NeXT MegaPixel Display
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | NeXT |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Successor | MegaPixel Color Display |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Hartmut Esslinger (designer) |
| Products | CRT monitors for NeXT workstations |
| Owner | NeXT, Inc. |
| Parent | NeXT, Inc. |
The NeXT MegaPixel Display series consists of CRT monitors developed by NeXT specifically for their NeXTcube and NeXTstation workstations. The design was created by Hartmut Esslinger and Frog Design Inc.
Description
Introduced in 1990, the initial MegaPixel Display was a 17-inch monochrome screen offering four distinct brightness settings (black, dark gray, light gray, and white) at a fixed resolution of 1120 × 832 pixels, which corresponds to 92 DPI, totaling 931,840 pixels with a refresh rate of 68 Hz.
This monitor incorporated a built-in mono microphone, a mono speaker, stereo RCA jacks, a 3.5 mm headphone port, and a combined keyboard and mouse connection. Power, video, and audio signals were transmitted through a single six-foot cable.
A significant limitation was the inability to completely power down the display while the workstation was active; although the screen could be turned blank, the cathode heater remained energized. This led to notable screen dimming over prolonged use, particularly in environments such as servers or laboratories where systems operated continuously.
To mitigate this, NeXT introduced the uncommon 4000A model designed for approximately 10,000 hours (~14 months) of operational lifespan.
The display was mounted on an adjustable stand equipped with rollers to facilitate movement of the heavy unit and featured a compartment for keyboard storage to conserve workspace.
Following the launch of the NeXTstation Color and the NeXTdimension graphics board, NeXT released color monitors rebranded as MegaPixel Color Display, utilizing models like the Sony Trinitron. These were available in 17" and 21" sizes and connected via DB13W3 connectors. Audio and other input/output functions were managed through a separate NeXT Sound Box linked by a DB-19 Y-cable.
In 1991, pricing was set at $995 for the monochrome MegaPixel Display and $2,995 for the 17-inch MegaPixel Color Display.
Specifications
According to the NeXT User's Reference:
Monitor
- 17-inch monochrome flat-panel CRT
- Resolution: 1120 × 832 × 2 (92 dpi)
- Four-step brightness control
- Noninterlaced refresh rate of 68 Hz
- Tilt and roll adjustments integrated
Interfaces
- Keyboard port
- Mono microphone input with 8-bit resolution at an 8012.8 Hz ADC sampling rate
- Stereo audio output (16-bit, 44.1 kHz DAC) via headphone jack, gold-plated RCA connectors, and built-in speaker
Keyboard and mouse
- Keyboard featuring 85 keys including cursor controls, numeric keypad, brightness adjustment, volume control, and power toggle
- Two-button opto-mechanical mouse
Dimensions
- Width: 16 in (408 mm), Height: 17.3 in (440 mm), Depth: 14 in (354 mm)
- Weight: approximately 50 lb (23 kg)
External links
- NeXTComputers.org
- US Patent D312,629 monitor design
- US Patent D312,630 monitor and stand design
- US Patent D317,760 stand design
- US Patent D317,291 cable design