NeXT N4004 Sound Box in its original packaging, 13″ x 6.25″ x 11.25″, with "Ship to" label addressed to the company's famous founder: "Steve Jobs/NeXT CEO, 900 Chesapeake Drive, Building 1, Second Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063." Complete with its power cable and serial Y-cable. The Sound Box is an integral piece in the NeXTstation system, used to connect the monitor, keyboard, and speakers. Interestingly, this example was found amidst the computer collection of former Apple executive Del Yocam, who was the executive vice president and general manager of the Apple II group (1983-1985), Apple's first chief operating officer (COO) (1986-1988), and president of Apple Pacific (1989).
Having been ousted from Apple in the fall of 1985, Jobs founded the innovative NeXT project, a computer and software company aimed at the markets of business and higher education. The first NeXT Computer was introduced in 1988 with great fanfare thanks to Jobs's marketing strategy. At NeXT, Jobs helped to develop a pioneering 'fingerless' automated manufacturing line right in Silicon Valley. He believed that keeping the design, development, and manufacturing in close proximity—all in a single plant, rather than outsourced overseas—would help NeXT out-innovate its competitors by allowing continuous improvement of their products.
The 900 Chesapeake Drive address represents NeXT Computer's second official office space, having moved there in 1989. The expensive office space featured an open floor plan with a 'floating' wood-and-steel staircase designed by famous architect I. M. Pei, and luxurious amenities such as $5,000 chairs, $10,000 sofas, and Ansel Adams prints on the walls.
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