A NeXT Cube used by Steve Jobs during its 1988 debut is heading to auction via Sotheby’s with a starting price of $80,000. The computer, owned by former NeXT technical director Gregor Bailar, is the specific unit involved in a recorded “hot-mic” moment where Jobs panicked over a boot-up delay during the product’s first public introduction.
The 1988 NeXT Cube Debut and the “Hot-Mic” Panic
Steve Jobs presented the NeXT Cube at the Louise M Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco to regain industry momentum after his 1985 removal from Apple. While the event appeared seamless to the thousands in attendance, a camera recording captured Jobs whispering, “It should be running, it ain’t running. Come on, come on,” as the machine struggled to boot. This footage remained private until it surfaced on YouTube in 2016.
Gregor Bailar, who oversaw the technical details of the demonstration, told The National that the panic stemmed from a programmed delay intended to give Jobs time to walk offstage. Jobs forgot the delay existed. Bailar recalls assuring him from backstage, “Yeah, it’s coming,” before the computer finally started to thunderous applause.
Did you know? To ensure the presentation didn’t fail, NeXT set up multiple Cubes. The high-fidelity sound for the event’s famous violin duet didn’t even come from the Cube Jobs was using on stage; it came from a third backup machine.
From Marketplace Failure to Mac OS Foundation
Despite the polished presentation and media praise, the NeXT Cube was a marketplace failure. However, the underlying technology proved vital. Apple acquired NeXT in 1997, and the company’s software eventually evolved into the modern Mac OS used by billions today. The NeXT technology is also credited with helping give rise to the internet.
Bailar notes that the intensity of working under Jobs’s “mercurial personality” was a significant challenge. He credits his prior experience at Hewlett-Packard for preparing him for the environment. “It was a lot harder in many ways than I ever thought it would be, but you get pushed and you do great things,” Bailar told The National.
Sotheby’s Auction and the Quest for a Museum Home
Bailar is now selling the specific Cube from the 1988 demonstration. While Sotheby’s has set a starting bid of $80,000, Bailar stated he has no personal need for the money. His primary goal is for the hardware to be acquired by a museum or institution that recognizes its historical importance.
Comparison: The NeXT Cube’s Public vs. Private Reality
| Public Perception (1988) | Behind-the-Scenes Reality |
|---|---|
| Seamless, futuristic product launch. | Jobs panicked over a boot-up delay. |
| Single machine driving the demo. | Three Cubes used to prevent failure. |
| Immediate commercial success. | Ultimately a marketplace failure. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the NeXT Cube valuable today?
Beyond its connection to Steve Jobs, the NeXT technology became the foundation for the modern Mac OS and played a role in the early development of the internet.
Who is Gregor Bailar?
Bailar was the technical director at NeXT and worked directly under Steve Jobs during the development and launch of the NeXT Cube.
How much is the NeXT Cube selling for?
The starting price for the auction at Sotheby’s is $80,000.
Pro Tip: For collectors of vintage computing, “provenance”—the documented history of who owned an item and where it was used—often drives the price higher than the technical specifications of the hardware itself.
What do you think about the price of this piece of tech history? Should it be in a museum or a private collection? Let us know in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on rare tech auctions.
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