Tag: Cube

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Apple Studio Display CRT (17-inch, ADC, 2000)

At the Macworld Expo in New York CIty on July 19, 2000, Apple announced three new Studio Display designs “in stunning crystal-clear enclosures”—two flat panel displays and this CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Apple Studio Display.

The displays, designed to complement Apple’s Power Mac G4 Cube and Power Mac G4 professional desktops, shared three distinct features:

“each is powered from the computer, eliminating the need for a separate power cord; each has a two port powered USB hub for convenient connection to desktop USB devices, such as keyboards, USB speakers and digital cameras; and each utilizes the Apple Display Connector, a revolutionary new cable that carries analog and digital video signals, USB data and power over a single cable and features a quick latch connector.”

Steve Jobs noted that “These new beautiful displays perfectly complement our new extraordinary computers. Their innovative design helps clean up desktop cable clutter, and makes set-up a breeze.”

According to Apple’s press release, “The 17 inch (16 inch viewable) Apple Studio Display features a Natural Flat Diamondtron CRT, extraordinarily sharp text and ColorSync internal calibration to keep colors accurate over time. [The] Display…features both futuristic styling and a unique electrical design that supports multiple resolutions at over 100Hz vertical refresh rate.”

The site 512 Pixels provided several additional comments, writing that the “Studio Display (17-inch ADC) was the last standalone Apple display to feature a CRT. At 17.4 inches it was deeper than it was wide. At 45.8 pounds, it was heavier than a iMac G3.” They also comment on the industrial design of the display:

“Instead of hiding the display’s guts inside opaque plastics and metal shield, the 17-inch ADC has a crystal clear case that allows anyone to see the internal workings of the Naturally Flat Diamondtron CRT suspended inside. By revealing all, the Studio Display (17-inch ADC) has nothing to hide. Its transparency and minimalism is pure Apple.”

According LowEndMac, the Apple Display Connector (ADC) used in this display is a proprietary display and data connector developed by Apple. It is a modification of the DVI (Digital Visual Interface) connector that combines analog and digital video signals, USB, and power all in one cable. This connector was used by Apple between 2000–2004.

Sources: Apple Newsroom, 512 Pixels, LowEndMac

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(Hint: It’s a computer.) magazine insert (2000)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, part of Apple’s print advertising included magazine inserts. Some inserts were “mini-magazines” within magazines and others, like this example, was a fold-out poster. These inserts were glued with a pliable rubber cement that could be easily removed.

This example is an advertisement for the Power Mac G4 Cube. As the ad unfolds (literally), the cover shows a photo of the G4 Cube with the caption “(Hint: It’s a computer.).” The first unfold (2-up) reveals, “Actually, it’s a supercomputer” with five short paragraphs touting the Cube’s size and power. The second unfold (4-up) has the headline “So much technology. So little space.” and shows connections, features, and peripherals available for use with the Cube. Fully unfolded (8-up), a poster is revealed that declares, “Presenting the Power Mac G4 Cube. Actual size. Think different.” The back of the fully folded insert is another view of the G4 Cube with three available displays and the headline “A marvel of engineering. And economics.”

Folded, the size of the insert is 7.3125 x 10.125 inches. Fully unfolded (into 8 panels) the size is 29.25 x 20.25 inches.

I also have a poster version (rolled in a tube) of the fully unfolded image used in this ad (at 24 x 36 inches).

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Introducing Power Mac G4 Cube. Actual Size. Poster (36 x 24 inches, 2000)

The Power Mac G4 Cube was introduced in 2000 as a small desktop computer in an 8 x 8 x 8 inch form factor (actual measurements including the base were 7.7 x 7.7 x 9.8 inches). The computer ran silently without an internal fan and featured a sound system by Harman Kardon. The G4 Cube was announced on July 19, 2000, at Macworld Expo. It was the last topic introduced by Steve Jobs as “one more thing” at the end of Keynote.

This 36 x 24 inch poster (in landscape orientation) was printed to commemorate the release of the G4 Cube and to depict its exact size. The G4 Cube is shown along with its newly designed keyboard and mouse, each in a crystal clear case with black keys on the keyboard and a black accent in the mouse, and the included clear spherical speakers. Also shown is the then-new 15-inch Apple Studio Display (its design matched the 22-inch Apple Cinema Display that was released at the same time).

The poster is on a white background with a photograph of the devices. The text, “Introducing Power Mac G4 Cube. Actual Size.” is printed in the Apple Garamond font and includes the tagline “Think different.” along with a graphite Apple logo. Text printed along the lower-left side (also in Apple Garamond) reads, “© 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Power Mac and ‘Think different’ are trademarks of Apple computer, Inc. L05449A.”

Sources: Wikipedia, Apple

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Power Mac G4 Cube (450 MHz, 2000)

The Power Mac G4 Cube featured a 450 MHz G4 processor, 64 MB of RAM, a 20 GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, a slot-loading 5X DVD-ROM drive, and supported an AirPort 802.11b wireless card. Two other configurations were available, but this is an original model. 

The G4 Cube is known for its size and design. The computer is 7.7-by-7.7-by-7.7 inches, but sits inside a clear acrylic base that overall is 9.8 inches tall. The Cube is the only Mac to ship without an internal speaker. Instead, it shipped with USB-powered spherical speakers designed by Harman Kardon. The USB audio amplifier had a standard mini-plug headphone jack, but no audio input.

Built-in ports included two FireWire 400 ports and two USB 1.1 ports. The Cube used a silent, fanless, convection-based cooling system similar to the cooling system used in iMac computers at the time. 

The New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) holds a G4 Cube in their collection, listing Jonathan Ive and the Apple Industrial Design Group as the artists/designers of the work.

I used the first G4 Cube I acquired as my home iTunes server. Since it had no audio-out port, I used a USB dongle to add a 3.5mm headphone jack which I split to left/right RCA plugs to connect to my analog stereo amplifier. I used a connected 15-inch Apple Studio Display to control the Cube. The Mac mini replaced the Cube a few years later as my home media computer.

Source: EveryMac.com, Wikipedia.com, MoMA.com