Would the Cube fare better in the era?

[Black]

As mentioned, the mini is for all practical purposes a current "cube.'

[ADent]

The Cube ran $1799 to $2299. Ouch.

I picked up an open box mini for $300 for HTPC, NAS, backup server, etc. I would buy more at that price.

At $600 and up less interesting.

I built myself a Hackintosh and got graphics AND and a desktop i7 (8 cores - 4 real, 4 hyper threaded) for about the price of the dual core i5 w/graphics model of the mini.

[artie67]

Stock Cubes are worth $100 or so in nice finish. Add shipping and a 1.25 mini is a better deal. This without keyboard, mouse, and speakers.
In comparison, I picked up locally a 1.8Dual G5 and adapter cable for $100. Sold the cable for $10. Now this was $2000 new with accessories. And on the list goes.

[RAMd®d]

First, most people get the failure of the Cube wrong.

Jobs himself said in an interview that that the Cube was overpriced because it was aimed at executives. Clearly, it failed because of a marketing blunder.

The initial price range included a heavy premium for being very stylish. I bought my 450MHz Cube for $1200, the day after they were EOLed, from MacConnection. I think it was still free overnight FedEx, definitely no tax.

While the minis are great (I've got two of them) they lack the upgradeability of the Cube. Swapping out the HD took a *little* work, but upgrading RAM was easier than all but the newest couple of minis. And you could upgrade the graphics card. Recent minis did make RAM upgrades simple.

There is no questioning the superiority of the mini. I've even thought of getting a Cube in good shape and putting a mini inside. Except for the cooling issue, an older mini will sit inside the bottom of a Cube.

But the Cube just looks so cool to me, especially with the vertical optical drive.

I wish Timmie would bring back the Cube. But I may as well wish for a mini Mac Pro.

[MysteryGuest]

RAMd®d wrote:
But I may as well wish for a mini Mac Pro.

I'm wishing for one now!

[pRICE cUBE]

The cube will always be more beautiful than any mini.

[silvarios]

ADent wrote: I picked up an open box mini for $300 for HTPC, NAS, backup server, etc. I would buy more at that price.

Nice price. What model mini?

[RAMd®d]

The cube will always be more beautiful than any mini.

Absolutely!