Folks, my thoughts are that the Cube was excellent product with a clear market. BUT where the Cube went wrong were the following 2 points:
1. It was too expensive with a price point too close to an expandable G4
2. Quality issues with the never-ending reports on 'cracks' and the unforgiving power sensor
Both these points are fixable and I do not doubt that with a little re-packaging (e.g. G5 aluminum grille front instead of some of that plastic) it could be re-launched and even REPLACE the current G4 Powermacs because let's face it if someone wants expandability TODAY they want options and likely power that only a G5 can offer. If they just need a Mac for an office, reception area etc. then a revamped G4 Cube is ideal. Let's hope this time round they can get the price point and the quality sorted!
BTW, I'd only add Bluetooth to the spec but obviously also bring it up-to-date with 1Ghz processor, much better graphics card and choice of 256/512Mb RAM with BTO to 1Gb.
Before anyone gets here first that should have been "1Ghz+ processor" and yes I'm signing the petition for what it's worth. Someone needs to tell folks at Apple about the petition though ...
I hope they DONT bring back the cube, because, as a cube owner, I like owning something that is rare, not common, and wanted by others.. that way I can mercilessly taunt them!
From the way some of you have responded to this thread it sounds like many of you have a cubes jammed up your butts.
With the new Power Macs Apple is stating something that has been known for some time. If you want true internal expandability, buy a PC. The majority of Macintosh units out there aren't Power Macs. Many PC users I know are looking into iBooks. They want a a cheap desktop system, but the iMac and eMac with their displays aren't grabbing them.
If Apple did release a new Cube it needs to be inexpensive, and keep similar upgrade options that the previous cube had.
- Enough room (and cooling) for any _standard_sized_ video card
- Additional RAM slot (4)
- Updated IDE controller to allow >120GB Drives
- STEREO OUT JACK!
As a cube owner myself I would enjoy seeing a new version of the machine, the hopefully wont be plagued with the problems of the current model.
P.S. That "cubes jammed up you butts" comment, also goes for current cube owners complaining.
It'll probably never happen but I haven't stopped drooling over the enya mockup ad... that is how the original cube should have looked. The ventilation might make it a single G5 though.
It'll probably never happen but I haven't stopped drooling over the enya mockup ad... that is how the original cube should have looked. The ventilation might make it a single G5 though.
What is this Enya mockup ad you're talking about? Can you please post it or do you have a link?
If Apple did release a new Cube it needs to be inexpensive, and keep similar upgrade options that the previous cube had.
- Enough room (and cooling) for any _standard_sized_ video card
- Additional RAM slot (4)
- Updated IDE controller to allow >120GB Drives
- STEREO OUT JACK!.
Simple. Low-cost. Tweaked design. 1 gig G4.
Idea switch machine.
I still like the idea of a 'Switcher-kit'. iCube box. 'Move 2 Mac' software. iApps galore. Apple store swap yer files as part of service from PC to Mac. Free seminars at Mac store to get you going. Macademy 'X' disc bundle (I learned alot from it...) Super-cheap price of £495.
Watch. Them. Move.
And for the discerning Macolite? A G5 1.6 G5 Cube workstation further up the price scale. Say, £995 inc VAT!
Watch Lemon Bon Bon pawn his grandmother for one. Oops. I can't. She passed away some time ago...bless her.
How about a Slate instead of a cube... what attracted me to the cube was, wooow, i can finally take my hard drive on to the airplane. Slate, basically a laptop, without the keyboard and monitor($$).
Jobs is right that Desktops will vanish much like CRT monitors and floppy drives. Maybe instead of a Tablet PC, a Slate could be a storage device much like the iPod, ....the ipod was basically a PDA, but simplified, and not a PDA....So this slate could be maybe, just a big hard drive, with a cd drive, and a few I/O's. I know tons of ppl that just drag their notbooks around, then plug into a external LCD monitor for work..
I think a headless iMac would look better AND be more functional than the old cube. My brother owned a cube and whenever he had to connect or disconnect something it was a huge pain in the arse. I much prefer the rounded dome of the iMac than the square box of the cube. I'm not signing the petition. I think the cube was popular because when it was introduced it was a chance to get a G4 for a less than Powermac price. Now of course they've got G4s in the iMacs so they would have to release one with a G5 for it to have the same impact. But they won't do this any time soon as long as they're selling single-processor towers.
I have 3 Cubes. 1. At My office 2. At my home 3. My son?s room. It was a sad day when Apple announced that they were stopping production on this model. This has to be the coolest Macs I have ever owned and I had my share in 10 years. Quiet and very upgradable (if you got the money) I wish Apple would re-think their decision to have the cube come back with a faster processor
I'm a minimalist. The thought of having a huge ****ing tower taking up so much space irks me. No PCI slots would be used. Likely, I'd learn to live with a mere 4GB ram. I could make do w/ one HD.
So having a huge hulk squashing my desk, with wasted engineering efforts and raw materials (like I said, I desire no PCI cards) is just pointless. You pay for all that 'expandability' when we both know that entire box will be 'obsolete' in 4 years.
Upgradeable graphics card, ram, and HD are a must. But that's it. And a smaller, cheaper box w/ a G5 in it would make me very happy.
Signed your petition - even though I feel it will do little good. It now has 157 signatures, not exactly huge so I guess it'll have even less impact! Anyway, worth a shot.
The cube still is the best looking Mac ever, much better than the 20th Anniversary which was my favourite until then. I love my minamilist designs, and loved it as soon as it came out. Unfortunately, the new iMac is kind of closer to the G4 Cube ethos, so it is unlikely ever to reappear.
If it does though, I'll be buying one - I'm using an iBook at the minute but will probably buy a second hand cube in a few years when I don't need the portability anymore. Let's hope I don't have to buy second, and can buy a G5 Cube instead - there are plenty more like me who don't care as long as you can upgrade the hard disk and memory, and it looks great. [Crosses fingers in full knowledge that it'll never happen ]
Comments
ONLINE PETITIONS DON'T WORK.
YOU VASTLY OVERESTIMATE THE MARKETABILITY OF YOUR OWN DESIRES.
1. It was too expensive with a price point too close to an expandable G4
2. Quality issues with the never-ending reports on 'cracks' and the unforgiving power sensor
Both these points are fixable and I do not doubt that with a little re-packaging (e.g. G5 aluminum grille front instead of some of that plastic) it could be re-launched and even REPLACE the current G4 Powermacs because let's face it if someone wants expandability TODAY they want options and likely power that only a G5 can offer. If they just need a Mac for an office, reception area etc. then a revamped G4 Cube is ideal. Let's hope this time round they can get the price point and the quality sorted!
BTW, I'd only add Bluetooth to the spec but obviously also bring it up-to-date with 1Ghz processor, much better graphics card and choice of 256/512Mb RAM with BTO to 1Gb.
From the way some of you have responded to this thread it sounds like many of you have a cubes jammed up your butts.
With the new Power Macs Apple is stating something that has been known for some time. If you want true internal expandability, buy a PC. The majority of Macintosh units out there aren't Power Macs. Many PC users I know are looking into iBooks. They want a a cheap desktop system, but the iMac and eMac with their displays aren't grabbing them.
If Apple did release a new Cube it needs to be inexpensive, and keep similar upgrade options that the previous cube had.
- Enough room (and cooling) for any _standard_sized_ video card
- Additional RAM slot (4)
- Updated IDE controller to allow >120GB Drives
- STEREO OUT JACK!
As a cube owner myself I would enjoy seeing a new version of the machine, the hopefully wont be plagued with the problems of the current model.
P.S. That "cubes jammed up you butts" comment, also goes for current cube owners complaining.
A $1,299 1.6 G5 cube would have legs, I think.
Originally posted by rjwill246
It'll probably never happen but I haven't stopped drooling over the enya mockup ad... that is how the original cube should have looked. The ventilation might make it a single G5 though.
What is this Enya mockup ad you're talking about? Can you please post it or do you have a link?
steve.
by the way, I want the Cube back, so i signed.
If Apple did release a new Cube it needs to be inexpensive, and keep similar upgrade options that the previous cube had.
- Enough room (and cooling) for any _standard_sized_ video card
- Additional RAM slot (4)
- Updated IDE controller to allow >120GB Drives
- STEREO OUT JACK!.
Simple. Low-cost. Tweaked design. 1 gig G4.
Idea switch machine.
I still like the idea of a 'Switcher-kit'. iCube box. 'Move 2 Mac' software. iApps galore. Apple store swap yer files as part of service from PC to Mac. Free seminars at Mac store to get you going. Macademy 'X' disc bundle (I learned alot from it...) Super-cheap price of £495.
Watch. Them. Move.
And for the discerning Macolite? A G5 1.6 G5 Cube workstation further up the price scale. Say, £995 inc VAT!
Watch Lemon Bon Bon pawn his grandmother for one. Oops. I can't. She passed away some time ago...bless her.
Lemon Bon Bon
Jobs is right that Desktops will vanish much like CRT monitors and floppy drives. Maybe instead of a Tablet PC, a Slate could be a storage device much like the iPod, ....the ipod was basically a PDA, but simplified, and not a PDA....So this slate could be maybe, just a big hard drive, with a cd drive, and a few I/O's. I know tons of ppl that just drag their notbooks around, then plug into a external LCD monitor for work..
I dunno. just a thought
when it hit £999 here Apple couldn't restock fast enough.
I signed.
So having a huge hulk squashing my desk, with wasted engineering efforts and raw materials (like I said, I desire no PCI cards) is just pointless. You pay for all that 'expandability' when we both know that entire box will be 'obsolete' in 4 years.
Upgradeable graphics card, ram, and HD are a must. But that's it. And a smaller, cheaper box w/ a G5 in it would make me very happy.
The cube still is the best looking Mac ever, much better than the 20th Anniversary which was my favourite until then. I love my minamilist designs, and loved it as soon as it came out. Unfortunately, the new iMac is kind of closer to the G4 Cube ethos, so it is unlikely ever to reappear.
If it does though, I'll be buying one - I'm using an iBook at the minute but will probably buy a second hand cube in a few years when I don't need the portability anymore. Let's hope I don't have to buy second, and can buy a G5 Cube instead - there are plenty more like me who don't care as long as you can upgrade the hard disk and memory, and it looks great. [Crosses fingers in full knowledge that it'll never happen