...As I recall, when Apple released the Cube its stated market was for the Executive market. They may have looked for other revinue, but the original price point of $1799 for a 450mhz CPU was not priced for the design market whe a 400 mhz tower was at $1499-$1599, and a dual 450 mhz tower at $1999-$2199 (not sure of the exact starting price at the time). However manager's, and executives who want design, and power...and need to save desk space were an ideal market for a computer which Apple could charge a premium...</strong><hr></blockquote>
I've never heard this at all, and I own a Cube. Can you back this up with a link or two? Not that it matters, but I don't think Apple ever "stated" the Cube was geared toward executives. Executives? What a strange market for Apple to pursue. The TiBook, maybe.
I think this whole idea of 'targeted markets' is way overblown around here. In fact, it is the one thing that ticks me off more than anything around hee, all the armchair 'marketing gurus' around here.
Apple targets making a profit. They thought the Cube would make a profit, because people would buy style over substance.
They were wrong. People will buy style, but not at the expense of substance. In other words, they want both.
Also, FWIW, the G3 Cube would have been a HORRIBLE idea.
In the end, maybe the Cube was too expensive, and Apple couldn't sell them for any less. I really can't imagine Apple would abandon something if they had the alternative of simply lowering the prices.
For all the talk of 'positioning' and 'marketing' around here, I'm gonna bet that they really just couldn't do anything with it.
...whaddafah..? You can upgrade Cubes to GeForce2MX? Please, sir, elaborate..
The 1 GHz upgrades sound cool, but I don't want to lose the silent, fanless operation of my Cube.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, I took out the ATI Rage 128 and put in a GeForce2MX. All you have to do is get an Apple OEM GF2MX and switch the backplate with the stock card you take out of your cube. I guess you could use the PC version GF2MX so long as you dont need the ADC connection. I got an Apple OEM GF2MX on ebay for under $100.
So there is the final answer. You can fit a Geforce 2MX & 3MX without modifiction to any part of your Cube (note: GeForce 3MX really does need a fan, as it puts out significant heat). You can obviously use one of the original Radeon OEM cards. The Radeon 8500 and Geforce 4MX are too tall to fit in the cube. The Radeon 7500 OEM card that is shipping in current G4s will physically fit in a cube; however, the VGA port is farther away from the ADC connector than other cards. If you were able to get hold of a 7500 the solution would be to have a machine shop make a new bracket for you to fit the new card. This should not be that big of a problem, since it is simply bent sheet metal. If you are brave enough you can modify your original bracket, but if you mess up you are out an original part that is difficult to aquire. It is also interesting to note that the 7500 does not come with a fan for the card. I do not know if additional cooling would be required for the 7500 in the cube. It would be interesting for someone to try it and let us know what the temperatures stabilize at. xlr8yourmac is planning on doing that very thing. If the 7500 has performance equivalent to the Geforce 3, then this would be the first card that would fit in the cube to provide performance better than the Geforce 2MX with TwinView capabilities. COOL!
Good luck to all of you brave souls that seek to keep your cubes alive.
<strong>I think this whole idea of 'targeted markets' is way overblown around here. In fact, it is the one thing that ticks me off more than anything around hee, all the armchair 'marketing gurus' around here.
Apple targets making a profit. They thought the Cube would make a profit, because people would buy style over substance.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Exactly. Well, to qualify that, you obviously have to say that there ARE target markets, and they are very explicitly defined by the lines that make up the Apple product matrix.
Since the Cube's full name was the PowerMac G4 Cube, it's clear it was a "special edition" PowerMac retooled to emphasize aesthetics over expandability. Apple's Cube didn't work because the Cube was a PowerMac Cube - it was targeted toward a presumed pro crowd. Consumers loved it, but it was out of the consumer price range. I don't think there's any armchair punditing to a story as simple as that.
BTW, Astronaut - how is the sound on your new card? Hearing a fan whirring from my Cube might be too surreal for me to handle
BTW, Astronaut - how is the sound on your new card? Hearing a fan whirring from my Cube might be too surreal for me to handle </strong><hr></blockquote>
heh, no fan required for a GF2MX in the Cube.. GF3MX, yes you need a fan, but not the GF2. The FAQ says the heatsink on GF2's pulled from towers may need a bigger heatsink, but the one on my GF2 (which came from a tower) seems large enough as it is. I'm not sure I could fit a bigger heatsink on it and still fit it into the Cube.
But, having said that, if I do more upgrades (like the PowerLogix CPU upgrade) then I will probably have to install a fan. I wouldn't be opposed to adding a fan to extend the life of the machine anyway, really...
If the Cube was a mistake, I hope they keep making some in the future, too.
It really continues to impress me daily, it feels good. Its silence, small size and a big display of my preference could only be rivaled by the TiBook.
It's hard to give up on that good stuff, once you taste it. Towers are noisy and too big, the iMac limited by it's screen and it hums, too. Apple took steps in a great direction, had to backtrack, but will hopefully return there.
Without the Cube I would not have made the switch from the PC to the Mac... Did it cost me more than a tower? Yes. Do you think I'd trade it for anything? Not on your life!
For those that were complaining about having had no monitor included with the Cube I can only say: this way you have choices. I did, and attached a 21" display.
My 2 cents say the cube was neat, but without sales? How long could it last? I also have concern about the vertical optical drives. They seam so flaky. If they could remarket them and get some sales in their belts, and make the optical drive load from the front, I think I'd buy one. (maybe)
I have just bought a cube... I've plans to upgrade the graphics card and HD, as well as putting a powerlogix in there...with these mods it should last for ages...
I have a dp800 which I will still use for work, but for domestic use the cube is a much more elegant option. I really hope that one day they will return...
I finally bought a cube a couple months ago after wanting one since they were introduced. After installing a really fast 100GB drive, a bunch of ram, airport card, GeForce3 graphics card, all I need is a 1gHz upgrade and I'm all set. Seriously though, it's a great machine, and very affordable now (around $800 on eBay).
i have to admit, i was VERY skeptical of the cube, but now that i know the geforce 2mx and geforce 3 will fit inside it, and that powerlogix has a 1 ghz upgrade, it's looking like a GREAT machine.
though you might want to have a small fan underneath to circulate the additional heat the graphics card and processor will probably generate.
I honestly think that the biggest thing missing from the Cube when it was introduced was a dual-head display card. I personally know a couple of graphic designers and web designers that would have bought one had they been able to run two displays from it. Instead, they wound up getting a loud tower with more expansion than they needed. I think there were many designers in this same position, where all they really need is a fast machine with loads of RAM and a decent vid. card able to span a couple of monitors. The incredible esthetics and near-silent operation are added benefits that designers would appreciate and that would impress clients.
I convinced my Dad to buy one of the first Cubes and as soon as he saw it, he knew that was what he wanted to get. Took him a little while to come to grips with what it was going to cost when coupled with the 15" Studio Display (at that time), but compared to the options, it was the obvious choice. He had absolutely no need for the expandability of the towers (never added anything but more RAM to any machine since his first 512k), but really didn't like the looks of the gum-drop iMacs. He really didn't feel it was professional looking enough for his office, but mainly just didn't like seeing all the internals of the machine, through translucent plastic. Also, the near-silence was a real plus since he could listen to music better (and at lower volumes) and have nicer conversations in his office. Now, granted, if the current iMac was out then, I'm sure he would have saved a lot of money and bought the LCD iMac, but he has never regretted his decision.
I'd really like to pick one up myself I think and see how much I can get out of it with some upgrades.
Stop talking like PC geeks apple is all for style and functionality together apple will bring back a cube.. maybe not but the powermac g4 will need an upgrade cosmetically.
Comments
<strong>RE: Scott F.
...As I recall, when Apple released the Cube its stated market was for the Executive market. They may have looked for other revinue, but the original price point of $1799 for a 450mhz CPU was not priced for the design market whe a 400 mhz tower was at $1499-$1599, and a dual 450 mhz tower at $1999-$2199 (not sure of the exact starting price at the time). However manager's, and executives who want design, and power...and need to save desk space were an ideal market for a computer which Apple could charge a premium...</strong><hr></blockquote>
I've never heard this at all, and I own a Cube. Can you back this up with a link or two? Not that it matters, but I don't think Apple ever "stated" the Cube was geared toward executives. Executives? What a strange market for Apple to pursue. The TiBook, maybe.
Apple targets making a profit. They thought the Cube would make a profit, because people would buy style over substance.
They were wrong. People will buy style, but not at the expense of substance. In other words, they want both.
Also, FWIW, the G3 Cube would have been a HORRIBLE idea.
In the end, maybe the Cube was too expensive, and Apple couldn't sell them for any less. I really can't imagine Apple would abandon something if they had the alternative of simply lowering the prices.
For all the talk of 'positioning' and 'marketing' around here, I'm gonna bet that they really just couldn't do anything with it.
TING5
<strong>
...whaddafah..? You can upgrade Cubes to GeForce2MX? Please, sir, elaborate..
The 1 GHz upgrades sound cool, but I don't want to lose the silent, fanless operation of my Cube.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, I took out the ATI Rage 128 and put in a GeForce2MX. All you have to do is get an Apple OEM GF2MX and switch the backplate with the stock card you take out of your cube. I guess you could use the PC version GF2MX so long as you dont need the ADC connection. I got an Apple OEM GF2MX on ebay for under $100.
Check out the <a href="http://www.CubeOwner.com/faqs/videoupgrades.html"; target="_blank">CubeOwner.com Video Card Upgrade FAQ</a>.
So there is the final answer. You can fit a Geforce 2MX & 3MX without modifiction to any part of your Cube (note: GeForce 3MX really does need a fan, as it puts out significant heat). You can obviously use one of the original Radeon OEM cards. The Radeon 8500 and Geforce 4MX are too tall to fit in the cube. The Radeon 7500 OEM card that is shipping in current G4s will physically fit in a cube; however, the VGA port is farther away from the ADC connector than other cards. If you were able to get hold of a 7500 the solution would be to have a machine shop make a new bracket for you to fit the new card. This should not be that big of a problem, since it is simply bent sheet metal. If you are brave enough you can modify your original bracket, but if you mess up you are out an original part that is difficult to aquire. It is also interesting to note that the 7500 does not come with a fan for the card. I do not know if additional cooling would be required for the 7500 in the cube. It would be interesting for someone to try it and let us know what the temperatures stabilize at. xlr8yourmac is planning on doing that very thing. If the 7500 has performance equivalent to the Geforce 3, then this would be the first card that would fit in the cube to provide performance better than the Geforce 2MX with TwinView capabilities. COOL!
Good luck to all of you brave souls that seek to keep your cubes alive.
Quartz Extreme on your Cube, dude.
<strong>I think this whole idea of 'targeted markets' is way overblown around here. In fact, it is the one thing that ticks me off more than anything around hee, all the armchair 'marketing gurus' around here.
Apple targets making a profit. They thought the Cube would make a profit, because people would buy style over substance.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Exactly. Well, to qualify that, you obviously have to say that there ARE target markets, and they are very explicitly defined by the lines that make up the Apple product matrix.
Since the Cube's full name was the PowerMac G4 Cube, it's clear it was a "special edition" PowerMac retooled to emphasize aesthetics over expandability. Apple's Cube didn't work because the Cube was a PowerMac Cube - it was targeted toward a presumed pro crowd. Consumers loved it, but it was out of the consumer price range. I don't think there's any armchair punditing to a story as simple as that.
BTW, Astronaut - how is the sound on your new card? Hearing a fan whirring from my Cube might be too surreal for me to handle
<strong>
BTW, Astronaut - how is the sound on your new card? Hearing a fan whirring from my Cube might be too surreal for me to handle
heh, no fan required for a GF2MX in the Cube.. GF3MX, yes you need a fan, but not the GF2. The FAQ says the heatsink on GF2's pulled from towers may need a bigger heatsink, but the one on my GF2 (which came from a tower) seems large enough as it is. I'm not sure I could fit a bigger heatsink on it and still fit it into the Cube.
But, having said that, if I do more upgrades (like the PowerLogix CPU upgrade) then I will probably have to install a fan. I wouldn't be opposed to adding a fan to extend the life of the machine anyway, really...
...whaddafah..? You can upgrade Cubes to GeForce2MX? Please, sir, elaborate.. <hr></blockquote>
MacResQ has listed a GeForce2 MX card on their site, $149
<a href="http://209.1.58.86/store/detail.las?-token.prod=P008078&-token.1=20020614-172429-4515"; target="_blank">Geforce2 Mx for Cube</a>
It really continues to impress me daily, it feels good. Its silence, small size and a big display of my preference could only be rivaled by the TiBook.
It's hard to give up on that good stuff, once you taste it. Towers are noisy and too big, the iMac limited by it's screen and it hums, too. Apple took steps in a great direction, had to backtrack, but will hopefully return there.
J
For those that were complaining about having had no monitor included with the Cube I can only say: this way you have choices. I did, and attached a 21" display.
...just supporting the revival of the Cube...
Just my 2 cents....
I have a dp800 which I will still use for work, but for domestic use the cube is a much more elegant option. I really hope that one day they will return...
Marcus
though you might want to have a small fan underneath to circulate the additional heat the graphics card and processor will probably generate.
I convinced my Dad to buy one of the first Cubes and as soon as he saw it, he knew that was what he wanted to get. Took him a little while to come to grips with what it was going to cost when coupled with the 15" Studio Display (at that time), but compared to the options, it was the obvious choice. He had absolutely no need for the expandability of the towers (never added anything but more RAM to any machine since his first 512k), but really didn't like the looks of the gum-drop iMacs. He really didn't feel it was professional looking enough for his office, but mainly just didn't like seeing all the internals of the machine, through translucent plastic. Also, the near-silence was a real plus since he could listen to music better (and at lower volumes) and have nicer conversations in his office. Now, granted, if the current iMac was out then, I'm sure he would have saved a lot of money and bought the LCD iMac, but he has never regretted his decision.
I'd really like to pick one up myself I think and see how much I can get out of it with some upgrades.
TING5