- Retro workstation for Mac Mini M4 looks like a mac from the past but it’s about modern ports
- The helmet -shaped dock is nostalgic eye candy but the price invites to real control
- It’s cute, it’s quirky but it might be more gimmick than workstation for power users
A new docking station has emerged for the Apple Mac Mini M4, which mixes retro design with modern functionality.
Wokyis has revealed Retro Workstation for Mac Mini M4, which is now available for pre-ordering on the crowdfunding platform.
At first glance, it is difficult not to be captivated by its helmet -like silhouette, clearly inspired by the original Macintosh. But as with many products that act strongly for nostalgia, there is inevitable questions about the real world.
A Throwback -Form factor with modern ambitions
Dock mimics the shape of the original Macintosh with a Mathus and a 5-inch HD LCD screen (1280 x 720) embedded where the vintage screen would have been.
It accepts the MAC Mini M4 or M4 Pro by sitting across the device and essentially transforming Apple’s compact computer into the brain into a retro-style workstation.
Measurement of 145 x 131 x 154.3 mm and weighs 750g, it is compact, but its extra height may not appeal to those aimed at a minimalist setup.
Functionally, the device aims to deliver more than just visual tribute. Wokyis promotes it as a “13-in-1 work station” that describes it as “a versatile hub for daily tasks, content creation and storage expansion.”
The unit includes an M.2 NVME SSD slot that supports up to 8TB, along with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port offering up to 10 GBPs transfer speeds. It also has USB-C connection, SD 4.0 and MicroSD slots (UHS-II compatible), HDMI input and even a 3.5mm headphone.
The inclusion of the LCD screen may raise some eyebrows. Although technically functional, its limited resolution and lack of touch input suggest that it is more decorative than important.
Similarly, even if the device includes ventilation, the concept of enclosing a Mac Mini that has already integrated thermal control can appear in another structure.
Retro work station is priced at $ 199, or $ 99 for a slower version limited to 10 Gbps performance.
That said, it is unclear whether the benefit justifies costs, especially compared to the best USB hubs, many of which offer similar speeds and port accessibility without borrowing their aesthetic from 1984.
