apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The repurposing of the PowerMac case is such a good idea. Rather than sending it to landfill, it becomes a place for flowers. The case itself is colorful so the entire windowbox is colorful, modern and fresh.

That's ingenious! What a great use of obsolete tech.

they ain't pansies. they're wild petunias.

Okay, I'm searching to find something positive to say about this but am honestly at a loss. Thumbs up for the "green" justification behind repurposing the old Mac. But it looks like an afterthought and a discard to me. It's like when you walk down the street and you see old, abandoned furniture on the sidewalk--a pet peeve of mine because I think it's thoughtless and rude to clutter up residential neighborhoods with discards. I don't see a planter. I see an cracked computer shell with some pretty flowers... But, I don't live in the neighborhood. So what do I know.

Cute idea, but it almost looks like it was left out for the trashman, not picked up, and then the plants took root! (I guess my fear here is that all the crap on my sidewalk on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be transformed into planters . . .)
I give it a gold medal for creativity, but overall it gets "another color" -- ok, green for creative recycling!!!

I like the contrast between the turquoise of the powermac and the fuscia of the flowers. Although it's not something I would do, these colors look great against the painted red brick. I'm a fan off more modern planters myself but at least this brings a smile to passersby and is unlikely to be stolen!

I wish all the crap left out on MY street would sport some fleurs. Like them trailing petunias ye got there..or is it weeping petunias?

I'm ambivalent about this. Part of me thinks, "cute idea" but in sort of a one-note joke way.

Part of me thinks, dear god, our society trashes stuff waaaaaaaaay too quickly, since that's the Mac just one model past the one sitting beneath my desk...

And the compulsive designer side of me thinks "why aren't there two of them, flanking the steps?"

Treehugger had a post a few weeks ago that addressed a similar pov as the apple window box. www.students.bath.ac.uk/ea2aced/main.htm. It's called Reenchanting the City. I found it provocative and gentle at the same time.

Not a fan of kitsch.
Thumbs up for recycling, though.

I am inclined to like it for the spirit of the idea, but something isn't quite right... I think the joke would go over better if it were used as a planter in an office, as an element of irony since computers are typically found there, instead of on an outside stoop, where it ends up looking out of place.

Looks like kind of an afterthought to me. It's completely out of context. Now if they did the dirt-and-sprouts in the keyboard thing, and paired it up with a gutted old monitor sporting some flora, then it would be brilliant!

So sorry, but I'm from a land where there are entirely too many abandoned cars in front yards waiting for the owners to have the cash to fix them, or something.

So, to me, this is just an ugly urban re-interpretation of an idea that does not need to be transported, but ... uh... dare I say... deleted?

God help such things when I take over the world.

I agree it's kind of cute, and would be moreso with a full Mac treatment.

But, sorry to get all activist for a moment, which is generally not my style, but there are too many good charities who could use used computers. Some are listed below.

Per Scholas is a nonprofit organization that offers reconditioned computers to children and families for less than $300, trains community residents to become computer technicians and provides environmentally responsible computer equipment recycling. The group accepts Pentium II and higher models, as well as printers. Visit www.perscholas.org 1231 Lafayette Ave., the Bronx 1-800-877-4068.

Harlem Restoration Project accepts computers (Pentium III and higher), scanners and monitors for use in the community. Harlem Restoration Project, 1980 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.(212) 622-8186.

Materials for the Arts accepts computers that are no more than four years old, as well as scanners, printers and fax machines. Visit www.mfta.org or call (718) 729-3001.

Computing for the Disabled has a hotline for donations of used computers in working condition, Pentium II and higher. The organization gives the repaired models to children with disabilities, organizations that serve people with disabilities, as well as nonprofit groups, senior-citizens homes and homeless shelters. Visit www.disabledhotline.com; 420 64th St., Suite 1B, Brooklyn (917) 331-0234.

Non-profit Computing Inc. fixes used equipment and gives it to nonprofit groups and schools. 40 Wall St., Suite 2124 (212) 759-2368.

Often the inards are fried. Or scavenged. Or swapped out. Nothing left but the case.

Yes, yes. Martha Stewart edition PC's. I see! ; )

Definitely an eyecatcher. I love the juxtaposition of color and contrasting styles. However, the cracked case is bothersome. I'd move it to the other side so the crack would be against the railing.

While I like the concept of recycling, I can't say I'm a huge fan of this particular incarnation of the planter. I have to echo Enrique and say that it looks like an afterthought to me. But then I've never liked the clawtub bathtubs you see used as planters, either.

I have to agree with Curtis. Though the idea is cute, the execution gives me the willies for the reason he mentioned. And I also agree with Patrick (2), that another one on the other side of the steps might make it look more intentional, and less like an abandoned car.

I love it. It's colorful, unexpected and certainly gives character to an otherwise plain and somewhat unattractive stoop. I think the crack is barely noticeable - it's a planter for god's sake. A planter exposed to forces of both weather and foot traffic - of course it's gonna have some wear 'n tear.

I disagree with those who think two planters would be better. First off, it would take up way too much stoop space and would therefore be rendered unpractical, but also, it would totally be overkill. One is perfect.

I think a normal passerby glancing at this stoop would smile. I certainly did.

Hey, no name calling.

i would have liked to have seen a real mac- like from a 1990 high school computer lab. maybe have the box still run- just enough to run that awful atari-1-up screensaver version of pong that hypnotizes even the strongest of minds. Ya know- just retro enough to say, i remeber that... Like the movie "Singles" or "Mad Max: The Road Warior."

To complete the joke, I think it should have an apple sapling in it.

i like the juxtoposition of modern/plastic/machine and nature. funny too.

there is a cafe nearby that used a urinal in the restroom as a planter (and yes, my 5 year old son was wondering if he was supposed to water it, or go for the toilet...)

Objection sustained. OK -- if one simply MUST use all this irony, etc., then have fun with the idea of beige, itself! Get TWO of those boxy, beige Macs and have them flank the porch as if they were some kind of cast conrete stone-esque planters. Then you have the overall look of classiness, with the sly, subtle wit. Court is adjourned. Bailiff, bring on our next case.

You people are SNOBS!

Well, the rest of "[us] people" I'm not willing to speak, but for ME...

I'd be perfectly happy to have my tombstone say, "He Liked Things to Be Pretty" if I wasn't so determined to be cremated. A friend who lives in Spain that anyone who's kind of persnickety about things looking nice is called a fascist, and anyone who isn't so fussy is considered a communist. I guess that's they're two big polar swings in their country. I don't know. So "snob"? Fine. I'll take it.

Hazycourse -- no!!!! The old macs are beige boxes... people make them into aquariums all the time, but they are the wrong size for a stoop, and they are not colorful. This is good because it's a colorful computer. A beige computer would look like junk.

Personally, I would prefer something a bit more tasteful and fabulous. You know, very that way.
I wouldn't speak to my neighbors for weeks over this.

Yeah, god forbid, a BEIGE one would make this look TACKY.

And, no doubt, the most tasteful tombstone in the whole place.

Actually, it will be wood skillfully painted to resemble stone. ;)

Well well, someone finally found a good use for an Apple. Now just for smeone to do something with that useless block of tech that Apple likes to call a music player!