installed into a tank, APC, hummvee or something similar... not something to carry around and use.

But personally, i think it is awesome that someone is creating a military grade system with a mac... now our soldiers wont have to kill those damn popups ;p