NeXT

NeXT was an American computer and software company founded in 1985 by Steve Jobs after he left Apple Inc.. The company was based in Redwood City, California and was known for its computer hardware and software that were ahead of their time. NeXT's products included the NeXT Computer, also known as the NeXTcube, the NeXTstation, NeXT's version of the workstation, and the NeXTSTEP operating system.

History

NeXT was founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple in 1985. The company was initially financed by Ross Perot and Steve Jobs himself. NeXT's first product, the NeXT Computer, was introduced in 1988 at a lavish launch event. Despite its innovative features, the NeXT Computer was not a commercial success due to its high price.

In 1990, NeXT transitioned fully to software development with the release of NeXTSTEP, an object-oriented, multitasking operating system. NeXTSTEP was highly influential and formed the basis for Mac OS X after Apple acquired NeXT in 1997.

Products

NeXT's products were known for their innovative design and advanced technology. The NeXT Computer, for example, was housed in a distinctive, cube-shaped magnesium case and was one of the first computers to include a optical disc drive and a digital signal processor.

NeXT's software was equally innovative. NeXTSTEP, the company's operating system, introduced many features that are now common in modern operating systems, such as pre-emptive multitasking and protected memory.

Legacy

NeXT's legacy is significant. The company's hardware and software innovations have had a lasting impact on the computer industry. Moreover, after Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1997, NeXT's technology and personnel became central to Apple's resurgence in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, used a NeXT Computer to develop the first web browser and web server. Today, elements of NeXT's operating system live on in macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

See also

• History of Apple Inc.
• Mac OS X
• World Wide Web

References

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  NeXT headquarters at 900 Chesapeake Drive
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  Steve Jobs with Macintosh computer, January 1984
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  The first web server
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  NeXT Cube
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  NeXTcube motherboard
• NeXTSTEP desktop
  NeXTSTEP desktop
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  Entrance view of NeXT Computer Inc.