If you never looked at the iMac and wished it was way, way smaller, then you’re not Michael Pick. He built what he calls the “world’s smallest iMac.”
The modder filmed a video demonstrating the process of creating this tiny, yet fully functional, computer. Watch it now:
To be clear, this isn’t a real macOS computer. It’s built around a Raspberry Pi 4, and runs a distro from Grayduck and Pi Lab called iRaspbian that gives the device the appearance of a Mac. It comes with a suite of software, too. Just not Mac apps.
Building an iMac mini
Pick started by designing and then 3D-printing the casing for his miniature iMac. He then installed a 7-inch display inside.
The real challenge was figuring out how to fit the Raspberry Pi 4 inside the slender casing. That involved some serious modifications to the motherboard, including hacking off the Ethernet port and two USB-A ports.
The final iMac mini design has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as a USB-A port. It uses USB-A for power.
For more custom builds from Pick, visit his YouTube channel, The Casual Engineer. And, of course, he’s not the only person who likes to tinker with Apple gear. Check out a working guitar made out of 106 iPhones, for example.
