Would you buy a new NeXTcube CPU Accellerator Upgrade ?

Since we just saw a 68040 @ 50MHz Upgrade Board sell on eBay for $1168, Cubist here on the forums made mention of a SAM (I don't know who SAM is sorry) made a comment that maybe Sam would maybe want to make more of these if he knew they sold for this much.  I posted a note I would pay $1000 for a new warrantied upgrade myself since I really like my Cube.  Would prefer something faster than 50MHz and even venture into a 68060 if that is even possible, but hell yes, I would spend $1K for an upgrade like this.

So, figured I would make a poll of our small group of NeXT folks here and see if they think the same way I do.  Heck, maybe if this Sam could even make these boards again, maybe if we had a decent amount of YES folks, he could be convinced to do just that.  Unlikely as I have no clue who he is or if they could even do it but for FUN, let us see who else here would buy an upgrade like this.

So, please do the Poll and make any comments you see fit.

For now, let's just say it is a FASTER 68040 than the 33MHz we can get now.  So, 50MHz minimum but maybe there is faster out there.  

TJ

As a side note, it seems "Retro" computing is really in right now and some coolness from the past is hitting the shelves now or real soon.  I know the NeXT based platform sold no where as many systems as Atari or Commodore or Apple in the day but still, there is enough out there to make a small NeXT revival.  

In my opinion, the NeXTcube is still one of the coolest looking easy to access computer designs ever made.  They look so stealthy and just plan awesome.  I know that is just my humble opinion but I am sure many in the day saw the Cube the same way.  I bet even today that is why Cubes fetch good $ on the eBay used market.

Just look at what is happening in Retro computing today as we speak.  On the Atari front, a nice small Atari computer board called the FireBee that looks to make the quickest Atari to date.  The board is made basically and looks like selling by years end even with a case design being made now.  On Amiga front, they have Acube right now with a newer board about to sell and the all new badass AmigaOne X1000, probably early next year from the way it looks today.

So, would be awesome if someone that makes upgrades would make more if enough of us would buy one.  Would 50 new upgrades make it worthwhile to them?  At $1K a board I bet it would.  But, who knows, again just my humble opinion.

tj

Take a look for what was done on Atari Falcon (CT63 accelerator). It may be possible.

I do not have a Cube myself, but for my Turbo Color, may be a 68040@50 or more card.... Or a 68060@100Mhz !

TJ,

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one. I like my NeXT just the way it is. I enjoy it as a vintage computer and have no desire to try to remake it into something more 'modern'. Beautifully obsolete. If I had an 030 cube, I wouldn't upgrade it either. But all I can afford is a plain old NeXT color slab that I put back together from parts.

Brian

Quote from: "bkmoore"TJ,

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one. I like my NeXT just the way it is. I enjoy it as a vintage computer and have no desire to try to remake it into something more 'modern'. Beautifully obsolete. If I had an 030 cube, I wouldn't upgrade it either. But all I can afford is a plain old NeXT color slab that I put back together from parts.

Brian

I think a 68040 or 68060 which would be its max is still obsolete and vintage and far from modern.   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I guess the way I look at it, is if at the time they produced the computer, and a 3rd party company made an upgrade for it, it would be OK in my book.  I guess 68060 was not ever done but 68040 was at 50MHz so I would still consider it VERY vintage from that perspective.

Same goes for if some 3rd party company back then had made a upgrade of some kind and then shelved it back then for whatever reason, then zoom forward 20 years and they decide to release it for the hell of it, I would also be all over it.  In the end it is still the Cube or NeXTstation with a somewhat time period upgrade.  It will never be a quad core monster of today but just a little faster cool vintage box.

But I hear what you mean about keeping it the way it is.  

tj

If it came bundled with a modern broswer, hell yes I'd pay a grand just for the broswer!

If I could get my Cube to play on YouTube, play .mp3's as well that would be nice ;-)

I'd pay 1000 dollars for a decent fast, stable 040