NeXTcube

NeXTcube. The NeXTcube was a high-end workstation computer developed and marketed by NeXT, the company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple Inc. in 1985. Introduced in 1990 as a refined successor to the original NeXT Computer, it was renowned for its distinctive black magnesium cube case, advanced object-oriented programming environment, and powerful NeXTSTEP operating system. Primarily targeted at the academic and scientific markets, it became a pivotal platform in the development of the World Wide Web and influential software.

History and development

The development of the NeXTcube was driven by Steve Jobs's vision to create the ideal computer for higher education and research, following the 1988 launch of the first NeXT Computer. Engineers at NeXT, including notable figures like Avie Tevanian and Bud Tribble, refined the original design, transitioning from a Motorola 68030 to a more powerful Motorola 68040 processor. The machine was formally unveiled at the NeXTWORLD Expo in 1990, showcasing its capabilities in computer-aided design and software development. Its development coincided with significant investments from individuals like Ross Perot and a later partnership with Canon Inc., which helped fund its advanced manufacturing processes.

Hardware specifications

The NeXTcube's hardware was architecturally advanced for its time, centered on a 25 MHz Motorola 68040 central processing unit. It featured a proprietary optical disc drive known as the NeXT Laser Printer for storage, though later models offered a more conventional hard disk drive. Standard memory configurations ranged from 8 to 16 megabytes of RAM, expandable to 64 MB, and it included a digital signal processor for enhanced multimedia performance. The system utilized a Motorola 88000 RISC processor as a coprocessor for the Display PostScript system, driving a high-resolution monochrome or grayscale display. Its distinctive enclosure was made of magnesium, providing durability and a unique aesthetic.

Software and operating system

The NeXTcube exclusively ran NeXTSTEP, an innovative Unix-based operating system that combined a Mach kernel with a BSD foundation. NeXTSTEP featured a sophisticated graphical user interface built on Display PostScript and an extensive suite of development tools, most notably the Interface Builder and the Objective-C programming language. This environment popularized concepts like drag-and-drop and the Dock. It included bundled applications such as the WordPerfect word processor and Mathematica for technical computing. The integrated WorldWideWeb browser and server software, created by Tim Berners-Lee on a NeXTcube at CERN, were seminal to the early Internet.

Impact and legacy

The NeXTcube's impact was profound, particularly in pioneering the World Wide Web; the first web server and browser were developed on this platform at CERN in Switzerland. Its advanced object-oriented environment influenced subsequent operating systems, most directly serving as the foundation for macOS and iOS after Apple Inc. acquired NeXT in 1996. The cube design itself became an icon of industrial design, celebrated in institutions like the Museum of Modern Art. While not a commercial success, its technology and philosophy shaped a generation of software developers and companies, including the early team at id Software which used it to develop groundbreaking games like Doom.

Models and variants

The primary model was the original NeXTcube (1990), which was later supplemented by the NeXTcube Turbo (1992) featuring a faster 33 MHz Motorola 68040 processor. A significant variant was the NeXTcube Color (1992), which added support for a 24-bit color display using the same Motorola 88000 coprocessor architecture. All models were eventually superseded by the lower-cost NeXTstation "pizza box" computers and the NeXTstation Color. The final workstation line from the company was the NeXTdimension board, a hardware add-on that provided color graphics and video editing capabilities for the cube platform, showcasing its expandability.

Category:Workstation computers Category:NeXT hardware Category:Computer-related introductions in 1990