Apple's Mac Pro computer has received its fair share of jabs for its modernist garbage pail looks, but the design aesthetic of the pricey device has slowly grown on some Apple devotees. Now one computer case modder has taken the general fascination with the design of Apple's latest pro-level Mac computer — priced at $3,000 at the low end and $4,000 at the top end — to the next level by attempting to build a hacked-together duplicate of the device.
See also: Apple's Jony Ive Designs Special Edition Red Mac Pro
Discovered by a user named "Dschijn" on the Tonymacx86 forums, the unique case mod was reportedly created by a user named "sascha288" and posted on an unnamed German forum near the end of 2013.

Image: Tonymacx86

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the case mod is that it unapologetically uses the exact item many have used to ridicule the device: a trashcan. Based on the details obtained by Dschijn, the trashcan used is the same one — the highly rated Lunar bathroom trashcan — currently for sale on Amazon for a mere $40. According to Dschijn, the total cost of the case mod materials, minus the PC hardware, adds up to just about $82.
In addition to the overall shape of the computer case, the modder also constructed a rough approximation of the Mac Pro's rectangular port connector panel, as well as its distinctive circular, ridged cooling vents.

Image: Tonymacx86

And, lest there be any doubt about what the designer was trying to accomplish, on two sides of the device, the modder also included an Apple logo, much like the one that appears on the real version. To cap it all off, the modder also opted to forgo the standard black color of the device and make the DIY Mac Pro red, similar to the special edition Red version of the Mac Pro created by Apple design chief Jony Ive, which sold at auction for almost $1 million ($977,000, to be exact) in November.

Image: Tonymacx86

Not mentioned in the breakdown is the cost of the hardware, which includes a Core i3 (Haswell) processor (approx. $150), a Gigabyte Z87N-WIFI motherboard (approx. $140), a Radeon 7750 graphics card (approx. $130), a 120GB Samsung solid state drive (approx. $100), a 120GB hard disk drive (approx. $80), an ATX power supply (approx. $40) and a Scythe case fan (approx. $37).

Image: Tonymacx86

So if you're interested in laying your hands on your own special edition Mac Pro, aren't sitting on a million bucks, and ready to take on a challenge, a reasonable facsimile will only cost you about $800. You can check out the full case mod breakdown for hints on how to started here.
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