The NeXT Computer and NeXTcube were high-end workstation computers developed, manufactured and sold by NeXT from 1988 until 1993. They ran the NeXTSTEP operating system. The NeXT Computer was packaged in a 1-foot (305 mm) die-cast magnesium cube-shaped case, which led to the machine being informally referred to as "the Cube". It cost US$6500.
The NeXT Computer has achieved a small degree of notability for being used by Tim Berners-Lee as the world's first web server, and also to write the first web browser, WorldWideWeb at CERN.
Hardware
Uniquely, the NeXT Computer featured a magneto-optical drive in place of the more usual hard disk, though the latter was available as an option. The workstation came with a 1120×832 pixel four-level grayscale MegaPixel 17" monitor (with built-in speakers).
The 68030 CPU was supported by a 68882 FPU for faster mathematical performance, a 56001 digital signal processor (DSP) for multi-media work and two custom-designed 6-channel direct memory access (DMA) channel controllers, which allowed much of the input/output (I/O) processing to be offloaded from the CPU to boost the speed of common tasks.
Revisions
In 1990, a revised model, now named NeXTcube, was launched with a 25 MHz 68040 processor, larger hard disks in place of the MO drive and an optional floppy disk drive. A 33 MHz NeXTcube Turbo was produced later.
NeXT also 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 NeXT Computer and NeXTcube were not a great commercial success, owing to their high price. However, some are still used around the world as servers and hobbyist desktops.
See also
External links
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