AdhamTech Network

G4 Cube: Apple PowerMac G4 Cube is one of some greatest products (and also on of the worsts) that had been released by Apple Computers, Inc. (now Apple, Inc.) on 2001.

Apple is famous with its compact and small products: iMac. iMac have “all-in-one computer” concept: on G3, G4, G5, dan Intel generation (polycarbonate and aluminum). And also Mac Mini, either iPod Shuffle.

But, G4 Cube is not for consumer class, this is a PowerMac. A Mac for professional class user. This is like horsepowers that fitted on small space: a 8 inched cube!

For today, it is not a wonder. MacMini just have 6.5 inches for its dimensions, and with just 2 inches tall. Like a cube: all-in-one, there. Except the display.

By design, Cube is better. And Cube is more flexible: you can upgrade its capacity: RAM, harddrive, and even graphics card.

The another unique feature is at the power button: it is a touch sensitive sensor — like the buttons at the side of Apple Cinema Displays. Just touch, don’t press the button.

The optical drive is also the unique. In G4 Cube, optical drive is placed vertically, like a toaster! You can access this slot-in optical drive from the top side.

While all connectors and cables are connected via the botton of the cube. Your work desk should be neat!

Cube + Studio Display (Cube-Zone.fr)

G4 Cube is also implementing fanless cooling system that make it sounds great: quiet and silent. But, this is also its weakness: bad cooling system, then the heat is goes wild!

But, due to the expensive price, G4 Cube is not conquering the market.

Some Cube lovers is try to resurrect the Cube with MacMini: The MacMini Cube project. The smaller and compacter MacMini is able to be put in the Cube. Then, they can get the perfect design of Cube, and the dual core power from Intel: best of the both worlds.

Due to MacMini slower power, MacMini is not enough to work with Cinema Display for today’s professional user. Apple need to update the MacMini to the nVidia platform like the latest unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro.

I think, Steve Jobs have a obsession with the cube. Before G4 Cube, he had launched a cube-shaped computer: NeXTCube.

When G4 is failed, now Jobs has got his best “Cube”: Apple Store Fifth Avenue.

Apple Store, Fifth Avenue (Apple, Inc.)

PS:
Translated from the original article with Bahasa Indonesia: Adham Somantrie - PowerMac Cube