NeXT Computer

The NeXT Computer introduced Steve Jobs’ new workstation platform in a distinctive one-foot magnesium cube. A 25 MHz Motorola 68030, 68882 floating-point unit, Motorola digital signal processor and high-resolution MegaPixel display supported an advanced object-oriented software environment.

Its NeXTSTEP operating system combined Mach and BSD Unix foundations with Display PostScript and sophisticated development tools. The unusual 256MB magneto-optical drive was ambitious but slow and costly, and later configurations added conventional SCSI hard disks.

Notable Features

• The original cube used a rewritable 256MB magneto-optical drive as its principal removable storage.
• A 25 MHz Motorola DSP56001 supported sound, signal processing and educational applications.
• The 1120 x 832 MegaPixel display produced exceptionally sharp four-level greyscale graphics.

Historical Significance

• The machine introduced the hardware and software environment on which Tim Berners-Lee created the first World Wide Web server and browser.
• NeXTSTEP’s object-oriented development framework later became a major technological foundation for Apple’s modern operating systems.

Collector’s Notes

• Early cubes may differ in memory, optical-drive revision and optional hard-disk configuration.
• A complete system requires its MegaPixel display, keyboard, mouse and proprietary cabling; working magneto-optical media and drives are increasingly difficult to find.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	NeXT Computer
Manufacturer	Next
Launched	Wednesday, October 12, 1988
Discontinued	1990
Launch Price	$6,500 for the computer; display sold separately
Country	United States
CPU	Motorola 68030 at 25 MHz with Motorola 68882 FPU
Units Sold
Power	Internal universal power supply; configuration varies by model and market
Networking	Built-in Ethernet
Additional CPU	Motorola DSP56001 at 25 MHz
Operating System	NeXTSTEP 0.8 onward
Expansion / I/O	NeXTbus expansion, SCSI, two serial ports, DSP port, printer port and thin Ethernet
Keyboard	NeXT keyboard with two-button optical mouse
Storage	256MB magneto-optical drive; optional 330MB or 660MB SCSI hard disk
Sound	16-bit stereo audio with built-in digital signal processing
Colours	Four-level greyscale
Graphics	Integrated four-level greyscale framebuffer
Display	17-inch MegaPixel Display; 1120 x 832 pixels
ROM	128KB boot ROM
RAM	8MB standard; expandable to 64MB
CPU Speed	25 MHz