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There’s been some… let’s say, discord… online over the new Mac Mini’s underside power button – meaning you have to lift the device to turn the system on. Some say it’s an abysmal design; others ask who turns their computers off anyway? And I’ve learned that Fastboot is underappreciated.

Whatever your thoughts on turning your computer off and on, we can all appreciate the maker movement for being ever-ready to fix design oversights. One solution that garnered attention on the r/macmini subreddit turns the whole system into the power button with a 3D printed stand. The designer, Gijs Raggers, later uploaded the design to Thingiverse. The final version looks a little different than the post that even The Verge even briefly covered, the original design’s circle having been necessary according to Raggers.

While some Redditors speculated this solution might result in accidental button presses – notably by way of cat – Raggers says, “You really have to push a bit. If you push accidentally, no problem. Power off needs a long push. The first dialog box asks for confirmation.” They also add the design is “cat proof” in another comment, but maybe it depends on just how devious your feline friend is.

If you want to support the maker, Raggers asks users to check out their app, Rename, in the Mac app store. And, if you don’t have a 3D printer of your own, consider using Craftcloud to order the part.

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License: The text of "This 3D Print Turns Your Whole Mac Mini Into the Power Button" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.