Own a piece of history! MacMall is selling refurbished G5s ...

[MacBytes]

Category: Deals and Coupons
Link: Own a piece of history! MacMall is selling refurbished G5s from the Virginia Tech G5 cluster. (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20040211180854)

Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by arn

[davecomp]

well there it is that was the good home VT was talking about

Dave

[machinehien]

how many miles on that thing?

[MoparShaha]

If only I was a rich, eccentric collector....

[mrsebastian]

not too bad of a deal as long as you can get a nice warranty with it.

[davecomp]

Mr. Leo Laporte from TechTV has Bought one just anounced it live over the air

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/shownotes/story/0,24330,3609697,00.html

Dave

[wdlove]

It would be a great way to own a part of history. Comes with 1 GB of memory. As long as you don't need a modem then you'd be all set. From what I have heard at my local store, I think that you would still get the full one year warranty. Also could get Apple Care.

[Makosuke]

Well, I guess all those people who thought there was no way VT would just sell them used were wrong.

Pretty cool--if I was shopping for a G5 now, I might actually go for the historical value even though I'd rather just get a new one.

[eric_n_dfw]

How much did Dual 2GHz refurbs go for the last time Apple had some on their site?

$2799 seems kind of steep for a refurb - albiet, at least you know it's probably been well taken care of.

[simX]

Did anyone else notice that the 1.6 GHz and the dual 2.0 GHz models (not from the VT cluster) had Panther with them, while the 1.8 GHz and the VT cluster models came with Panther. WTF is up with THAT?

[Awimoway]

Not meaning to impugn MacMall's name, but how do we know they're actually from Big Mac?

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
How much did Dual 2GHz refurbs go for the last time Apple had some on their site?

$2799 seems kind of steep for a refurb - albiet, at least you know it's probably been well taken care of.

They have 1GB of RAM. That adds $250 in Apple's eyes.

[Fender2112]

What, a rip off! $2799 and NO modem.:rolleyes:

[wordmunger]

I think people are missing the bigger news here, which is that VT must be getting their xserves already.

Also, I don't think the price is going to be an impediment for selling these babies--people want to have a piece of history.

[mkaake]

dual 2 refurbs are only 2400 bucks right now... (and those have a modem) ;)

which means it might be time i advise a few people to buy a g5...

matt

[Sailfish]

I just got off the phone with MacMall, they don't have the foggiest idea when the machines will be in.

It's Airport Ext. READY, no card apparantly. So that means a base station as well.

Again everything is vague, nothing on documentation either.

I will know in a few hours.



Remember folks there's those new 970FX chips coming online. Rumours they are 2.5 GHz, so if history isn't important...


But then again a Lisa 1 sold for $10,000 on eBay recently.

It still worked just fine.

[The Shadow]

IMHO, these prices are too steep to be of interest.

Completely aside from the fact that I am waitiing for REV B, I don't really understand why anyone would buy anything refurbed for more than $2000. A NEW dual 1.8 is only $2499. (Needs more RAM though). IMHO.

[robotrenegade]

"Own a piece of history" hahaha more like own someone else trash that's over priced. This really makes me mad, selling it for more just because it was in a apple promo! If you want to own a piece of history get a Apple2E and even that is pushing it.

[wrldwzrd89]

The price seems reasonable to me given these factors:

1. They're used
2. They have had the RAM upgraded
3. They're supposedly from the Big Mac cluster (a minor factor)

I have never bought a refurbished machine, so my analysis might not be as accurate as it could be. I think it's 'good enough'.

[ChrisH3677]

In Australia, any Mac sold to government or education, automatically comes with a three year warranty at no extra charge.

I would assume the same deal exists in the US and if so, that these machines therefore have a good 2 & 1/2 years warranty. That's worth a few dollars too (at least $200)

[SiliconAddict]

There's a sucker born every minute - PT Barnum

[primalman]

Originally posted by ChrisH3677
In Australia, any Mac sold to government or education, automatically comes with a three year warranty at no extra charge.

I would assume the same deal exists in the US and if so, that these machines therefore have a good 2 & 1/2 years warranty. That's worth a few dollars too (at least $200)

Nope, not so in the US. APP has to be purchased seperately. Must be some Aus. law abour government purchases.

[jxyama]

somewhat OT but MacMall is pretty weird... i got their catalog yesterday in the mail and in it, they have a photoshopped picture of the 15" PB. it's actually a Ti with the keyboard part photoshopped to look like Al. what's up with that? :confused:

(i could tell because of the PCI card slot mesh and two-toned body look of the Ti. the keyboard was silver with speaker mesh on the side - just lifted from other 15" Al, i guess.)

[gwuMACaddict]

interesting... but i wonder how well they will sell?

[JGowan]

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
Only $300 off? How much did Dual 2GHz refurbs go for the last time Apple had some on their site?The difference is only TWO HUNDRED! Can't some of you count?!

$2799 (or 2800) vs $2999 (or 3000)

$200 + 512MB Ram + Lots of little scratches and dings... NO THANKS.

[Secret Agent]

Bear in mind that if you don't live in CA, TN, or WI, buying from MacMall will save you >$200 in sales tax (depending on where you live) compared to buying from Apple mostly anywhere.

So it's not that bad a deal at all, even compared to Apple's refurb offer.

[StudioGuy]

I see...so this is why we haven't seen new PMs yet. Apple is being nice to VT by not devaluing the dual 2, so they can get a higher return on the refurbs... :D

[Cowboy Dan]

NO MODEM!? Some of you are whining about the lack of A MODEM!? Who on earth would by a dual G5 and use A MODEM!?

Granted, I wouldn't buy one of these towers either, but the lack of A $10 MODEM would be the last thing to deter me.

A MODEM!?

[johnpaul191]

First off that means the new G5 chips will be shipping soon... good news... once they get production in swing enough for the Xserve needs filled, we MAY see them (or something else) in G5 towers. The Xserves technically are still G4s in the sense that you and i can not go pick up a G5 Xserve today or tomorrow.

as for the extra 512 of ram in the G5s, remember this is not PC100 Ram chips..... that's an extra $250 if you bought the memory from Apple. you can say "only suckers buy memory from Apple" but the point is that's their price. it's also undeniable that Apple memory is top quality. i know plenty of people that have bough Ram elsewhere that was supposed to be swell for Macs and had horrible problems till they replaced their discount memory. Now i don't buy my Ram from Apple, but i also don't scour for the cheapest, shadiest price out there either.

i guess that price is about what the refurbs were going for +$250 for the extra Ram (at Apple memory prices)?
personally i would not care about owning a machine from the cluster, and i guess if i was buying i would compare other refurbs to these... though i noticed Apple has no 2x2GHZ refurbs listed anymore, only single 1.8 GHZ G5s. interesting. Maybe Apple will only list them when they are actually ready to go out the door? MacMall has no ETA on shipping yet.

[johnpaul191]

Originally posted by Cowboy Dan
NO MODEM!? Some of you are whining about the lack of A MODEM!? Who on earth would by a dual G5 and use A MODEM!?

Granted, I wouldn't buy one of these towers either, but the lack of A $10 MODEM would be the last thing to deter me.

A MODEM!?

GOOD POINT! and just in time, yesterday somewhere i read about a true serial port for G5s that pops in the modem port (like the g-port for G4s)... not a USB-serial converter but a true serial.... if you need it for some sort of Printer or things that don't like the USB adapters. I think some audio gear uses them too? at one point the g-ports were actually cheaper than the USB-Serial adapters from Palm, and they worked better (though newer palms are USB).

[nagromme]

OK, let's start hearing the cries of "Apple is shooting itself in the foot" because MacMall named a steep price :)

Then we'll see some Wintel journalists take up the cry... by tomorrow morning the AP headline across the globe will read "Apple Users Angered at Paying Full Price for Used Goods." The story will say, "In the midst of a MyDoom virus barrage, VT is abandoning its ill-conceived Mac cluster, and Apple has decided its customers should foot the bill for the mistake."

Uncle Fester at Microsoft will be interviewed saying, "UNIX is faltering in both education and enterprise. Meanwhile, Windows remains the most secure OS on the planet."

Wintel jealots will be on the 'net by Saturday with "i haerd the mydoom virus is from apple g5s and vt sued apple and said take your slow cluster back were gettin dells yeeeeha!"

Isn't that the way it works? Like a game of "telephone." :)

PS... $400 for 512 RAM minus modem... that better be a heck of a warranty or you ARE paying for a piece of history. Especially when faster G5s arrive in a month.

(Then again, I doubt they really ARE available yet... reports that VT is waiting for another speed boost to the Xserve always made good sense to me.)

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by JGowan
The difference is only TWO HUNDRED! Can't some of you count?!

$2799 (or 2800) vs $2999 (or 3000)

$200 + 512MB Ram + Lots of little scratches and dings... NO THANKS. Doh! Okay, it was late; the ALU part of my brain was down!

[neilw]

Originally posted by Cowboy Dan
NO MODEM!? Some of you are whining about the lack of A MODEM!? Who on earth would by a dual G5 and use A MODEM!?

How about for faxing? Y'know, like the way Panther has nice built-in faxing capabilities?

Not that lack of a modem is something to whine about, but it is potentially useful. And it's always there as a backup for when the broadband connection goes down.

[AirUncleP]

If Vt doesn't have the xServes yet and Apple is controling this sell-off thing then its a rush on Apples part. A rush on Apples part means one thing......new, faster machines are on their way.

[mainstreetmark]

Originally posted by AirUncleP
If Vt doesn't have the xServes yet and Apple is controling this sell-off thing then its a rush on Apples part. A rush on Apples part means one thing......new, faster machines are on their way.

Boy, it's a good thing you don't have your own rumor site.

[Photorun]

Originally posted by Fender2112
What, a rip off! $2799 and NO modem.:rolleyes:

Uhhh, clearly you're not getting it here. It's not just a G5, it's a G5 that was once part of the third fastest supercomputer in history. You're not just paying for a machine, you're paying for a piece of history. You want just a boring refurb, there's plenty for less, you want a piece of history, $2700 ain't too shabby.

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by JGowan
The difference is only TWO HUNDRED! ... NO THANKS. Financially, it is not a good deal compared to ordinary refurbs.
When the BigMac rejects arrive, they better have one hell of a cool plaque on them to be worth $2800 :(

NO THANKS, I think I will pass too. Besides, the new 2.5 duals should be out soon probably for only $2999 including a modem and the smaller, cooler, more efficient chips.
:p

[iriejedi]

Originally posted by Photorun
Uhhh, clearly you're not getting it here. It's not just a G5, it's a G5 that was once part of the third fastest supercomputer in history. You're not just paying for a machine, you're paying for a piece of history. You want just a boring refurb, there's plenty for less, you want a piece of history, $2700 ain't too shabby.


Big deal!!! :-) A piece of history that will be a piece of junk in a few short years.... I say buy a Referb for $2300 and pay $165 for a gig of ram (crucial memory) and end up with $2465, 1.5 gigs of ram (that is 512 MORE than a VT box) and use the other $335 saved to buy a nice large CRT monitor!

Spend $5 on line for a VT alumni sticker - and you are golden!

PLUS you get a modem!

Iriejedi

[dongmin]

I have a feeling that MacMall is marking up these Macs ABOVE the market price, or even Apple's price. A refurb G5 dual 1.8 ghz goes for $1999, and yes this has a modem.

I'd be surprised if they move too many of these at the price. They'll come down in price, I'm sure.

[Docrjm]

Who cares?
If you want one buy it, if you don't don't. Its that simple.
Personally I'm waiting for the three ghz flavour.:D

[0 and A ai]

Leo from techtv bought one on the screensavers.

[IJ Reilly]

I can't fault MacMall for trying this price and seeing who will bite on the "own a piece of history" pitch. Not many, if the comments on this board are any indication. Probably not 1,100 in any event.

Here's a question: Were the VT G5s delivered with SuperDrives and Radeon 9600s installed, or were they added by Apple in the refurbishment process? I can't imagine why VT would want 1,100 DVD burners that would never see a disc and a high-powered graphics card that would never be attached to a display.

[JJTiger1]

Originally posted by machinehien
how many miles on that thing?

116,000 miles, and running strong. Never used in rock-climbing. Southern vehicle: no rust.

It's one of the first Red TJ Wranglers made in 9/96 as a 1997.

There was NOT a 1996 model Wrangler due to re-tooling from the YJ Wrangler at the factory.

Fully equipped: 6 cylinder, Airconditioning, Power Steering and Brakes, 5 speed manual shift, Back seat, Sound bar. Factory quarter-doors. New Best-Top.

NO modem ;)
=-=
JJ

[Photorun]

Originally posted by JJTiger1
116,000 miles, and running strong. Never used in rock-climbing. Southern vehicle: no rust.

It's one of the first Red TJ Wranglers made in 9/96 as a 1997.

There was NOT a 1996 model Wrangler due to re-tooling from the YJ Wrangler at the factory.

Fully equipped: 6 cylinder, Airconditioning, Power Steering and Brakes, 5 speed manual shift, Back seat, Sound bar. Factory quarter-doors. New Best-Top.

NO modem ;)
=-=
JJ

Are you selling? I'd love a 97 TJ! But gotta have the six, the four is lame! No need for the modem, that's sooo 1980s.

[JJTiger1]

Originally posted by Photorun
Are you selling? I'd love a 97 TJ! But gotta have the six, the four is lame! No need for the modem, that's sooo 1980s.

... 6 Cylinder

Everything is For Sale.

Where would you park it in NYC?

I thought everyone in NYC rides a subway or a taxi.

[Dont Hurt Me]

I see these as a so so value, If they came with a some kind of badge of honor saying this or that then that would warrant what they are asking. but really this is a used machine at near new prices so i dont see any special value in owning one of these vs any refurbished or new machine.missing modem more ram Big deal. Hype over nothing

[JtheLemur]

Originally posted by nagromme
OK, let's start hearing the cries of "Apple is shooting itself in the foot" because MacMall named a steep price :)

dood this is the DEATH of Apple man, that's it, no more, they're gonna go out of business. they need to do things like 4GHz G6 in a PDA right now right now, not later but now. that's teh ticket!

[JJTiger1]

Originally posted by JtheLemur
dood this is the DEATH of Apple man, that's it, no more, they're gonna go out of business.
{snippage}

Whatever happened about the rumor that Sony had bought Apple? :confused:

[Omad0n]

I agree it might be cool to own one of these if it came with some sort of certificate. As it stands now thoug h Ibelieve I'll pass. For those who buy one though, enjoy :)

[Rocketman]

1. The modem comments were jokes.
2. The fact is the items ARE a piece of history and only a $200 premium if it is even that with the expanded RAM and extended warranty.
3. Plenty of "premium" products are a far worse premium, whether designer clothing or perfumes or workstation PC's.
4. The HIGH resale value of the VT cluster is going to make the "life cycle cost" the lowest of any cluster EVER assembled of ANY size. Think of it as a lease where you return the equipment for almost full price!
5. VT facility has a huge vacacancy. They need 1100 more G5's to fill that space! Go for #1.

Every aspect of this deal has been a big fat win for Apple.

When Comcast buys Disney Steve will be glad he separated from the mess.

2/3 of the people I know that work for Comcast hate it and many of the customers have service and billing problems.

Stand back.

[helmsc]

Originally posted by Cowboy Dan
NO MODEM!? Some of you are whining about the lack of A MODEM!? Who on earth would by a dual G5 and use A MODEM!?

Granted, I wouldn't buy one of these towers either, but the lack of A $10 MODEM would be the last thing to deter me.

A MODEM!?

I HAVE to have a modem. There is no broadband in the back woods of east Tennessee :(

[Dreadnought]

I thought these things where fully loaded with ram! What happened to the other 3 Gig? They have to get all of the 4 Gig of ram out and put in two dimms of 512.

[Parikh1234]

Originally posted by helmsc
I HAVE to have a modem. There is no broadband in the back woods of east Tennessee :(

Also people use a modem to fax things. Given that you can do it online now, and people buy fax machines but there are people out there who use a modem for stuff.

[Snowy_River]

Originally posted by robotrenegade
"Own a piece of history" hahaha more like own someone else trash that's over priced. This really makes me mad, selling it for more just because it was in a apple promo! If you want to own a piece of history get a Apple2E and even that is pushing it.

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
I can't fault MacMall for trying this price and seeing who will bite on the "own a piece of history" pitch. Not many, if the comments on this board are any indication. Probably not 1,100 in any event...

You know, I'm astonished at the tunnel vision of people on this forum. Just because you don't want to buy one of these machines, just because you don't see any value in 'owning a piece of history', you seem to think that no one does. These machines aren't aimed at power users, but at collectors. In just about every industry there are both types of buyers: users and collectors. Just because almost everyone here is a user doesn't mean that collectors aren't out there...

[BobX]

OK... so I understand the power and space saving afforded by the G5 XServe pizza boxes when compared to the G5 towers.

But, seriously, what has Virginia Tech accomplished with their G5 cupercomputer cluster? Other than the vanity of getting into the 3rd spot of the Top500 supercomputer list, what tangible good have the G5 towers done?

No useful research, no new discovery, nada. A piece of history indeed.

Why all the obsession with the MIPS and the GHz and the Gb/s and the Terabytes if nothing useful was ever done with them?

[eric_n_dfw]

The refurb G5's at the Apple online store are gone again all of the sudden.

They appeared late last night / early this morning and now they're gone again.

Hmmmmm.



Oh - and as far as the question about what good was the supercomputer: so far, they have proven it can be done. The benefits for companies wanting to build their own could save them millions of dollars; and now that they have worked the kinks out, they can start using it for real research.

Who knows, maybe they are taking bids from companies to do jobs as we speak?

[bpd115]

I snatched up the last 2.0 dual refurb from the Applestore this morning. :D

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by Snowy_River
You know, I'm astonished at the tunnel vision of people on this forum. Just because you don't want to buy one of these machines, just because you don't see any value in 'owning a piece of history', you seem to think that no one does. These machines aren't aimed at power users, but at collectors. In just about every industry there are both types of buyers: users and collectors. Just because almost everyone here is a user doesn't mean that collectors aren't out there...

Hmm. It seems like you're faulting those who don't think it's worth paying extra to get one of the VT Macs. Personally, I don't have a dog in this hunt. If somebody thinks it's worthwhile, then more power to them and to MacMall. I'm simply questioning whether they're going to be able to sell all 1,100 at a premium price.

[JGowan]

I suppose if you were going to be buying the Dual 2GHz G5 anyway, the ram and the $200 would be added little bonus AND if the case were COMPLETELY scratch-free ...

... but only...

... if Apple would be willing to stick by them for a full 3 years w/o having to pay for the extended warranty (which this deal DOES NOT include [contrary to a post or two here that claimed it did]).

The history thing: just about the lamest reason to get one of these.

Now, if they were $2800 and came with all 4GBs RAM = SWEET. But, alas, they canniballized them mo-fo's but quick.

[IJ Reilly]

FWIW, MacConnection is currently selling refurbished G5 2.0s for $2299.00, with a free printer. Warrantee is 90 days.

[shamino]

Originally posted by johnpaul191
GOOD POINT! and just in time, yesterday somewhere i read about a true serial port for G5s that pops in the modem port (like the g-port for G4s)... not a USB-serial converter but a true serial.... if you need it for some sort of Printer or things that don't like the USB adapters. I think some audio gear uses them too? at one point the g-ports were actually cheaper than the USB-Serial adapters from Palm, and they worked better (though newer palms are USB). Ummmm.....

You may want to look at Apple's developer tech note for the G5 (http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G5/PowerMacG5/2Architecture/chapter_3_section_2.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000803/TPXREF102). The block diagram clearly shows that the modem slot is attached to the K2 I/O controller via a 12M USB bus. Note also the description of the internal modem (http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/Developer_Notes/Macintosh_CPUs-G5/PowerMacG5/3Input-Output/chapter_4_section_6.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000804/TPXREF121) which says:
The modem appears to the system as a USB device that responds to standard AT commands.
Your comment about "not a USB-serial converter" is simply untrue. Anything attaching to that modem slot interfaces with the rest of the system via USB.

Of course, there's no reason why you can't install a proper serial port over USB, so it's still a moot point.

[shamino]

Originally posted by JJTiger1
I thought everyone in NYC rides a subway or a taxi.
NYC is a big city.

Sure, if you live in Manhattan, you're going to be fighting to find street parking, or you'll pay a fortune for a reserved garage space.

But over in Brooklyn, there are plenty of neighborhoods where the houses have driveways and garages and most people own cars.

[=pa=]

Like somonee said, there's nfw Virginia Tech paid retail for all those G5s - somebody's making a stack of cash on this deal...

[Snowy_River]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
Hmm. It seems like you're faulting those who don't think it's worth paying extra to get one of the VT Macs. Personally, I don't have a dog in this hunt. If somebody thinks it's worthwhile, then more power to them and to MacMall. I'm simply questioning whether they're going to be able to sell all 1,100 at a premium price.

I'm not faulting their opinion that it's not worth it to them. I'm only saying that there seems to be an overriding theme of 'because I don't see the value, they are crazy to try to sell them for so much, and anyone who would buy such a machine is crazy when they can buy a new machine for just a little more...'

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by =pa=
Like somonee said, there's nfw Virginia Tech paid retail for all those G5s - somebody's making a stack of cash on this deal... Actually, I could have sworn they said that they did pay retail. Not even educational discount, if I remember correctly.

[eric_n_dfw]

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
FWIW, MacConnection is currently selling refurbished G5 2.0s for $2299.00, with a free printer. Warrantee is 90 days. Really?!?!?

I only see 1.8DP refurbished for $2399 like this: http://shop.macconnection.com/web/Shopping/Product.htm?catalog%5Fname=PCCGeneral&category%5Fname=&product%5Fid=4759567&variant%5Fid=&SearchLogID=%7B0163A646%2D3089%2D4CAB%2DB709%2D837F116AE945%7D

Can you provide a link?

[=pa=]

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
Actually, I could have sworn they said that they did pay retail. Not even educational discount, if I remember correctly.

Then they're idiots. For that number of CPUs, they should have got wholesale minus a few points, plus they bought direct from Apple, who got a huge PR bonanza from the deal into the bargain.

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
Actually, I could have sworn they said that they did pay retail. Not even educational discount, if I remember correctly. Your memory serves you well, but I don't think that anyone said anything one way or another about ED discount, they probably did get it as well as reduction in price for removal of modems from order, etc. reportedly placed online through the Apple Store.

It's the revelation about the separate agreement with the "migration" provision when Xserves become available that puts a twist in the story. They also got preferential delivery, and probably a few other undisclosed little perks, don't you think?

I got a kick out of all the people who were speculating that VT got to keep the original G5s instead of having to return them to Apple. :p
Some people just don't know either Steve Jobs or Apple very well - they are all about profit, and only incidentally about design... very good design.
:cool:

[=pa=]

Originally posted by MacRAND
...reportedly placed online through the Apple Store.


Man, somebody should have a talk with their purchasing department. :rolleyes:

[MrSugar]

Originally posted by Cowboy Dan
NO MODEM!? Some of you are whining about the lack of A MODEM!? Who on earth would by a dual G5 and use A MODEM!?

Granted, I wouldn't buy one of these towers either, but the lack of A $10 MODEM would be the last thing to deter me.

A MODEM!?


A MEN MY BROTHA!

[whocares]

Originally posted by =pa=
Man, somebody should have a talk with their purchasing department. :rolleyes:

They probably did, hence the free/cheap upgrade to G5 XServes...

[IJ Reilly]

Originally posted by eric_n_dfw
Really?!?!?

I only see 1.8DP refurbished for $2399 like this:

Can you provide a link?

Sure, here it is:

http://shop.macconnection.com/web/Shopping/Product.htm?product%5Fid=467736

[IJ Reilly]

Whoa, I just noticed that the link you provided points to a reconditioned dual 1.8 for $2344.00 and my link points to a reconditioned dual 2.0 for $2299.00!

Boy, that's a tough choice.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by =pa=
Then they're idiots. For that number of CPUs, they should have got wholesale minus a few points, plus they bought direct from Apple, who got a huge PR bonanza from the deal into the bargain.

The way I understand it is they paid full retail not even Edu discounted. The reason for this was so that Apple would move their order up pushing all previous orders to the side so that they could get their system assembled to make the date necessary to have the system on the top computer list. If they had missed this date then no one would buy computer time from them and the whole purchase would have been a loss.

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by MacBandit
The way I understand it is they paid full retail not even Edu discounted. The reason for this was so that Apple would move their order up pushing all previous orders to the side so that they could get their system assembled to make the date necessary to have the system on the top computer list. If they had missed this date then no one would buy computer time from them and the whole purchase would have been a loss. I knew that VT was over a barrel and needed priority (pissing off a whole bunch of prior Mac g5 orders) so it makes sense that they paid full price. However, since the "migration" clause has come to light, I wonder what else? Bet they got lots of expert advice and access to Apple engineers.
:)

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by MacRAND
I knew that VT was over a barrel and needed priority (pissing off a whole bunch of prior Mac g5 orders) so it makes sense that they paid full price. However, since the "migration" clause has come to light, I wonder what else? Bet they got lots of expert advice and access to Apple engineers.
:)

In fact they did get a lot of special treatment on the software front and help with everything. All this has been well documented if you want to watch several hours of home videos.:rolleyes:

[=pa=]

Originally posted by MacRAND
Bet they got lots of expert advice and access to Apple engineers.
:)

Uhhh, haven't you got that back asswards? After all, who bought whose computers for the array?

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by =pa=
Uhhh, haven't you got that back asswards? After all, who bought whose computers for the array? No, not really.
Srinidhi Varadarajan, an assistant professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, and Jason Lockhart, director of the College of Engineering's High Performance Computing and Technology Innovation, initiated the venture at Virginia Tech. Varadarajan is an expert in reliability, a key issue in successfully exploiting terascale computing.
They selected Apple's newly announced G5 because of price and apparent capability, only after having explored the possibility of using HP, Dell and other computer hardware.
Who ever VT selected as a source of off-the-shelf hardware, there needed to be a "partnership" of mutual cooperation between Varadarajan, who designed its software program called Déjà vu, the university which provided the facility, and the various suppliers of industry standard servers, Linux, and InfiniBand created a new standard in clustering and has changed the way computer power is deployed.
Apple and IBM engineers were needed to help VT engineers integrate the Apple G5 with its IBM server chip into a functional cluster system, and help merge OS X, UNIX, Linux, cluster hardware, cooling equipment, power supply, and many other parts smoothly in a very short period of time.

No, I don't think it is backwards at all; it was truly a group effort with a lot of people and companies putting forth their best effort to create Big Mac and make it work efficiently.
:p

[Stolid]

I listened to Varadarajan give a talk at NASA Langley about the system.
Initially they talked to IBM about Power4 systems. IBM refused to make a 1U system (they wanted a half U) and VTs order was not big enough for big blue to 'custom up' a 1U. VT couldn't hit their deadline with the wait for the cooling for a half U Power4 to be figured out.
They talked with HP and Dell about Itanium2 systems, both deals fell through
They then considered Sun and Operton systems which didn't meet some of their technical needs
Then the G5 comes out. For those not in the know the G5 is in many ways a modified Power4 without the supercomputing component pieces in the CPU...

So they bought the new PowerPC chips from the only vendor that had them (Apple).

He also said, word for word, that the purchase was made on the web through an educational discount; but this was after other issues had been resolved (such as needing the systems ASAP) so other discounts went in.

The systems were as stripped as they could be (no SuperDrive, only CDRW, no modem, etc) but were 'off the shelf' G5 systems to keep ship date. As it turns out; Apple got a significant portion through the process and stopped swapping supers for CDRWs so quite a few had the supers in them :P

InfiniBand is interesting -- its so fast and wide it will overwhelm the system bus at full transfer. I think it was the real key. Goto, a Japanese patent office worker, hand tuned G5 Linear Algebra routines to get the Terraflops number.

Oh, and not that it matters but "Big Mac" is only a nickname; it's offically the "Terrascale Computing Facility" and the system itself is "SystemX"

I'm just full 'o' information today aren't I? ;)

[JJTiger1]

Originally posted by Stolid
{snippage}

I'm just full 'o' information today aren't I? ;)

... but your info is very good.;)
=-=
JJ

[shamino]

Originally posted by MacBandit
The way I understand it is they paid full retail not even Edu discounted.
I am certain that you are incorrect here. I remember explicitly reading in an interview with Varadarajan that VA Tech paid Apple's full educational price.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate that interview after a lot of web searching.

[Stolid]

Originally posted by shamino
I am certain that you are incorrect here. I remember explicitly reading in an interview with Varadarajan that VA Tech paid Apple's full educational price.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate that interview after a lot of web searching.

As in my post 2 above; Yes. I can confirm this 100%.It was full, educational price. No more, no less. They did get a better price as Apple stopped the 'lowering' of the systems (i.e. swapping Super for normal CDRW) because they were in a hurry; but offically the order was just at Ed price.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by shamino
I am certain that you are incorrect here. I remember explicitly reading in an interview with Varadarajan that VA Tech paid Apple's full educational price.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate that interview after a lot of web searching.

Yeah I remember that now that you mention it. The funny thing that I wasn't remembering about the situation was that he ordered them all online initially.

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by MacBandit
Yeah I remember that now that you mention it.
The funny thing that I wasn't remembering about the situation was that he ordered them all online initially. Can't you just see it...

APPLE STORE (U.S.) Education
VT Edu Order #0001

Items you have selected Part No._Est Ship__Qty__Unit Price

Power Mac G5 Dual 2GHz Z07K 5-7 weeks 1100 $2,718.00

065-4227 Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5
065-4376 160GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
065-4159 Accessory kit
065-4167 Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM)
065-4357 1GB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x512
065-4449 ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
065-4160 Mac OS X - U.S. English

$2,980,980.00
Subtotal Please note that your subtotal does not include sales tax or rebates.

TOTAL: $2,980,980.00
Will there be anything else?
Credit Card: AMERICAN EXPERESS
Name on Card: S. Varadarajan

Find out how to get your order for $261,900.00 per month*.

(CHECKOUT)
APPLE Authorization: S. Jobs
Thank you for buying an Apple Computer.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your order qualifies for a bonus of (01) FREE iPod.

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by MacRAND
Can't you just see it...


One free iPod. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day.

[Stolid]

Actually, IIRC, I heard from one of his friends that when he went in to talk with Apple after the computer was built he brought his PC (Compaq?) laptop. He now has a 17" Powerbook, though I didn't see it (or any other laptop) at his talk.

[MacRAND]

Originally posted by Stolid
... when he went in to talk with Apple after the computer was built
he brought his PC (Compaq?) laptop.
He now has a 17" Powerbook... Now that's the best "switcher" story I've ever heard. :D

You guys know I was lying about the "free iPod", never happen through the Apple Store in 1100 years :p
However, I do believe Apple (Stevie wonder) would be smart enough to replace his Compaq with a real PowerBook laptop.
Priceless!

[MacBandit]

Originally posted by MacRAND
Now that's the best "switcher" story I've ever heard. :D

You guys know I was lying about the "free iPod", never happen through the Apple Store in 1100 years :p
However, I do believe Apple (Stevie wonder) would be smart enough to replace his Compaq with a real PowerBook laptop.
Priceless!


Yeah I know it's still funny though.

[numediaman]

Don't you find it sad that here it is April 27th, and MacMall is still trying to sell these Macs? I would have thought they would have moved the last of these a while ago.

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/promotions/custom.asp?p=supercomputer

[powerbook4me]

Don't you find it sad that here it is April 27th, and MacMall is still trying to sell these Macs? I would have thought they would have moved the last of these a while ago.

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/promotions/custom.asp?p=supercomputer


Who wants to pay $2800 for a used computer?!?!?!