# NeXT Computer

> High-end workstation computer, 1990 used to develop the www

**Wikidata**: [Q4045099](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4045099)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXT_Computer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/next-computer

## Summary
NeXT Computer was a high-end workstation developed by Steve Jobs' company NeXT, famously used by Tim Berners-Lee to create the World Wide Web in 1990. Released in 1988, it ran the NeXTSTEP operating system and featured advanced hardware for its time, though it was discontinued in 1991 due to high costs and limited commercial success.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: October 1988
- **Discontinued**: 1991
- **Manufacturer**: NeXT (founded by Steve Jobs)
- **Operating System**: NeXTSTEP (Unix-like)
- **CPU**: Motorola 68030 (25 MHz) and Motorola 68000 family
- **Key Features**: Magneto-optical disc, Ethernet, graphical user interface (GUI)
- **Notable User**: Tim Berners-Lee (developed the World Wide Web using NeXT Computer)
- **Successor**: NeXTcube

## FAQs
### Q: Who created the NeXT Computer?
A: The NeXT Computer was developed by NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs after he left Apple in 1985.

### Q: What was the NeXT Computer used for?
A: It was used by Tim Berners-Lee to develop the fundamental technologies of the World Wide Web in 1990, serving as the first web server and hosting the first website.

### Q: Why was the NeXT Computer discontinued?
A: High pricing (starting at $6,500) and low sales led to its discontinuation in 1991, though its software legacy endured through NeXTSTEP, which influenced later macOS systems.

## Why It Matters
The NeXT Computer played a pivotal role in shaping modern computing and the internet. Despite its commercial failure, it introduced the NeXTSTEP operating system, which incorporated innovative object-oriented programming and graphical user interface (GUI) design. These features later formed the foundation of Apple’s macOS and iOS after Apple acquired NeXT in 1997. Most significantly, Tim Berners-Lee used the NeXT Computer to develop the World Wide Web in 1990, creating the first web browser, web server, and website. This machine’s technical capabilities—such as its magneto-optical storage and Ethernet integration—made it a preferred tool for academic and scientific work, cementing its legacy as a catalyst for the digital revolution.

## Notable For
- **First Web Server**: Hosted the first website and ran the first web browser (WorldWideWeb).
- **NeXTSTEP OS**: Its operating system influenced macOS and iOS after Apple’s acquisition of NeXT.
- **High-Performance Design**: Featured a Motorola 68030 CPU, digital signal processor, and integrated networking.
- **Cube-Shaped Design**: Iconic black cube chassis, later refined into the NeXTcube.
- **Academic Adoption**: Popular in universities and research institutions for its power and NeXTSTEP’s development tools.

## Body
### Development
The NeXT Computer was launched in October 1988 by NeXT Inc., a company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple. Designed as a high-end workstation for academia and business, it emphasized advanced software development capabilities and cutting-edge hardware.

### Technical Specifications
- **Processor**: Motorola 68030 (25 MHz) with a Motorola 68882 floating-point unit.
- **Memory**: 8 MB RAM (expandable to 16 MB).
- **Storage**: 112 MB magneto-optical disc drive (replaced floppy disks).
- **Graphics**: 1125×832 monochrome display with built-in windowing system.
- **Networking**: Integrated Ethernet and DSP for audio processing.

### Legacy
Though discontinued in 1991, the NeXT Computer’s software legacy endured. NeXTSTEP’s object-oriented architecture and Interface Builder tool directly influenced Apple’s macOS and iOS. The machine’s role in the creation of the World Wide Web solidified its historical importance, with the first web server running on a NeXT Computer at CERN. Today, replicas of the original machine are preserved in museums and by tech historians.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File