Quantcast

Power Mac G4 Cube Falls From Apple's Tree

Citing slack sales, Apple drops its innovative Cube but promises tech support.

George A. Chidi Jr., IDG News Service

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

Apple Computer has sliced the Power Mac G4 Cube PC from its production lines, saying Tuesday that there is "a small chance" it will re-introduce an upgraded model in the future, but it has no immediate plans to do so.

The company says it will provide ongoing technical support for the Cube family of systems.

Apple first introduced the desktop Cube a year ago at the MacWorld trade show in New York. The unusual form factor measures only 7.7 inches cubed, and Apple promoted the convection cooling system that renders the system essentially silent.

Apple released the newest version of the G4 Cube system in February, at the MacWorld trade show in Tokyo. It has shipped for less than six months, but has apparently been overshadowed by the colorful iMac desktop PCs also unveiled at that show.

Apple cited slow initial sales of the G4 Cube among reasons for its deep fourth-quarter earnings warning at the end of 2000.

Innovation Praised

The Power Mac G4 Cube is cited as yet another example of Apple innovation, but with a few flaws, such as little room for upgrades. It is reminiscent of the short-lived Next computer, also cube-shaped. Apple founder Steve Jobs launched Next computer after leaving Apple in 1985. Apple acquired Next shortly after Jobs returned to Apple in 1996, eventually again taking the reins as chief executive officer.

Mac fans have picked up more of the G4 minitower computers than the Cube, the company says. Apple tried to boost sales of the G4 Cube by cutting its price sharply in January.

Entry-level prices for the newest Cube models started at $1599; pricing for the older Cube was cut to $1299.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

Print 65% more pages than with refilled inks. Trust Original HP Inks. Hit Print Reliably.

Featured APC Accessories For Your System
10% Off Entire Cart at Online Store

  • APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
  • APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.

People who read this also read:

  • 2007 Microsoft Office Suites Comparison This paper compares and contrasts four suites of the 2007 Microsoft Office system: Microsoft Office Standard 2007, Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007, Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007. This paper is intended to help organizations understand the applications and capabilities offered, and to identify the suite that best fits their needs.
  • Windows Vista Migration: The Business Proposition It's not so much a matter of "if" but "when" for most organizations regarding migration to Windows Vista. Laying the groundwork now for this migration can yield higher ROI than waiting until later. This Computerworld Technology Briefing explains it all.

PC World's How To Buy Laptops Guide

PC World's Marketplace