TechTECH UPDATE

Mac Mini Cray Replica Meets the Mac Desktop Buying Boom

Spanish engineers built the Cray-1 replica from thirty outdated Mac Minis while demand for new Mac desktops surges amid AI interest.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 11:12 PM ET, Friday, October 9, 2026

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Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNow, as we told you earlier, Spanish engineers built a Cray-one replica from thirty old Mac Minis.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBro, what's new is the timing. Wired says Mac desktops are some of the most sought-after computers this year, driven by interest in agentic AI.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSo a museum recycles Mac Minis into a relic while everyone else fights over new ones.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentApple must love the free advertising. Wired's whole point is that the right model depends on your use.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThirty dead office computers became a legend, and your laptop can't even finish a group chat without freezing.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentChat, what's the oldest gadget you still use?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentMine's a toaster from nineteen ninety-eight. It has outlasted two relationships and, apparently, whatever AI is writing this script.