NeXT Computer

NeXT Computer. The NeXT Computer was a pioneering workstation computer developed and marketed by NeXT, the company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple Inc. in 1985. Introduced in 1988, it was notable for its sleek black magnesium cube design, advanced object-oriented programming software environment, and high price point, targeting the higher education and scientific markets. Although not a commercial success, its innovative technologies profoundly influenced the future of computing, particularly in software development and internet infrastructure.

History

Following his ouster from Apple Inc., Steve Jobs founded NeXT with the goal of creating a revolutionary computer for the academic and research communities. The development process, led by a team that included notable figures like Avie Tevanian and Bud Tribble, was secretive and ambitious, with significant investment from individuals such as Ross Perot. The machine was officially unveiled at a lavish event at the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco on October 12, 1988. Despite generating considerable buzz within the technology industry and receiving praise from luminaries like Tim Berners-Lee, who used a NeXT computer to create the first World Wide Web server and browser, the company struggled with low sales volumes. This led to a pivot away from hardware in 1993, with NeXT focusing solely on its NeXTSTEP operating system software, which would later become the foundation for macOS and iOS after Apple Inc. acquired NeXT in 1996.

Hardware

The hardware was encapsulated in a distinctive one-foot cube chassis made of magnesium, a design achievement that earned it a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its core processing was handled by a 25 MHz Motorola 68030 central processing unit, supported by a separate Motorola 68882 floating-point unit for mathematical operations. A key innovation was its use of a 256 MB read/write magneto-optical drive as the primary storage medium, eschewing a conventional hard disk drive, though this contributed to its high cost. The system featured 8 MB of RAM, a high-resolution Monochrome display, and a built-in Digital Signal Processor for multimedia capabilities. It also included Ethernet networking as a standard feature, which was uncommon for personal computers at the time, facilitating its use in academic and networked environments.

Software

The computer's true legacy lies in its sophisticated software environment, the NeXTSTEP operating system. NeXTSTEP was built on a Unix-like foundation, Mach, and was renowned for its advanced object-oriented programming frameworks, known as OpenStep. This environment included Interface Builder, a revolutionary tool for constructing graphical user interfaces, and Project Builder, an integrated development environment that greatly simplified software creation. The system also featured a sophisticated display technology called Display PostScript, which provided sharp, scalable graphics and fonts. These developer tools and the robust APIs enabled the rapid creation of complex applications, influencing the development of future systems like Microsoft Windows and the Java (programming language) platform.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception praised the computer's technological elegance and software power, with publications like BYTE magazine awarding it accolades. However, its high price, initially $6,500, limited its market primarily to well-funded universities, research labs like CERN, and some financial institutions on Wall Street. Commercially, it was considered a failure, with only about 50,000 units sold. Its enduring legacy, however, is immense. The World Wide Web was invented on a NeXT computer by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN. Furthermore, the acquisition of NeXT by Apple Inc. in 1996 brought Steve Jobs back to the company and provided the core technology for the modern macOS and iOS operating systems. Key software concepts from NeXTSTEP also directly influenced other major platforms, including Microsoft Windows NT and the GNUStep project.

Technical specifications

The technical specifications highlighted its position as a high-end workstation. The central processing unit was a 25 MHz Motorola 68030, paired with a 25 MHz Motorola 68882 math co-processor. It came standard with 8 MB of main memory, expandable to 16 MB, and utilized a unique 256 MB Canon magneto-optical drive for storage. The built-in Monochrome display had a resolution of 1120 by 832 pixels. Standard connectivity included Ethernet (10BASE-2), a NuBus expansion slot, and a Digital Signal Processor for audio processing. The entire system was powered by a dedicated power supply unit external to the main cube chassis. Category:Workstation computers Category:NeXT hardware Category:1988 introductions