I recall reading something about that soft-touch power switch being flaky?

Anyway, I'm wondering if one would be a practical file server and backup machine. Want something that can run "at least" Tiger, be quiet, small and low power since it'll be on 24/7.

Early Cubes had a power switch issue that was fixed in an Apple recall. static can cause it to turn itself off on the ones with the bad switch not replaced. Can hard wire it though I do believe. And parts available on ebay to replace too.

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OWC Larry
Other World Computing
[www.macsales.com]

Can run Leopard, if really needed for the purpose, if put processor upgrade in.

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OWC Larry
Other World Computing
[www.macsales.com]

FWIW I've had one on 24/7 for 4 years. 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, now 10.5. Solid as a rock.

Yes the power switch is a problem but like Larry said, very easy to replace.

If you're going to use it 24/7, you need this:

[eshop.macsales.com]

Any processor upgrade will have a fan included.

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Good Luck!
Jamie Dresser
Other World Computing

Cool. My very own OWC thread here. Thanks for the info guys.

Quote
deckeda
Cool. My very own OWC thread here. Thanks for the info guys.

Heaven is smiling upon you!

I like the Cube form factor. I'm hoping for the Mini to grow up to become a Cube. In the mean time, I love the MiniStack.

Cubes? Spheres are better. Lowest Surface/Volume ratio of all the 3D shapes there are. The perfect shape.

I hate it when my computer rolls off the desk.

why is your desk tilted?

Our Cube has been rock solid although a bit slow now. I'd love to upgrade it but it's not a
very cost effective thing to do. To bring it up to max it would cost more than a new Mini. A
1.6ghz dual is $550 and a 1.8Ghz single is $300, then there's RAM and a video card.

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Grateful11

I love my Cube and it has been very reliable. I would also love to see the mini grow up into a cube.

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This message has been brought to you by the Threadkiller™

I lent mine to a NFP but found it completely solid. Well, you know what I mean.

I bought one a few months ago because I always wanted one. If you end up doing much to it; you are probably money ahead going with a Mac Mini. I bought mine cheap off eBay, added a larger hard drive; maxed out the RAM; added a more power video card I had laying around and it is a very useful 10.4.10 machine. It is my downloader, iTunes server and extra Mac for whoever wants to sit down and use it.

If Apple could have priced it lower; I think it would have been a huge success.

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I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making
him carry me, and yet assure myself and others
that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his
lot by all possible means — except by getting off
his back. - Leo Tolstoy, novelist and Philosopher
(1828-1910)

Having supported many cubes that have been running 24/7 for YEARS as innocuous servers in horrendous environments, I am a firm convert to their reliability and utility.

Were it not for the need for a bunch of extra USB and FireWire ports in my media server, I'd be using a Cube instead of a converted tower (hubs won't do the job).

Still noodling around with the idea. But I wouldn't be upgrading one to use as a normal computer.

1) A server to control HDs for audio, video and photo storage. (Along with the other things I said about small, quiet and low power.)

2) A server that can accept and send sometimes large files with reasonable speed to other, newer Macs in the house (100BaseT)

3) Is suppose there is no Step 3

Question about #1: Is FW400 a limitation, assuming a 100BaseT network)?

Why not get a tower and skip the Cube premium?

Over a year ago I got a Gigabit Ethernet (single 400MHz model) for under $100 delivered off ebay.

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Bill in NC
Why not get a tower and skip the Cube premium?

That "premium" would get me:

Quote
deckeda
the other things I said about small, quiet and low power.