Ten years ago today, Apple announced the G4 Cube at Macworld New York.
The G4 Cube was an interesting machine. It was a powerful G4, packed into a 8-inch cube, suspended in clear molded plastic. It ran silently, without a fan. It featured some of the most impressive industrial design Apple has ever shipped — the entire “core” of the computer came out with a single click, giving quick access to internal components.
Despite its great looks and powerful processor, the machine didn’t sell well. It did’t come with a display, was more expensive than a full-sized G4 tower and had a nasty habit of developing cracks in that clear acrylic case.
In 2001 — just a year after being announced — the G4 Cube was discontinued due to poor sales.
The Mac mini was introduced in 2005, and is viewed by many as a direct descendant of the Cube. It is small, powerful and quiet, just like the Cube. However, the Mac mini is priced lower than the iMac and Mac Pro lines — Apple is usually good about learning from past mistakes. In fact, Apple touted the Mac mini as the “most affordable Mac ever.” That’s a label the Cube never enjoyed.
(Be sure to check out the Cube’s announcement keynote, product video and ad.)