How a Revised Cube Could Save Apple Education
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- 2002.12.05
Apple has always targeted the higher end of the consumer market,
not caring to compete at lower levels within that space or in
education because of the lower profit margins. What someone needs to
do is print out this statement and slip it under Steve Jobs' door for
me: - People who don't have a lot of money in America often get jobs
that let them have more money in the future.
If you ask me, there was just one reason that the
Cube failed in the market and had to be removed: It was too
expensive. (This isn't just another article about Apple's overpriced
lineup  in
general. Bear with me for a bit.) The problem with the Cube was that
as a computer without a monitor included, it was more expensive than
an iMac, which had a monitor. Advanced users, perhaps, would choose to purchase their own
monitor or flat panel display; but then again, an advanced user would
want more expansion ports and drive bays, and could get a tower for
not much more money. Therefore the Cube was not targeted at a real market segment, and
it faded into obscurity.What's needed to open up the ed market again is a new, revised
Cube, one not aimed at the high end "style" market, but at the
low-end (nudge nudge, wink wink) market. Built in a Cube case, or
perhaps something similar. Perhaps a flat-panel iMac case with no arm
and no flat panel? Consider the following lineup. Prices are education prices -
consumers would pay $50-150 more. The USB ports are "real" ports; we
are not counting ports provided by the USB keyboard. Speaking of
which, the keyboard and mouse should be included, as usual. Entry level/lab machine:- 700 MHz G3 processor (same as iBook)
- 256 MB RAM
- SVGA video-out port
- No proprietary Apple video port
- 10Base-T ethernet
- AirPort available, card not included
- CD-ROM drive
- 2 USB and 1 FireWire port
- OS X and OS 9.2 included, buyer can specify which is the boot
OS
- Opaque case
- Price: $300 (I am totally serious here. No kidding.)
Teacher machine- 700 G4 processor
- 512 MB RAM
- SVGA video-out port
- Includes proprietary Apple video port
- 10/100Base-T ethernet
- AirPort available, card not included
- Combo drive
- 2 USB and 1 FireWire port
- OS X and OS 9.2 included, buyer can specify which is the boot
OS
- Price: $450
"High End" Workstation- 800 G4 processor
- 512 MB RAM
- SVGA video-out port
- Includes proprietary Apple video port
- 10/100Base-T ethernet
- AirPort available, card included
- Combo drive, SuperDrive available for extra $$
- 4 USB and 2 FireWire ports
- OS X and OS 9.2 included, buyer can specify which is the boot
OS
- Price: $700
Note the "high end" workstation is just shy of an eMac in price -
but the low-end eMac has a monitor. Also, a minor redesign of the
clear case - painting them internally to match the iBook - will
disguise any so-called "cracks" which the Cube was known for, despite
Apple's lame "mold line" excuses to the contrary. Note also the RAM
recommendations. RAM is the cheapest way to support OS X. The advantages for Apple offering these configurations are: - Apple can use the existing Cube design without starting from
scratch.
- Apple can finally compete with the Wintel hegemony on
price.
- Market share. If you're not growing, you're dying. Apple needs
to stop the bleeding - now.
The advantages for schools are: - The smallest footprint of any computer (sans monitor).
Classrooms are crowded, and small computers will be useful. Old
schools are overcrowded; new ones are built too small. Space is
money.
- When computers die, their monitors often go on to be connected
to another computer. You can use that pile of old monitors in the
storeroom.
- Harder to steal parts if you don't know how to open the
machine. We have several gutted Dells with easy-to-remove front
panels. Oddly enough, no one's ever stolen a hard drive from our
iMacs. Now the Cube is fairly easy to open, but that can be fixed
with one Torx screw.
A few other recommendations (sorry to keep harping on some of
these, but as a teacher I've learned repetition helps simple lessons
sink in): - Make an iBook sized external monitor for these Cubes and small
computer deployments. A latch on the side lets it hang off the
side of the Cube, or an included stand makes it a regular or
additional monitor.
- Include a copy OS X Server for free if 10 or more workstations
are purchased simultaneously.
- Include Remote Desktop for school lab sets (iBook carts, etc.)
Make .mac free for teachers.
- Update Claris Home Page for OS X.
and (drum roll, please) - Bring Back HyperCard - use it to build interfaces for iMovie
if you need an excuse.
Jeff Adkins is a science teacher who isn't afraid to state his preferences in computing platforms. In his classroom he has everything from a beige All-in-One to a a G4 XServe, and they all work together nicely. He calls himself the "poster child for technology integration" in the classroom. He was the 2006 Outstanding Educator of the Year for the California Computer Using Educators (CUE) organization. He also maintains a site for astronomy teachers at www.AstronomyTeacher.com. Recent Mac Lab ReportsLinks for the Day- Mac of the Day: Centris 650, Feb. 1993 - The replacement for the Quadra 700 has room for an internal CD-ROM.
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