NeXTcube

The NeXT Computer in 1988 and its very similar successor NeXTcube were high-end workstations, the company NeXT, which were built from 1988 to 1993. The operating system NeXTSTEP was used, a specially developed Unix derivative, which later formed the basis for MacOS X. The computers were (305 mm) edge length delivered in a cube-shaped (English Cube ) case with " one - foot", which consisted of cast magnesium, and initially cost around $ 6,500.

The computer presented in relation to the performance of the hardware, its extensive features, as well as the sophistication and user-friendliness of the operating system milestones dar. This was reflected in the high price, however, which made the devices for home users and students practically prohibitive.

Today, the NeXT computer are known mainly by the fact that Tim Berners -Lee developed the World Wide Web and the first web browser on a NeXTcube at CERN. In this context, he developed and also ran the first web server in the world on a NeXTCube.

Hardware

What was unique was the built- Magneto- Optical drive instead of a hard drive, although the latter was available as an option. The workstation came with a 17 " grayscale monitor with 1120 × 832 pixels with built-in speakers.

As the CPU is a Motorola 68030 was fitted with a 68882 co-processor for fast mathematical calculations. In addition, there was a 56001 digital signal processor ( DSP) for multimedia and two special six -channel DMA controller, which relieved the CPU with I / O processes.

The mouse was connected to keyboard, this in turn on the monitor. The on / off switch was integrated in the keyboard, so that only the operation of the original peripheral been possible unless a special adapter box was used, on which a VGA monitor, and the original keyboard and mouse could be connected.

Revisions

In 1990, a modified model, which was now called NeXTcube, brought out. He had a 25 MHz 68040 processor, a hard disk instead of the MO drive previously used and a floppy drive. A 33 MHz NeXTcube Turbo came later.

NeXT also launched the Next Dimension for the NeXTcube, a platinum expansion based on the Intel i860 processor. It could thus be connected, for example, a 32-bit PostScript color monitor.

Others

The NeXT Computer and NeXTcube were, among other things because of high prices, not a great commercial success. Due to its extraordinary design, which originated from the well for Apple operating company frog design, some are exhibited in museums of modern art, such as in the new collection of the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich and the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco.