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 It superseded the original NeXT Computer workstation and is housed in a similar cube-shaped magnesium enclosure, designed by frog design.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 $7,995 (equivalent to about $19,000 in 2023) list price.[1]

NeXTcube
The base NeXTcube model
DeveloperNeXT
ManufacturerNeXT in Fremont, California
TypeWorkstation
Release dateSeptember 18, 1990; 34 years ago (1990-09-18)
Introductory priceUS$7,995 (equivalent to about $19,000 in 2023)
Discontinued1993 (1993)
Operating systemNeXTSTEP, OPENSTEP, NetBSD (limited support)
CPUMotorola 68040 @ 25 MHz, 56001 digital signal processor (DSP)
Memory8–64 MB
Storage400 MB, 1.4 GB, or 2.8 GB hard drive
2.88 MB floppy drive
Display1120×832 2-bpp grayscale
ConnectivityEthernet
Dimensions1-foot (305 mm) die-cast magnesium cube-shaped case
PredecessorNeXT Computer
SuccessorNeXTcube Turbo

Hardware

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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 US$1,495 (equivalent to $3,490 in 2023). 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.[2][3]

Specifications

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This NeXTcube has the original screen, keyboard, and mouse.
 
The motherboard 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.

Legacy

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Tim Berners-Lee used this NeXTcube to create and host the World Wide Web.

Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web at CERN in Switzerland on the NeXTcube workstation in 1990.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Webster, Bruce F. "NeXT on the Agenda". MacWorld. No. January 1991.
  2. ^ "Spherical Solutions, Pyro Installation & Ordering" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Spherical Solutions, Pyro 50 mHz Accelerator Card" (PDF).
  4. ^ "NeXTcube brochure" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Original NeXT computer used by Sir Tim Berners-Lee to design the World Wide Web - NeXT". Google Arts & Culture.
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