8/20/2000

Hardware

If you need to buy a cheap USB scanner, Canon has something for you! The Canoscan FB630. The color of this scanner nearly matches the color of the Cube. And it's really small! Here are the specs of this scanner:

This scanner costs less than $100. We'll make a review soon

Links

8/18/2000

Update

The photo gallery has been updated

Today on the forum

Links

8/17/2000

More reader feedback!

One of our readers, who wants to remain anonymous sent us this e-mail:

"It's all true....

It's fast as Hell.

It's totally quiet.

It's not even warm, much less hot.

I'm totally in love with Mac again. Now... OS X..... then I'll be in Heaven. FWIW, I got the 450mhz model with 64mb RAM. I added 128MB myself this weekend (plain old PC100 stick from fry's) and I got the 17" CRT (which is equally as awesome).

My only complaint? Where the HELL am I gonna get a USB microphone????

Tank Grrl (Who declines to leave her real name...cuz she works for Intel) ;)"

Thanks "Tank Grrl".

If you have some info or want to write a review that will be published on Cube-zone.com, please, send us an e-mail.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can I use the iSub with the Cube?

Answer: According to Apple, and after an informal testing the iSub appears to work with the Cube. However, Harman Kardon does not seem to support the iSub when used with a Cube, at least for the time being. The iSub seems to work, but I don't know about the Soundsticks. If someone has tested them, please send us an e-mail.

Question: Does the Cube have one or two USB buses?

Answer: The Cube has two separate buses. Each USB port can handle 12 Mbps

Hardware

If you had SCSI peripherals connected to your former PowerMac and if you don't have to get rid of them, you can buy the "OrangeConverter" from Orange Micro. This converter adds fast SCSI to your Cube. It connects to a firewire port. The Orange Converter is limited to a single SCSI device. According to Orange Micro, the Fast SCSI data transfer rate is 10 Megabytes/second. The Orange Converter has a 25 pin SCSI connector. This connector can be purchased for less than $100.

Links

Today on the Forum

8/16/2000

Review

Apple has created a new Pro Mouse.... But you need more buttons and a scrolling wheel. You should take a look at the Logitech Wheel Mouse (optical) and the Logitech Pilot Wheel Mouse (with a ball).The review is here.

Today on the Forum

8/15/2000

Polls

There is a new poll concerning the Cube and the display you'll buy with it: just open the "Polls" page to vote.

Here are the results of our poll concerning the rev B of the Cube.

Our readers seem to want more power and a smaller price!

Some of our readers have received their Cubes!

Chris, from Mission Viejo (CA) bought a Cube this week-end. Here is what he says:

"The Cube is so small. Actually smaller than I tought. It's also really quiet. It has been running for a day now and it's not hot. I thought it would, since it has no fan. I wonder what years of use with no fan will do to the internal components....

I tried to play a DVD. It works great. The sound is quite good with those two small speakers

The Cube is also faster than I tought. However, I still have to test Altivec-enhanced apps to see the real power of this little box.

I bought the Cube with a 15" TFT screen from Apple. I had friends at home this week-end and they immediatly told me that they were going to buy a Cube."

Links

8/14/2000

Links

Today on the Forum

Opinion

Why is the Cube so expensive?

According to a lot of people, the Cube, with a TFT screen is quite expensive. It costs nearly $3000.

Why is it so expensive?

It uses standard parts and the design itself should not be an explanation. It does not have any PCI slots or proprietary expansion slot. So what is the real reason? The Cube was designed for people who like high-tech toys and are ready to pay a premium to be the first to use them.And there are a lot of those high-tech toys lovers looking for a computer that does not look like a current PC box. They also something that does not seem to be too cheap (they don't want an iMac). Apple can sell them the Cube even if it is expensive. They'll buy it anyway. It's powerfull and cool looking. And Apple will make a great margin on such products. If Apple sells 250000 Cubes, for instance, it will be tempted to create different cube modells, and even low cost ones. So will see exactly what happened with the iMac. At the beginning, it was not really fast (compared with PowerMacs, not with PCs), it could not really be expanded. Its success relied on a different design.

The Cube is the iMac for executives (did you say eMac?). It does not look cheap so it can't be cheap, for the moment. It HAS to be expensive.

Photo Gallery

The photo gallery has been updated

Steve Jobs on CNBC

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs was interviewed on CNBC last Thursday. When asked about the new products (ie: the Cube and the MP G4), Jobs answered:"We just released a bunch of new products at Macworld, and they're just beginning to sell ... " Jobs wouldn't say if the products are selling well. In fact, he can't for the moment, since those products have not shipped in large quantities.