NeXTcube
{{Short description|Workstation computer by NeXT}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = NeXTcube
| logo =
| image = NeXTcube.jpg
| caption = The base NeXTcube model
| developer = NeXT
| manufacturer = NeXT in Fremont, California
| carrier =
| family =
| type = Workstation
| generation =
| releasedate = {{start date and age|1990|09|18}}
| lifespan =
| price = {{US$|7995|1990|round=-3|about=yes}}
| discontinued = {{end date|1993}}
| unitssold =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| os = NeXTSTEP, OPENSTEP, NetBSD (limited support)
| power =
| cpu = Motorola 68040 @ 25 MHz, 56001 digital signal processor (DSP)
| storage = 400 MB, 1.4 GB, or 2.8 GB hard drive
2.88 MB floppy drive
| memory = 8–64 MB
| display = 1120×832 2-bpp grayscale
| graphics =
| sound =
| input =
| location =
| controllers =
| output =
| camera =
| touchpad =
| connectivity = Ethernet
| service =
| dimensions = 1-foot (305 mm) die-cast magnesium cube-shaped case
| weight =
| topgame =
| compatibility =
| predecessor = NeXT Computer
| successor = NeXTcube Turbo
| related =
| website =
}}
The NeXTcube is a high-end workstation computer developed, manufactured, and sold by NeXT from 1990 to 1993. It superseded the original NeXT Computer workstation and is housed in a similar cube-shaped magnesium enclosure, designed by frog design. The workstation runs the NeXTSTEP operating system and was launched with a {{US$|7995|1990|round=-3|about=yes|long=no}} list price.{{cite magazine |last1=Webster |first1=Bruce F |title=NeXT on the Agenda | magazine=MacWorld |issue=January 1991}}
Hardware
The NeXTcube is the successor to the original NeXT Computer, with a 68040 processor, a hard disk in place of the magneto-optical drive, and a floppy disk drive. NeXT offered a 68040 system board upgrade (and NeXTSTEP 2.0) for {{USD|1495|1990|round=-1}}. A 33 MHz NeXTcube Turbo was later produced.
NeXT released the NeXTdimension for the NeXTcube, a circuit board based on an Intel i860 processor, which offers 32-bit PostScript color display and video-sampling features.
The Pyro accelerator board replaces the standard 25 MHz processor with a 50 MHz one.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Rare_NeXT_Hardware/pyro_installation.pdf|title=Spherical Solutions, Pyro Installation & Ordering}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Rare_NeXT_Hardware/pyro_accelerator_card.pdf|title=Spherical Solutions, Pyro 50 mHz Accelerator Card}}
Specifications
File:NeXTcube motherboard.jpg of the NeXTcube has a Motorola 68040 at the lower edge. To the right are the interfaces, and to the left the system bus. Most chips and connectors are described in the image.]]
- Display: 1120×832 17 in (432 mm) 82 ppi grayscale MegaPixel Display
- Operating system: NeXTSTEP 2.2 Extended or later
- CPU: 25 MHz 68040 with integrated floating-point unit
- Digital signal processor: 25 MHz Motorola DSP56001
- RAM: 8 MB, expandable to 64 MB (Sixteen 30-pin SIMM slots)
- Floppy drive: 2.88 MB
- Hard drive: 105 MB, 340 MB, 400 MB, 660 MB, 1.4 GB or 2.8 GB SCSI drive
- Network interface: 10BASE-T and 10BASE2 Ethernet
- Expansion: four NeXTbus slots (mainboard uses one slot)
- Size (H × W × D): 12 in × 12 in × 12 in (305 mm x 305 mm x 305 mm (±1 mm)){{Cite web|url=http://www.nextcomputers.org/NeXTfiles/Docs/Hardware/nextcube.pdf|title=NeXTcube brochure}}
Legacy
File:NeXTcube first webserver.JPG.]]
Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at CERN in Switzerland on the NeXTcube workstation in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/original-next-computer-used-by-sir-tim-berners-lee-to-design-the-world-wide-web-next/6QHcxbuGnQ4rng|title=Original NeXT computer used by Sir Tim Berners-Lee to design the World Wide Web - NeXT|website=Google Arts & Culture}}
See also
- NeXT character set
- NeXTcube Turbo
- NeXTstation
- Power Mac G4 Cube, a similar cube computer from Apple
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{NeXT Computer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nextcube}}
Category:Computer workstations