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G4 Cube Q & A:
Design, Config, & Purchasing
Who designed the Power Macintosh
G4 Cube?
The Power Macintosh G4 Cube was designed entirely in-house by Apple's Industrial Design Group, led by Jonathan Ive. Since it is known that Steve Jobs himself had a strong influence on the design of the iMac, in addition to the similar-looking NeXT Cube, he most likely influenced the design of the Power Macintosh G4 Cube as well.
If you are interested in industrial design, you might like to purchase AppleDesign: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group (now out of print). This book has hundreds of full color photographs of prototype Apple products that were never released and is a great look into the evolution of Apple's style.
Will other colors be available later?
[07.03.2001 Update: Now that the Power Macintosh G4 Cube series has been placed on "indefinite hold", this answer is no longer particularly relevant. Nevertheless, the original answer remains below for "historical" reference.]
It seems that Apple has established that consumer hardware products such as the iMac and iBook will continue to be available in multiple-colors, while professional hardware products such as the PowerBook and Power Macintosh lines will be available simply in one color.
The graphite and ice color scheme currently in use for the Power Macintosh G4 Cube is sleek and professional-looking, so it seems unlikely that it will be changed. However, Apple's design is dynamic and constantly changing, so it is difficult to predict anything.
Was the Power Macintosh G4 Cube the first "cube" Apple system?
The Power Macintosh G4 Cube was the first "cube" system released by Apple. However, before the company was purchased by Apple, NeXT released the "NeXT Cube" which looks remarkably similar to the Power Macintosh G4 Cube. The NeXT Cube was generally regarded as a failure, but it was said to be ahead of its time. Like the NeXT Cube, the Power Macintosh G4 Cube did not sell particularly well, so perhaps the cube design is still ahead of its time.
What monitors are color-compatible with the Power Macintosh G4 Cube?
The Power Macintosh G4 Cube series is compatible with Apple displays that feature the ADC (Apple Display Connector), which carries analog and digital video signals, USB data, and power in the same cable. The line-up, housed in "crystal clear" enclosures, include a 17" Apple Studio Display with a CRT display, a 15" Apple Studio Display with an LCD flat-panel display, and the impressive Apple Cinema Display, with a 22" letterbox-style LCD flat-panel display. ADC-equipped displays are not compatible with earlier Power Macintosh G4 models.
Where can I buy a Power Macintosh G4 Cube?
Although it has been discontinued, some resellers specializing in used systems may have Power Macintosh G4 Cube systems available at discount prices. If you want to purchase a refurbished or used system, check out site sponsor PowerMax for a good selection and eBay for direct person-to-person sales.
What are the default configurations?
The default configurations are too numerous to list in this Q & A, but you can see the default configurations, along with options for custom configurations and original and current pricing information, on the applicable specifications page for the Power Macintosh G4 Cube model that you are interested in.
Were custom configurations available?
Yes. Custom configurations of the Power Macintosh G4 Cube were available direct from Apple, through the Apple Store, and from Apple Authorized Resellers. To see what custom configuration options were available, please refer to the specifications page for the Power Macintosh G4 Cube that you are interested in.
What was the target audience for the Power Macintosh G4 Cube?
The Power Macintosh G4 Cube was targeted towards style-conscious users who need greater performance and a larger display than the iMac series provides, but do not need the expansion capabilities of the Power Macintosh G4 series.
According to the Press Release in which Apple announced that it would "suspend production of the Power Mac G4 Cube indefinitely", Apple mentioned that most customers opted to purchase a Power Macintosh G4 minitower instead of the more stylish cube.
Is the Power Macintosh G4 Cube right for my needs?
[07.03.2001 Update: Now that the Power Macintosh G4 Cube series has been placed on "indefinite hold", this answer is no longer particularly relevant. Nevertheless, the original answer remains below for "historical" reference.]
Of course only you can determine if the Power Macintosh G4 Cube is the right Mac for you, but you should evaluate the pros and cons to see if your needs are met.
Pros:
Super simple and
easy-to-use, setup, and get online.
Supports USB and FireWire technologies.
Supports AirPort wireless technology.
Fast processor and excellent graphics
performance.
Choice of color-compatible monitors.
Attractive, space-saving, easy-to-open case.
DVD standard.
Cons:
Expensive, more
expensive than some Power
Macintosh G4
models.
No internal expansion, no PCI slots
No internal re-writable removable storage (external
drives are available).
No ADB, SCSI, or serial support.
If cost and expansion capabilities are top priorities, you may also want to look into purchasing a model from the Power Macintosh G4 series.
Where can I find additional information on the Power Macintosh G4 Cube?
In addition to this Q & A and specifications provided by EveryMac.com, Apple has a subsite dedicated to the Power Macintosh G4 Cube (no longer available).
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