Apple's attempt to increases sales of its ill-received - by would-be buyers, at any rate - Power Mac G4 Cube by offering a cash rebate will come to the UK next week.

From Monday, anyone who buys a Cube plus monitor will get £250 ($362) back from Apple - higher than the $300 rebate offered in the US. Since a basic 17in CRT display costs £349 ($506), the deal means buyers get a monitor for d ($145) - but since the basic Cube costs &#1249 ($1811); the rebate isn't much of a dent in the total price. And that's before you add sales tax at 17.5 per cent.

Will that be enough to lift Cube sales? We suspect not, especially since Apple CEO Steve Jobs has already admitted cheaper versions will be launched early next year. Many buyers will probably wait. ®

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