Back to the Future - Apple bring back the CUBE! - Future Apple Hardware Discussions on AppleInsider Forums (2024)

You know what else people want? An Apple PDA to replace the Newton. Ask most of the people here, and they'll likely say that they'd want an Apple PDA.

To reword your quote:

I have a Newton, I love it it, is too good to die. The R&D is done, the production problems are solved. Apple can ramp up it's production with minimal effort and expense. Having a product in this space will sell Macs. I want another one!

Yet it seems that both the Newton and Cube will not make a comeback. RIP Cube.

[quote]Originally posted by Fran441:

<strong>You know what else people want? An Apple PDA to replace the Newton. Ask most of the people here, and they'll likely say that they'd want an Apple PDA.

To reword your quote:

I have a Newton, I love it it, is too good to die. The R&D is done, the production problems are solved. Apple can ramp up it's production with minimal effort and expense. Having a product in this space will sell Macs. I want another one!

Yet it seems that both the Newton and Cube will not make a comeback. RIP Cube.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I think there'd be slightly more work involved in getting a new Newton out, than there would be getting a new Cube out.

And I agree, the Cube was great, when I saw it in the flesh I wanted one but I just couldn't justify the cost.

If the new iMac was done as a Cube with an external 15" LCD, with all the same specs and prices as the new iMac line (basically a G4 800 Cube with 256Mb RAM, 60Gb HDD, etc.), then Apple would have my cash for the top model. Would this have been to anyone else's taste?

The iMac currently prohibits the introduction of a Cube. It cuts across a pretty wide price range. I expect Apple to lower its prices back down to the $999-$1599 range as component prices allow, but even then: Most people, including me, bough Cubes with 15" LCDs. Might as well get an iMac now.

I think that if something Cube-like reappears, it'll be as a radically rethought, next-generation PowerMac. In a way, it would be the exact reverse of what some people on this board are clamoring for: A design that allows you to purchase just the basic CPU module (essentially, the Cube) if that's all you need, and get a PCI-X expansion chassis connected by a superfast wire. Or two, if you need two. Just daisy chain them. The last survey Apple took told them that a significant majority of their tower buyers (80%, I recall) never filled a single PCI slot, so this modular design makes the cost of entry lower for the majority of Apple's professional customers.

It also allows Apple to offer a professional machine that isn't a big, loud box.

[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: Amorph ]</p>

I have to agree that Apple made a Cube today with the specs of the high-end iMac it would be a great machine. Powerful, small, very quite (and please don't mention that crap about expandability).

But do you think an 800+MHz processor would give off too much heat? I'm guessing that the iMac has a fan, otherwise Jobs would have mentioned that it was silent.

Also, could they put a Superdrive in a Cube? I remember Jobs saying in his keynote something about problems with a vertically positioned optical drive.

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Grey:

<strong>I have to agree that Apple made a Cube today with the specs of the high-end iMac it would be a great machine. Powerful, small, very quite (and please don't mention that crap about expandability).

But do you think an 800+MHz processor would give off too much heat? I'm guessing that the iMac has a fan, otherwise Jobs would have mentioned that it was silent.

Also, could they put a Superdrive in a Cube? I remember Jobs saying in his keynote something about problems with a vertically positioned optical drive.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I liked the Cube but you have to admit it looked like a toster. (What is it with Apple? Tosters? Desk Lamps?)

Back to topic. The iMac does have a fan, but it is a quiet one apparently. He did say that and if true, I'm sure it is, that would make the Cube much less useful. Amorph's post was right on the money and if the Cube ever came back, I'd rather see a slightly larger version with an internal power source and horizontal drive.

[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: imacSE ]</p>

[quote](What is it with Apple? Tosters? Desk Lamps?) <hr></blockquote>

I bet the executives at Apple have strange ways on deciding how to design the next Mac, most likely involving blindfolds and lots of spinning.

Hey, he hit the lamp! Hmmm. That wouldn't be a bad iMac.

[quote]Originally posted by Fran441:

<strong>You know what else people want? An Apple PDA to replace the Newton. Ask most of the people here, and they'll likely say that they'd want an Apple PDA.

To reword your quote:

I have a Newton, I love it it, is too good to die. The R&D is done, the production problems are solved. Apple can ramp up it's production with minimal effort and expense. Having a product in this space will sell Macs. I want another one!

Yet it seems that both the Newton and Cube will not make a comeback. RIP Cube.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I want an apple PDA in the worst way. I also want a micro-notebook/webpad thingie, too. Larger than the PDA/newton realm

[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:

<strong>For some reason I think the next powermac is going to be housed in a 12" cube.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Of course! The NeXt Cube. seriously, I would go for that as a "revolutionary" enclosure for the G5. Room for full length cards, power supply, multiple hard drives Raid-ed together, use the mainboard as a rack mount server... I like it Jonathan!

T'ain't gonna happen folks:

1. It's been done already. The cube is basically the very last generation NeXT cube. I think Steve would be reticent to relive old memories yet again.

2. It was a disaster. Why introduce a new product with an albatros on its neck from the git-go?

3. The new enclosure will probably have the same footprint as older tower-macs only because it is what power users demand. It's simply the most economical use of space. The only exception is if the new enclosure were made to be rackmounted.

[quote]Originally posted by imacSE:

<strong>What is it with Apple? Tosters? Desk Lamps?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Apple's always had an appliance fetish. Anyone remeber those icons hidden in the System File?

Apple wouldn't bring back the Cube until they had a new market to sell to. Maybe if they move to x86 and sold Windows/OS X machines or maybe if they had 200 Apple Stores open. It would be a miracle for 27 Apple Stores to sell 27,000 Cubes a year and this is a drop in the bucket for a product line.

I'm posting from my Cube right now but it was not a successful design for the masses and I don't really see the yuppies that shop at the upscale malls as Cube buyers. The Cube is too risky for these wannabes. I think the new iMac has more of a chance since it is functional in that you can put it in a living room or almost anywhere and it looks cool but won't stand out. It is kind of like furniture. The Cube is more of a piece of art that makes a direct statement that is a little too much for some people.

It would be interesting to see the accounting for the entire Cube project to tell how much of a "disaster" it really was. Financially? Probably. Marketing-wise? Yes. Technically and Design-wise? Heck No!

I bet it could still make money for Apple, just like the remaining crt iMacs. The same specs as the iMac (unless there really is a verticality problem w/superdrives), but with room for one more video card or the new AGP Radeon cards that support multiple displays.

That is now the only negative for me with this iMac, only one display and a mirror. Otherwise I'm all over the specs and I am getting used to glossy white.

[quote]Originally posted by Evil Ed:

<strong>

... And I agree, the Cube was great, when I saw it in the flesh I wanted one but I just couldn't justify the cost.

If the new iMac was done as a Cube with an external 15" LCD, with all the same specs and prices as the new iMac line (basically a G4 800 Cube with 256Mb RAM, 60Gb HDD, etc.), then Apple would have my cash for the top model. Would this have been to anyone else's taste?</strong><hr></blockquote>

That is basically what I proposed, with a single processor Apollo # GHz speed and choice of monitors for the Prosumer - Not "Low level Pro's"

Slap the iMacs adjustable swivel screen on it...

call it the "iBox..."

It might sell...

E PLURIBUS UNIX

-----------------------------

[quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

<strong>The last survey Apple took told them that a significant majority of their tower buyers (80%, I recall) never filled a single PCI slot

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Is that true?

Funny, weren't people in here complaining over and over when the G4s still had 3 PCI slots only?

Bye,

RazzFazz

Well that's what I was asking in my "Convergence: The Mac?" thread: HOW many people truly take advantage of and use the PCI slots and extra drive bay(s)?

I don't know...I'm asking.

Slightly off topic.....was that a Cube I saw on the Real World last night? Didn't catch the whole thing but I sware the 2 seconds that I flipped by it someone was using a cube.

[ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: Willoughby ]</p>

[quote]Originally posted by RazzFazz:

<strong>

Is that true?

Funny, weren't people in here complaining over and over when the G4s still had 3 PCI slots only?</strong><hr></blockquote>

There've been people complaining ever since Apple canned the 9600. Most people don't seem to need PCI slots, but those who do (particularly in high-end video and audio work) tend to need as many as they can get their hands on. That's changing, slowly, but it's still true.

That's why my proposed PowerMac design wouldn't make sense without the expansion module. There are people who need PCI, and there will be for some years yet.

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