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Home Forums 68kMLA Successor to the PowerMac G3 "Outrigger" Desktop? — #8
Post #8 by Trash80toHP_Mini
Source Forum68kMLA
CategoryHardware
Post DateMon, 27 Feb 2012 - 14:28
Original URLhttps://68kmla.org/bb/threads/successor-to-the-powermac-g3-quot-outrigger-quot-desktop.24838/
Post
Reading this for the first time, I was about to mention the Mini as well, the Cube is an interesting choice also, but realized just now that neither really fits the description of a traditional desktop, IMHO.

__no expansion bus, so no upgrade possible for Video (Cube hacks make it the G3-4 era CC/Takky)

__no internal PSU/Cooling unit (do they both at least have fans?) puts more than half the mass(?) of the computer underfoot

__no support surface for a monitor

They may as well have been goitered onto the back of an LCD.

I know the Mini was un-humped from the iMac and that was good, but that doesn't make it a true desktop to my thinking.

The Cube and Mini w0uld be Desktop Bling or Clutter, dependent upon the design/organizational sensibilities of the user/owner or rejector/non-buyer.

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Ergonomic evolution of the Desktop/Display Combination:

Great point about the Monitor positioning, JR! :approve:

Interestingly enough, the height of what I'd consider the traditional Desktop form factor seems to have changed in lock-step with the general adoption of larger and larger CRTs, leaving the center of the IBM PC/XT/AT form factor's 12"-14" display (often sans tilt-n-swivel elevator shoe) at about the same height as mid-size 15"-17" CRTc on a PS/2.

The ergonomics of particular combinations are something I find interesting, now that this (marginally off topic) subject has come up.

__the II/IIx/IIci was fine with the 13" RGB, but too high for the Macintosh Portrait Display Note that the full size Mac II series required a monitor stand for mid-size displays

__the $10,000 IIfx really should have been a Tower Design, given that it was normally coupled with a TPD (or two), which was a relatively average percentage of overall package price

__The MPD came into its own with the introduction of the IIsi and LC series, but seems a bit low on the Quadra 605, the LC's jaunty angle (intended for the 12" topper twins)

__The MPD was a bit too tall for the later DuoDocks . . .

. . . but I can live with it because it looks sooo 8-) sitting on there and I've always had a Radius TPD sitting next to it, so no real for a second Display. However, when I built my rolling three sided workstation, the MPD sat on the Q605 next to the TPD and the DuoDock went into the "rack" section of the desk. This made for a much better matchup with the TPD.

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mp.ls