Editing Power Mac G4 Cube

{{short description|Personal computer produced by Apple Inc. from 2000 to 2001}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Power Mac G4 Cube
| title = Power Mac G4 Cube
| image = Power mac g4 cube.png
| alt = A silver cubic computer with rounded edges, viewed from above, with a large cooling vent and optical drive slot visible on the top.
| image_size = 
| caption = A Power Mac G4 Cube, viewed from above
| developer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer, Inc.]]
| releasedate = {{Start date|2000|07|19}}
| discontinued = {{End date|2001|07|03}}
| dimensions = {{ubl|Height: {{convert|9.8|in|cm}}|Width: {{convert|7.7|in|cm}}|Depth: {{convert|7.7|in|cm}}}}
| weight = {{convert|14|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| os = [[Mac OS 9]]{{dot}}[[Mac OS X]]
| family = [[Power Macintosh]]
}}

The '''Power Mac G4 Cube''' is a [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] [[personal computer]] sold by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer, Inc.]] between July 2000 and 2001. The Cube was conceived as a miniaturized but powerful computer by Apple chief executive officer ([[CEO]]) [[Steve Jobs]] and designed by [[Jony Ive]]. Apple developed new technologies and manufacturing methods for the product—a {{convert|7.7|in|cm|adj=mid}} cubic computer housed in clear [[acrylic glass]]. Apple positioned it in the middle of its product range, between the consumer [[iMac G3]] and the professional [[Power Mac G4]]. The Cube was announced at the [[Macworld Expo]] on July 19, 2000.

The Cube won awards and plaudits for its design upon release, but reviews noted its high cost compared to its power, its limited expandability, and cosmetic defects. The product was an immediate commercial failure, with only 150,000 units sold before production was suspended within one year of its announcement. The Cube is one of the rare failures for the company under Jobs, after having avoided bankruptcy. However, it influenced future Apple products, from the [[iPod]] to the [[Mac Mini]]. The [[Museum of Modern Art]] and other museums hold Cubes in their collections.

==Overview==
[[File:PowerMac Cube.jpg|thumb|left|The Power Mac G4 Cube with power supply and peripherals were announced in tandem.<ref name="macaddict-050-resistance" />|alt=The G4 Cube sits besides a large, flatscreen monitor in matching grey. Flanking the monitor and Cube are round speakers clad in translucent plastic, and a keyboard and mouse.]]
The Power Mac G4 Cube is a small [[Cube|cubic]] computer, suspended in a {{convert|7.7|*|7.7|*|9.8|in|cm|abbr=on}} [[acrylic glass]] enclosure. The transparent plastic is intended to give the impression that the computer is floating.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> The enclosure houses the computer's vital functions, including a slot-loading [[optical disc]] drive. The Cube requires a separate monitor with either an [[Apple Display Connector]] (ADC) or a [[Video Graphics Array]] (VGA) connection.<ref name="arstechnica-macworld 2000 wrapup" /> The machine has no fan to move air and heat through the case. Instead, it is passively cooled, with heat dissipated via a grille at the top of the case.<ref name="Macworld-10/2000">{{cite magazine|author=Gore, Andrew|date=October 2000|url=https://archive.org/details/MacWorld0010October2000|title=Your Assimilation Starts Here; The Cube|magazine=[[Macworld]]|publisher=IDG|issn=0741-8647|pages=11, 26, 28}}</ref> The base model shipped with a 450&nbsp;MHz [[PowerPC G4]] processor, 64&nbsp;MB of [[random-access memory]] (RAM), 20&nbsp;GB [[hard drive]], and an [[ATI Rage series#Rage 128 Pro / Rage Fury (high-end) & Rage Fury MAXX (enthusiast)|ATI Rage 128 Pro]] video card.<ref name="arstechnica-macworld 2000 wrapup" /> A higher-end model with a 500&nbsp;MHz processor, double the RAM, and a 30&nbsp;GB hard drive was sold only through Apple's online store.<ref name="popular mechanics-cube review" />

The Cube's small size does not feature expansion slots; it has a video card in a standard [[Accelerated Graphics Port]] (AGP) slot, but cannot fit a full-length card.<ref name="macaddict-050-resistance" /> The power supply is located externally to save space, and the Cube features no audio jacks. Instead, the Cube shipped with round [[Harman Kardon]] speakers and digital amplifier, attached via [[Universal Serial Bus]] (USB).<ref name="Macworld-10/2000" /> Despite its size, the Cube fits three RAM slots, two [[FireWire]] 400 ports, and two USB 1.1 ports for connecting peripherals in its frame. These ports and the power cable are located on the underside of the machine. Access to the machine's internal components is accomplished by inverting the unit and using a pop-out handle to slide the entire internal assembly out from the shell.<ref name="popular mechanics-cube review">{{cite magazine|author=Grumet, Tobey|date=November 2000|title=Technology; Apple³|magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]]|publisher=Hearst Magazines|volume=177|issue=11|issn=0032-4558|pages=80–81}}</ref>

==Development==
[[File:Apple Power Mac G4 Cube - Handle.jpg|thumb|Access to the computer's internal components is gained by using a handle to pull the computer out of its plastic shell.|alt=G4 Cube flipped upside down; a hand is pulling upward on a small handle, revealing green circuit boards and computer components within.]]
The Cube was an important product to Apple,<ref name="Cook-2017">{{cite web|author1=Cook, Tim|author1link=Tim Cook|date=October 11, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UzfpcqiEU|title=In Conversation with Apple CEO Tim Cook – The Oxford Foundry Launch|publisher=Saïd Business School, University of Oxford|via=Youtube|access-date=October 9, 2020|time=1:03:21–1:04:20|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010082902/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UzfpcqiEU|url-status=live}}</ref> and especially to Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]], who said the idea for the product came from his own desires as a computer user for something between the [[iMac]] and [[Power Mac G4]], saying, "I wanted the [flat-panel] [[Apple Cinema Display|Cinema Display]] but I don't need the features of the Power Mac".<ref name="newsweek-cube" /> Jobs's minimalist aesthetic influenced the core components of the design, from the lack of a mechanical power button, to the trayless optical drive and quiet fanless operation.<ref name="newsweek-cube" /> The design team at Apple, led by [[Jonathan Ive]], shrunk a powerful desktop form factor, seeing traditional desktop tower computers as lazily designed around what was easiest for engineers.<ref name="Kahney-2014">{{cite book|last=Kahney|first=Leander|authorlink= Leander Kahney|title=Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products|publisher=[[Penguin Random House]]|year=2014|isbn=978-1-59184-706-9|pages=155–158}}</ref> The Cube represented an internal shift in Apple, as the designers held increasing sway over product design.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the Cube "pure [...] industrial design" harkening to [[Bauhaus]] concepts.<ref>{{cite web|last=Muschamp|first=Herbert|authorlink=Herbert Muschamp|date=October 15, 2000|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/15/arts/art-architecture-a-happy-scary-new-day-for-design.html|title=Art/Architecture; A Happy, Scary New Day for Design|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226195921/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/15/arts/art-architecture-a-happy-scary-new-day-for-design.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Cube represented an effort by Apple to simplify the computer to its barest essentials.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> Journalist [[Jason Snell (writer)|Jason Snell]] called the machine an example of Jobs and Ive's obsession with a "Black Box"—dense, miniaturized computers hidden within a pleasing shell hiding the "magic" of its technology.<ref name="sixcolors-20for20 cube">{{cite web|last=Snell|first=Jason|authorlink=Jason Snell (writer)|date=November 2, 2020|url=https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/11/20-macs-for-2020-8-power-mac-g4-cube/|title=20 Macs for 2020: #8 – Power Mac G4 Cube|website=Six Colors|access-date=March 16, 2021|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306164256/https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/11/20-macs-for-2020-8-power-mac-g4-cube/|url-status=live}}</ref> As the Cube has no fan, the design started with the [[heat sink]].<ref name="macaddict-050-resistance" /> The power button that turned on with a wave or touch was accomplished via the use of [[capacitive sensing]].<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> The proprietary plastics formula for the housing took Apple six months to develop.<ref name="wired-20 years ago g4 cube" /> Effort spent developing the Cube would pioneer new uses and processes for materials at Apple that benefitted later products.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> Because of the technology included in the Cube, Apple's engineers had a tough time keeping the total cost low. Advertising director [[Ken Segall]] recalled that Jobs learned of the product's price shortly before an ad agency meeting, and was left "visibly shaken" by the news, realizing that the high price might cause the product's failure.<ref name="Segall-2012">{{cite book|last=Segall|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Segall|year=2012|title=Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple's Success|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-0-670-92120-1|pages=213–214}}</ref>

==Release and reception==
Rumors of a cube-shaped Apple computer leaked weeks in advance, and some sites posted purported pictures.<ref name="Macworld-10/2000" /> The G4 Cube was announced at [[Macworld/iWorld|Macworld Expo]] on July 19, 2000, as an end-of-show "[[one more thing]]". Jobs touted it as combining the power of the Power Mac G4 with a sleek design and miniaturization Apple learned from producing the iMac. Alongside the Cube, Apple introduced a new mouse, keyboard, and displays to complement the machine.<ref name="apple press-g4 announce">{{cite web|date=July 19, 2000|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2000/07/19Apple-Introduces-Revolutionary/|title=Apple Introduces Revolutionary G4 Cube|publisher=Apple, Inc.|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728173521/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2000/07/19Apple-Introduces-Revolutionary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The machine's size and looks were immediately divisive, which ''[[Macworld]]'' editor Andrew Gore took as an indication that Apple had succeeded in creating a cutting-edge product.<ref name="Macworld-10/2000" /> The design was a point of praise and of jokes, compared to a [[Borg]] cube, toasters, or a box of Kleenex tissues.<ref name="macaddict-050-resistance">{{cite magazine|author=Staff|date=October 2001|url=https://archive.org/details/MacAddict-050-200010|title=Resistance is Futile|magazine=[[MacLife|MacAddict]]|publisher=Future US|issn=1088-548X|issue=50|pages=30–31}}</ref> Others compared it to the [[NeXTcube]].<ref name="Linzmayer-2004">{{cite book|last=Linzmayer|first=Owen|title=Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World's Most Colorful Company|year=2004|publisher=No Starch Press|isbn=978-1-59327-010-0|page=209}}</ref> Ive and the design team were so amused by the comparison to a tissue box that they used spare Cube shells for that purpose in their studio.<ref name="Kahney-2014" />

Reviews were generally positive. Peter H. Lewis, writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', called the computer the most attractive on the market, and that the machine, combined with Apple's displays and peripherals, created "desk sculpture".<ref name="nytimes-g4 cube review">{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Peter|date=August 31, 2000|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/technology/classic-beauty-cubed.html|title=State of the Art; Classic Beauty, Cubed|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 6, 2020}}</ref> ''PC Magazine Australia'' said that after changing the look of computers with the iMac, the G4 Cube had raised the bar for competitors even further.<ref>{{cite web|author=Staff|date=December 19, 2020|url=https://au.pcmag.com/first-looks-1/8520/apple-powermac-g4-cube|title=Apple PowerMac G4 Cube|website=PCMag Australia|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116025645/https://au.pcmag.com/first-looks-1/8520/apple-powermac-g4-cube|url-status=live|issn=1329-3532}}</ref> Gore called the Cube a work of art that felt more like sculpture than a piece of technology, but noted that one had to live with compromises made in the service of art.<ref name="macworld-g4 cube review" /> [[Walt Mossberg]], writing for ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', called it the "most gorgeous personal computer" that he had ever seen.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mossberg|first1=Walt|author1-link=Walt Mossberg|title=Apple Unveils a Sleek PC In the New Power Mac G4|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB970098817594267234|access-date=September 26, 2021|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=September 28, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125233953/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB970098817594267234 |archive-date=November 25, 2020|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics noted that to get easy access to plug and unplug peripherals, users must tip the entire machine—risking accidental sleep activation or dropping the smooth plastic computer entirely.<ref name="popular mechanics-cube review" /><ref name="arstechnica-g4 cube review" /> ''Macworld'' found the touch-sensitive power button too sensitive and they accidentally activated sleep mode regularly. They reported that the stock 5400-rpm hard drive and 64&nbsp;MB of RAM on the base model slowed the system considerably.<ref name="macworld-g4 cube review">{{cite web|last=Gore|first=Andrew|date=July 31, 2020|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1014419/25reviewscube.html|title=Capsule Review: Power Mac G4 Cube|website=[[Macworld]]|publisher=IDG|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116222613/https://www.macworld.com/article/1014419/25reviewscube.html|url-status=live|issn=0741-8647}}</ref><ref name="macworld-g4 cube labs">{{cite web|last=Loyola|first=Gil|date=August 22, 2020|url=https://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/08/22/cube.lab.report.idg/index.html|title=Lab report: Cube scores low compared to other Power Mac G4s|website=[[CNN]]|publisher=[[Macworld]]|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226130854/https://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/08/22/cube.lab.report.idg/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Cube won several international design awards on release,<ref name="ogrady-2009">{{cite book|last=O'Grady|first=Jason|year=2009|title=Apple Inc.|publisher=[[ABC-Clio]]|isbn=978-0-313-36244-6|pages=103–104}}</ref> and ''[[PC Magazine]]''{{'}}s best desktop computer for its Technical Innovation Awards.<ref name="con-best computer awards g4cube">{{cite web|author=MacWorld Staff|date=December 21, 2000|url=https://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/12/21/cube.best.desktop.idg/index.html|title=Cube scoops kudos from PC Magazine|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040806052030/http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/12/21/cube.best.desktop.idg/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The G4 Cube and its peripherals were acquired and showcased by [[The Museum of Modern Art]] alongside other Apple products,<ref>{{cite web|last=Patton|first=Phil|date=August 16, 2001|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/16/technology/news-watch-design-the-apple-cube-entered-the-museum-as-it-exited-stores.html|title=News Watch: Design; The Apple Cube Entered The Museum as It Exited Stores|website=[[The New York Times]]|page=G3|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025627/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/16/technology/news-watch-design-the-apple-cube-entered-the-museum-as-it-exited-stores.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and a Cube is also held in the collections of the [[American Museum of Natural History]] and [[Powerhouse Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1292747|title=Apple PowerMac G4 Cube Microcomputer, CPU|website=American Museum of Natural History|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/460212|title=Apple Power Mac G4 Cube Computer with Accessories|website=Powerhouse Museum|publisher=New South Wales Government|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

===Sales===
The introduction of the Cube did not fit with the focused product lineup Jobs had introduced since his return to Apple, leaving it without a clear audience.<ref name="wired-20 years ago g4 cube">{{cite magazine|author=Levy, Steven|authorlink=Steven Levy|date=July 24, 2020|url=https://www.wired.com/story/20-years-ago-steve-jobs-built-the-coolest-computer-ever-it-bombed/|title=20 Years Ago, Steve Jobs Built the 'Coolest Computer Ever.' It Bombed|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|publisher=Condé Nast Publications|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002001748/https://www.wired.com/story/20-years-ago-steve-jobs-built-the-coolest-computer-ever-it-bombed/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was as expensive as a similarly equipped Power Mac, but without extra room for more storage or PCI slots. It was likewise much more expensive than an upgraded consumer iMac.<ref name="arstechnica-macworld 2000 wrapup">{{cite web|author=Siracusa, John|date=July 28, 2000|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2000/07/macworld-expo-ny-2000/|title=MacWorld Expo NY 2000|website=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=Condé Nast Publications|pages=1–8|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304161519/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2000/07/macworld-expo-ny-2000/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jobs imagined that creative professionals and designers would want one, and that the product was so great that it would inform buying patterns.<ref name="wired-20 years ago g4 cube" />

Sales for the Cube were much lower than expected. Returning from the brink of bankruptcy, Apple had eleven profitable quarters before the Cube's announcement,<ref name="newsweek-cube">{{cite web|author=Levy, Steven|authorlink=Steven Levy|date=July 30, 2000|url=https://www.newsweek.com/thinking-inside-box-161537|title=Thinking Inside The Box|work=[[Newsweek]]|publisher=The Washington Post Company|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004190802/https://www.newsweek.com/thinking-inside-box-161537|url-status=live}}</ref> but Apple's end-of-year financials for 2000 missed predicted revenues by $180{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="macaddict-053" /> Part of the drop in profit was attributed to the Cube, with only one third as many units sold as Apple had expected, creating a $90{{nbsp}}million shortfall in revenue targets. The Cube counted for 29,000 of the Macs Apple shipped in the quarter, compared to 308,000 iMacs. Retailers had excess product, leaving Apple with a large amount of unsold inventory heading into 2001 it had expected to last until March. The computer appealed to high-end customers who wanted a small and sleek design, but Jobs admitted that audience was smaller than expected.<ref name="macaddict-053">{{cite magazine|author=Sammis, Ian|date=January 2001|url=https://archive.org/details/MacAddict-053-200101/mode/2up|title=Get Info; Too Many Cubes|magazine=[[MacLife|MacAddict]]|publisher=Future US|issn=1088-548X|issue=53|page=14}}</ref><ref name="cnet-g4 cube expectations">{{cite web|date=January 2, 2002|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-we-expected-to-sell-3-times-more-cubes/|title=Apple: We expected to sell 3 times more Cubes|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=RedVenture|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918114618/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-we-expected-to-sell-3-times-more-cubes/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2001, Apple lowered the price on the 500&nbsp;MHz model and added new memory, hard drive, and graphics options.<ref name="cnn-G4 cube drop">{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Brad|date=February 7, 2001|url=https://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/02/07/cube.price.cut.idg/index.html|title=Apple lowers price of G4 Cube|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 5, 2020|archive-date=February 10, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210103850/http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/02/07/cube.price.cut.idg/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These updates made little difference, and sales continued to decline. In the first quarter of 2001, only 12,000{{nbsp}}units were sold,<ref name="Macworld-cube 10th anniversary">{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Benj|date=August 12, 2010|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1153341/cube-10thanniversary.html|title=The Cube at 10: Why Apple's eye-catching desktop flopped|website=[[Macworld]]|publisher=IDG|access-date=November 5, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032405/https://www.macworld.com/article/1153341/cube-10thanniversary.html|url-status=live|issn=0741-8647}}</ref> representing just 1.6% of the company's total computer sales.<ref name="nytimes-cube on ice" />

In addition to the product's high price, the Cube suffered cosmetic issues. Early buyers noticed cracks caused by the injection-molded plastic process. The idea of a design-focused product having aesthetic flaws turned into a negative public relations story for Apple, and dissuaded potential buyers for whom the design was its main appeal.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /><ref name="arstechnica-g4 cube review">{{cite web|author=Siracusa, John|date=October 1, 2000|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2000/10/g4-cube/|title=G4 Cube & Cinema Display|website=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=Condé Nast Publications|access-date=November 2, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917151835/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2000/10/g4-cube/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Macworld-cube 10th anniversary" /> The Cube's radical departure from a conventional personal computer alienated potential buyers, and exacerbated Apple's struggles in the market competing with the performance of Windows PCs. ''Macworld''{{'}}s Benj Edwards wrote that consumers treated the Cube as "an underpowered, over-expensive toy or [...] an emotionally inaccessible, ultra-geometric gray box suspended in an untouchable glass prison".<ref name="Macworld-cube 10th anniversary" /> The lack of internal expansion and reliance on less-common USB and FireWire peripherals also hurt the computer's chances of success.<ref name="macworld-g4 cube ahead of its time" />

Jobs clearly loved the computer,<ref name="wired-20 years ago g4 cube" /> but was quick to discontinue the underperforming product. On July 3, 2001, an Apple press release made the unusual statement that the computer—rather than being canceled or discontinued—was having its production "suspended indefinitely", due to low demand. Apple did not rule out an upgraded Cube model in the future, but considered it unlikely.<ref name="nytimes-cube on ice">{{cite web|author=Gaither, Chris|date=July 4, 2001|title=Apple Will Halt Production Of Its Cube-Shaped Computer|website=[[The New York Times]]|page=C6|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/business/apple-will-halt-production-of-its-cube-shaped-computer.html|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410144937/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/business/apple-will-halt-production-of-its-cube-shaped-computer.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Business journalist [[Karen Blumenthal]] called the Cube the first big failure by Jobs since his return to Apple.<ref name="Blumenthal-2012">{{cite book|last=Blumenthal|first=Karen|authorlink=Karen Blumenthal|year=2012|title=Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different|publisher=Square Fish|isbn=978-1-250-01461-0|pages=204–205}}</ref> Jobs's ability to quickly move on the mistake left the Cube a "blip" in Apple's history, according to Segall—a quickly forgotten failure among other successful innovations.<ref name="Segall-2012" />

==Legacy==
Though Apple CEO [[Tim Cook]] called the Cube "a spectacular failure"<ref name="Cook-2017" /> and the product sold only 150,000 units before being discontinued, it became highly popular with a small but enthusiastic group of fans.<ref name="wired-cubes" /> ''Macworld''{{'}}s Benj Edwards wrote that the Cube was a product ahead of its time; its appeal to a dedicated group of fans years after it was discontinued was a testament to its vision.<ref name="macworld-g4 cube ahead of its time" /> After its discontinuation the product fetched high prices from resellers, and a cottage industry developed selling upgrades and modifications to make the machine run faster or cooler.<ref name="wired-cubes">{{cite magazine|last1=Kahney|first1=Leander|authorlink= Leander Kahney|title=Apple Cube: Alive and Selling|url=https://www.wired.com/2003/07/apple-cube-alive-and-selling/|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=July 28, 2003|publisher=Condé Nast Publications|access-date=October 12, 2020|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081416/https://www.wired.com/2003/07/apple-cube-alive-and-selling/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Gruber]] wrote 20 years after its introduction that the Cube was a "worthy failure [...] Powerful computers needed to get smaller, quieter, and more attractive. The Cube pushed the state of the art forward."<ref name="daringfireball-g4cube20">{{cite web|author=Gruber, John|author-link=John Gruber|date=July 27, 2020|url=https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/07/24/levy-jobs-cube|title=Steven Levy on Steve Jobs and the G4 Cube|website=[[Daring Fireball]]|access-date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004002656/https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/07/24/levy-jobs-cube|url-status=live}}</ref> CNET called the machine "an iconic example of millennium-era design".<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Rich|date=October 7, 2011|url=https://www.cnet.com/pictures/steve-jobs-mac-design-legacy-photos/6/|title=Steve Jobs' Mac design legacy (photos)|website=[[CNET]]|publisher=Red Ventures|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917151913/https://www.cnet.com/pictures/steve-jobs-mac-design-legacy-photos/6/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its unconventional and futuristic appearance earned it a spot as a prop in several films and television shows, including ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'', ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]'', Orange County, and ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''.<ref name="ogrady-2009" /> Sixteen Cubes were also used to power the displays of the computer consoles in ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haslam|first=Oliver|date=December 30, 2019|url=https://www.imore.com/did-you-know-star-trek-enterprise-used-mac-g4-cubes-during-production-you-do-now|title=Did you know 'Star Trek: Enterprise' used Mac G4 Cubes during production? You do now|website=[[iMore]]|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001140025/https://www.imore.com/did-you-know-star-trek-enterprise-used-mac-g4-cubes-during-production-you-do-now|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although the Cube failed commercially, it influenced future Apple products. The efforts at miniaturizing computer components would benefit future computers like the flatscreen [[iMac G4]], while the efforts Apple spent learning how to precision machine parts of the Cube would be integral to the design of aluminum [[MacBook]]s.<ref name="Kahney-2014" /><ref name="nytimes-flat iMac">{{cite web|last=Pogue|first=David|author-link=David Pogue|date=January 10, 2002|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/10/technology/state-of-the-art-for-apple-to-be-flat-is-a-virtue.html|title=State of the Art; For Apple, To Be Flat Is a Virtue|website=[[The New York Times]]|page=G1|access-date=October 14, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018022956/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/10/technology/state-of-the-art-for-apple-to-be-flat-is-a-virtue.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  The [[Mac mini]] fit an entire computer in a shell one-fifth the size of the Cube and retained some of the Cube's design philosophies. In comparison to the high price of the Cube, the Mini retailed for $499 and became a successful product that remains part of Apple's lineup.<ref name="macworld-g4 cube ahead of its time">{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Benj|date=August 12, 2010|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1153342/g4cube_macmini.html|title=Apple's Cube was ahead of its time|website=[[Macworld]]|publisher=IDG|access-date=November 6, 2020|archive-date=September 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901090356/https://www.macworld.com/article/1153342/g4cube_macmini.html|url-status=live|issn=0741-8647}}</ref><ref name="sixcolors-20for20 mac mini">{{cite web|author=Snell, Jason|author-link=Jason Snell (writer)|date=September 20, 2020|url=https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/09/20-macs-for-2020-14-mac-mini/|title=20 Macs for 2020: #14 – Mac mini|website=Six Colors|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930093949/https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/09/20-macs-for-2020-14-mac-mini/|url-status=live}}</ref> The translucent cube shape would return with the design for the flagship [[Apple Fifth Avenue]] store in [[New York City]].<ref name="Lidwell-2011">{{cite book|last1=Lidwell|first1=William|last2=Manacsa|first2=Gerry |year=2011|title=Deconstructing Product Design: Exploring the Form, Function, Usability, Sustainability, and Commercial Success of 100 Amazing Products|publisher=Rockport Publishers|isbn=978-1-59253-739-6|pages=152–153}}</ref> Capacitive touch would reappear in the [[iPod]] and [[iPhone]] lines,<ref name="Kahney-2014" /> and the Cube's vertical thermal design and lattice grille pattern were echoed by the 2013 and 2019 versions of the [[Mac Pro]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cunningham|first=Andrew|date=June 10, 2013|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/06/at-long-last-apple-announces-new-mac-pro-with-cylindrical-design/|title=At long last! Apple announces new Mac Pro with cylindrical design|website=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=Condé Nast Publications|access-date=October 14, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019222358/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/06/at-long-last-apple-announces-new-mac-pro-with-cylindrical-design/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Hackett, Steven|date=June 18, 2019|url=https://512pixels.net/2019/06/on-the-mac-pro-the-g4-cube-and-their-shared-vent-design/|title=On the Mac Pro, the G4 Cube and Their Shared Vent Design|website=512 Pixels|access-date=October 14, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107223704/https://512pixels.net/2019/06/on-the-mac-pro-the-g4-cube-and-their-shared-vent-design/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Specifications==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="font-size:small; text-align:center"
! Model
! | Power Mac G4 Cube<ref name="apple-g4 cube tech specs">{{cite web|date=April 6, 2016|url=https://support.apple.com/kb/SP116?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US|title=Power Mac G4 (Cube) – Technical Specification|publisher=[[Apple, Inc]]|access-date=November 5, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917151836/https://support.apple.com/kb/SP116?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Model identifier
| PowerMac5,1
|-
! [[Central processing unit|Processor]]
| 450&nbsp;MHz or 500&nbsp;MHz [[PowerPC G4]]

|-
! [[Random-access memory|Memory]]
| 128 MB up to 1.5 GB of PC100 SDRAM2

|-
! Graphics
| ATI Rage 128 Pro with 16&nbsp;MB SDRAM,<br/>Nvidia GeForce2 MX with 32&nbsp;MB SDRAM, or<br/>ATI Radeon with 32&nbsp;MB DDR SDRAM

|-
! [[Hard drive]]
| 20 GB, 40&nbsp;GB, or 60&nbsp;GB Ultra ATA/66 Hard Drive

|-
! [[Optical disc drive|Optical drive]]
|  CD-RW or DVD-ROM

|-
! Connectivity
| {{Gray|Optional [[AirPort]] 802.11b}}<br/>10/100 BASE-T [[Ethernet]]<br/>56k V.90 modem

|-
! Peripherals
| 2× [[USB]] 1.1<br/>2× [[FireWire]] 400

|-
! Video out
| [[VGA]] and [[Apple Display Connector|ADC]]
<!-- 
|-
! Maximum [[operating system]]
| [[Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X 10.4.11]] "Tiger" and [[Mac OS 9]].2.2
-->
|-
! Dimensions
| {{convert|9.8|*|7.7|*|7.7|in|cm}}

|-
! Weight
| {{convert|14|lb|kg}}
|}

{{Timeline of Power Macintosh and Mac Pro models}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Power Mac G4 Cube}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001216030100/http://www.apple.com/powermaccube/ |date=December 16, 2000 |title=Apple – Power Mac G4 Cube }}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125024757/http://thestandard.com/news/2009/01/01/steve-jobs-greatest-macworld-video-hits-1998-2008?page=0,3 |date=January 25, 2009 |title=Videos of launch at Macworld 200 }}
{{Apple hardware since 1998}}

[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 2000]]
[[Category:Macintosh desktops]]
[[Category:Macintosh case designs]]
[[Category:PowerPC Macintosh computers|G4 Cube]]
[[Category:Power Macintosh|G4 Cube]]
[[Category:Discontinued Apple Inc. products]]