No new box design?

[Pika]

Yesterday i was expecting a totally new box look for the Mac Pro but unfortunately they only changed the RAM slot and keep the same 2006 look. I was ready to purchase a Mac Pro only if they change the look & design but it seems that i will have to wait for another year till that to happen...

So no Mac Pro this year for me. :(

Have you guys expecting a big change to the Mac Pros yesterday?

[edesignuk]

Not buying a Mac pro because of how it looks is ridiculous.

There are some good reasons to be disappointed with yesterdays release. This isn't one of them.

[peskaa]

They won't change the case design because it works, and still fits into Apple's current aluminum designs. They won't put black plastic on them either, as the "pro" machines only have that on keyboards (MacBook Pro) and the hinge (which the MP doesn't have).

[Tesselator]

Not buying a Mac pro because of how it looks is ridiculous.

There are some good reasons to be disappointed with yesterdays release. This isn't one of them.

Hehehe, besides, the MP cases are hard-core! I haven't seen anything built as sturdy elsewhere.

[Tallest Skil]

That's absolutely pathetic. They put HALF of the motherboard on a riser card. THAT is a feat of engineering.

Screw the external look. Cheese Grater Forever.

[edesignuk]

That's absolutely pathetic. They put HALF of the motherboard on a riser card. THAT is a feat of engineering.They put the processors/RAM on a riser. Compaq did similar things years ago, it's hardly ground breaking or a great feat. Though I'm sure Apple would like to convince you otherwise.

[netdog]

I have no complaints with the current design.


Great cooling properties
Hence quiet
Looks great
Easy to work on


You were hoping for some black glass?

[Tallest Skil]

They put the processors/RAM on a riser. Compaq did similar things years ago, it's hardly ground breaking or a great feat. Though I'm sure Apple would like to convince you otherwise.

They didn't do it with Gainestown. :p

Leviathan heat sinks, those. Can't wait to see if overclocking is as easy as it was with Harpertown.

[Pika]

I was expecting something like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2052518990_02eb026a2d.jpg

[grue]

Typical trendwhore new-age Mac users :rolleyes:

"Zomg, it doesn't look new so I won't be able to show off how awesome I am at spending money on toys"

[Tallest Skil]

Typical trendwhore new-age Mac users :rolleyes:

"Zomg, it doesn't look new so I won't be able to show off how awesome I am at spending money on toys"

Plus one.

And by "one", I mean, "two thousand seven hundred forty-two".

So my Mac Pro looks identical to the 2006 Mac Pro...

...on the outside.

It is different on the inside, where it counts.

Hey, I have only seen one hero picture of the open side panel with the image being straight on. I think that it was on Engadget; I'm not sure...

Apple hides it by angling the image in every other picture of theirs.

From Apple's pictures, it looks like the fan for the PCIe bays goes all the way to the front of the case like the old fan assembly... but it doesn't.

They leave an inch or two of open space in front of it, and you can see the logic board behind it.

Can you say, "Easier access to the open SATA ports on the board, provided they left some of the 12+ SATA ports that Tylersburg has"? :D

[vohdoun]

I was expecting something like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2052518990_02eb026a2d.jpg

That looks like a Dell clone.

[Tesselator]

This: 156114 is a "new case" I could get behind!!!

Yeah baby, YEAH!

[Tallest Skil]

That looks like a Dell clone.

Not to mention the only cooling that it has is iMac cooling.

Two little slits at the top. Air goes out there and out the back, but doesn't come in anywhere...

This: 156114 is a "new case" I could get behind!!!

Yeah baby, YEAH!

That is what Tylersburg was SUPPOSED to be.

Twelve RAM slots, enough SATA ports for eight hard drives...

But because they didn't want to redesign the case... even make it just a LITTLE longer, they gimped the board with fewer RAM slots (because DDR3 can't be put on risers) and fewer SATA.

[MagicWok]

Not buying a Mac pro because of how it looks is ridiculous.

There are some good reasons to be disappointed with yesterdays release. This isn't one of them.

And conversely, buying a Mac Pro because of how it looks is equally ridiculous lol :D

[grue]

And conversely, buying a Mac Pro because of how it looks is equally ridiculous lol :D

But it's typical modern Mac user thinking. "Ooh it's pretty, I'll buy one", otherwise known as the reason the MacBook Pro has been ruined with glossy screens, and why the MacBook no longer has FireWire: Because Apple's average customer is a college kid spending daddy's money, or a trophy wife who just wants to have a computer to match the retarded dog she keeps in her purse.

[edesignuk]

But it's typical modern Mac user thinking. "Ooh it's pretty, I'll buy one", otherwise known as the reason the MacBook Pro has been ruined with glossy screens, and why the MacBook no longer has FireWire: Because Apple's average customer is a college kid spending daddy's money, or a trophy wife who just wants to have a computer to match the retarded dog she keeps in her purse.Without generalising at all, of course...

[grue]

Without generalising at all, of course...

I said average, not every.

No matter how you slice it, Apple is marketing towards the 100 IQ crowd, and paying very little mind to the people who depend on these machines to make a living, and kept them in business before they were the "cool" computer to have.

From a business standpoint it makes sense on the surface, since most of us aren't going to replace a workstation every year to have the latest and greatest to show off to the neighbourhood, so we don't piss away money as regularly. On the other hand, I suspect the profit margins on the Pro hardware are probably quite a bit higher, so I wonder how much it balances based on replacement cycles.

[iSimx]

I was expecting something like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2052518990_02eb026a2d.jpg


^^ That looks like a PC.

The current design is excellent. No point waiting for a new design. You might be waiting a very long time. Plus prices are unlikely to go down if not up. So now would be a great time to buy.

[California]

But it's typical modern Mac user thinking. "Ooh it's pretty, I'll buy one", otherwise known as the reason the MacBook Pro has been ruined with glossy screens, and why the MacBook no longer has FireWire: Because Apple's average customer is a college kid spending daddy's money, or a trophy wife who just wants to have a computer to match the retarded dog she keeps in her purse.

Size and weight had to do with my Al MB purchase. Had the upgraded graphics on the plastic one with firewire been available, I may have grabbed that. Still might.

Almost every video editor filmmaker I know use Macs: who needs the hassle of Windoze?

[grue]

Almost every video editor filmmaker I know use Macs: who needs the hassle of Windoze?

The film editor is most definitely not the average Mac user.

[More]

I was expecting something like this:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2052518990_02eb026a2d.jpg

Macs are pretty much PCs on the inside without having to look like one outside too. That design is awful.

The current G5/Mac Pro design is nothing short of perfection.

It's hard to imagine how they could make it look any better. I'd be quite happy to see this design continue for the foreseeable future.

[Tallest Skil]

The film editor is most definitely not the average Mac user.

But... but... "iMovie '09 makes editing your videos quick... and easy!" :eek:;)

[grue]

But... but... "iMovie '09 makes editing your videos quick... and easy!" :eek:;)

iM09 actually has some really great features for Joe Average+. I loathe the interface from the perspective of someone used to real editing software, and the performance is shocking (it's really poorly multithreaded, but it could be coded in such a way so that Snow Leopard will fix that, which I'd understand. No point in spending craploads of time coding it for Leopard performance when SL is coming this year), but it's easy to use for the average person.

[nanofrog]

That's absolutely pathetic. They put HALF of the motherboard on a riser card. THAT is a feat of engineering.

Screw the external look. Cheese Grater Forever.
Placing the CPU's & memory on a daugher card isn't that hard. But the compromise they struck to do it, sucks! Too few DIMM slots IMO. :(
Not to mention the only cooling that it has is iMac cooling.

Two little slits at the top. Air goes out there and out the back, but doesn't come in anywhere...

That is what Tylersburg was SUPPOSED to be.

Twelve RAM slots, enough SATA ports for eight hard drives...

But because they didn't want to redesign the case... even make it just a LITTLE longer, they gimped the board with fewer RAM slots (because DDR3 can't be put on risers) and fewer SATA.
With 2x fans in a push-pull configuration, somehow I think heat will be a problem. These processors run hot. Thermal limit is at 100C, according to Intel's spec. 80-85C is realistic. :eek: A bit much for my taste, and requires lots of airflow to reduce it. I just can't see 2x fans accomplishing this without being rather loud to some. Those recording certainly would have a problem with it IMO.

Apple definitely messed this one up in a sense. Not enough DIMM slots, SATA ports, not wonderful cooling, and cramped. I expected 2x PCIe 2.0 16x slots and 2x PCIe 4x slots. But from the photo's, it doesn't look like slot 1 can accommodate a dual slot graphics card (say the HD 4870 they offer), without covering slot 2. Not a wonderful thing to do.

[Benguitar]

That's absolutely pathetic. They put HALF of the motherboard on a riser card. THAT is a feat of engineering.

Screw the external look. Cheese Grater Forever.

(That made me laugh)


I am 100% fine with the look of the Mac Pro, I find it very sleek and functional.

The guts are what really amaze me though! :apple:

[thedarkhorse]

They've had the same design since the G5 powermac that came out in 2003.
They're kinda like the NRA with the case design -"From my cold dead hands"

[Pika]

They've had the same design since the G5 powermac that came out in 2003.
They're kinda like the NRA with the case design -"From my cold dead hands"

Look at the PowerBook G5... and now since October all MacBook pros have this awsome unibody inclosure. Maybe when Steve Jobs come back the new mac pro might also be all unibody.

[Tallest Skil]

Look at the PowerBook G5... and now since October all MacBook pros have this awsome unibody inclosure. Maybe when Steve Jobs come back the new mac pro might also be all unibody.

It will be Westmere before there are any updates to the Mac Pro again, though.

[Bubba Satori]

That looks like a Dell clone.

Yeah, it looks good. Not five years old.

[Chaos123x]

I am a Video Editor and I can tell you I would rather be put to death then go back to Windows for editing.

Mac all the way.

[NT1440]

Yesterday i was expecting a totally new box look for the Mac Pro but unfortunately they only changed the RAM slot and keep the same 2006 look. I was ready to purchase a Mac Pro only if they change the look & design but it seems that i will have to wait for another year till that to happen...

So no Mac Pro this year for me. :(

Have you guys expecting a big change to the Mac Pros yesterday?

If THIS is the reason why you aren't going to get a MP, then you sure as hell don't even need one.

[Chaos123x]

The box looks totally different. :rolleyes:

The old one was black, the new one is white. ;)


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwKOIsQzhKA/RmpHmEHoqDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/gsRlSbSeAGs/s320/MacProBox.jpg


http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww167/chaos123x/overview-in-the-box.jpg
:D :cool: :eek:

[Icaras]

It will be Westmere before there are any updates to the Mac Pro again, though.

And when is Westmere expected to debut?

[Tallest Skil]

And when is Westmere expected to debut?

Q2 2010.

[NT1440]

The box looks totally different. :rolleyes:

The old one was black, the new one is white. ;)


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwKOIsQzhKA/RmpHmEHoqDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/gsRlSbSeAGs/s320/MacProBox.jpg


http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww167/chaos123x/overview-in-the-box.jpg
:D :cool: :eek:
is that true?

If so I guess thats the end of the consumer white, pro black box colorings.

[MattZani]

I Wouldnt of Minded that Hackintosh Mod with the Mac Pro case where the cheese grater was black, and the rest was silver, looked pretty slick. But still didnt actually change the design, just added some contrast.

[FinalCutJay]

LMAO on those Mock ups of the Black Mac Pro. That would almost change my mind to not buy it. Would you really want to lose the handles for lugging this heavy suck to and from the Apple store?

This new machine is a total fail. Seems more of a downgrade to lateral grade if you ask me.

[Chaos123x]

LMAO on those Mock ups of the Black Mac Pro. That would almost change my mind to not buy it. Would you really want to lose the handles for lugging this heavy suck to and from the Apple store?

This new machine is a total fail. Seems more of a downgrade to lateral grade if you ask me.

I think your missing the point of his post, he saying he thought they would make them look more like the rest of the Apple line with Metal and Black. Not that exact design, but something like it as far a color scheme goes.

Chill out.

[Icaras]

Q2 2010.

Hmmm, so at least a year...When the time comes, will you be eventually starting a new Westmere Mac Pro information thread? :D

[JesterJJZ]

Macs are pretty much PCs on the inside without having to look like one outside too. That design is awful.

The current G5/Mac Pro design is nothing short of perfection.

It's hard to imagine how they could make it look any better. I'd be quite happy to see this design continue for the foreseeable future.

Show me a PC that looks anything like a MacPro under the hood.

[Pika]

Show me a PC that looks anything like a MacPro under the hood.

http://www.thegadgetblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/dell_xps_4251.jpg

http://media.shinyplastic.com/prodimg/dell-xps-730-h2c-inside.jpg

[JesterJJZ]

Nice try but I see see cables thrown about.

[grue]

Show me a PC that looks anything like a MacPro under the hood.

I suspect he's referring to the fact that it's all the same hardware, not the internal chassis design. Apple sackriders used to be able to spout off crap about RISC and stuff and why PCs were so lame, now it's just cosmetics and the OS.

[aaquib]

The box looks totally different. :rolleyes:

The old one was black, the new one is white. ;)


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwKOIsQzhKA/RmpHmEHoqDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/gsRlSbSeAGs/s320/MacProBox.jpg


http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww167/chaos123x/overview-in-the-box.jpg
:D :cool: :eek:

I always thought black looked so much better on the pro machines. It helped differentiate the professionals and consumers. Plus black and aluminum look awesome together.

[grue]

I always thought black looked so much better on the pro machines. It helped differentiate the professionals and consumers. Plus black and aluminum look awesome together.

As far as I'm concerned it could be pink. Take it out of the box, throw the box into storage, and never look at it again until I move or sell it.

[JesterJJZ]

As far as I'm concerned it could be pink. Take it out of the box, throw the box into storage, and never look at it again until I move or sell it.

Why waste so much black ink?

[NT1440]

Why waste so much black ink?

Thats what I was thinking, but im sure that cardboard isnt white on its own ;)

[ccuk]

If you are thinking of not buying a Mac Pro based purely on the lack of a cosmetic upgrade to the case, then you clearly do not need a Mac Pro.

The case on the Mac Pro is very functional. The handles help you move the Mac Pro when you restructure a studio. The grill at the front helps suck in a lot of air to keep the interior cool. In my opinion the Mac Pro is one of the best looking cases ever made, it is also incredibly solid and robust. But despite all that, what really counts is the interior; whilst the update may have been quite frankly dire, those who need a machine of this calibre need the raw power inside.

How it looks on the outside matters not one iota nor does it make them money.

[Pika]

I need the power of a Mac Pro for my 3D animations. I need something that can render fast and capable to support lots of polygons when i do rotations. My Macbook Pro handles well for that but it's not enough and i had to wait a bit longer... I refuse to install Windows on my MacBook Pro because it might mess my little system, my track pad, keyboard... I need a Mac Pro so i can install Windows freely in order to run 3D programs that OS X don't have such as Autodesk Softimage (http://www.softimage.com/) and 3D Studio Max.

I rather have a machine with a kick ass new look that will last for years to come and only to worry about upgradability of the internal for future proofing.

And i wouldn't feel comfortable if i purchase a PC tower only to run those programs because all my hardwares are apple compatible.

[grue]

I need the power of a Mac Pro for my 3D animations. I need something that can render fast and capable to support lots of polygons when i do rotations. My Macbook Pro handles well for that but it's not enough and i had to wait a bit longer... I refuse to install Windows on my MacBook Pro because it might mess my little system, my track pad, keyboard... I need a Mac Pro so i can install Windows freely in order to run 3D programs that OS X don't have such as Autodesk Softimage (http://www.softimage.com/) and 3D Studio Max.

I rather have a machine with a kick ass new look that will last for years to come and only to worry about upgradability of the internal for future proofing.

And i wouldn't feel comfortable if i purchase a PC tower only to run those programs because all my hardwares are apple compatible.

"I'm vain and my priorities are bizarre" would have been SO much less typing for you.

[Pika]

I'm french :(

[edesignuk]

I'm french :(Sorry(?)

:confused:

[J DILLA]

so after all this you ended up getting one?:confused::rolleyes:

[nemodomi]

so after all this you ended up getting one?:confused::rolleyes:
He's French. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7216876&postcount=52) :o

[Lucibelle]

Pika, give me your address. I'll send you:

some red or blue LED lights (you can pick the color)
some stickers
a can of black spray paint.



problem solved.

[Lucibelle]

http://www.thegadgetblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/dell_xps_4251.jpg

http://media.shinyplastic.com/prodimg/dell-xps-730-h2c-inside.jpg

Seriously, this looks like something my 18 year old nephew would want.

Actually, he does want a Mac...and two 30" Cinema Displays. Why? To use Reason, and play WOW.
:rolleyes:

[jjahshik32]

Not buying a Mac pro because of how it looks is ridiculous.

There are some good reasons to be disappointed with yesterdays release. This isn't one of them.

I agree. If looks were THAT much important, I'd just have someone custom build me a bad ass black mac pro case with no computer internals and only pay $150 bucks so that I can just look at it all day.

[jjahshik32]

Seriously, this looks like something my 18 year old nephew would want.

Actually, he does want a Mac...and two 30" Cinema Displays. Why? To use Reason, and play WOW.
:rolleyes:

DUDE!! YOU GOT A... UH.... WHERES MY CAR?!?

[Lucibelle]

DUDE!! YOU GOT A... UH.... WHERES MY CAR?!?

Oh yeah, his new car stereo speakers glow blue. :rolleyes: Of course, there's no Amp, so they have that wicked-awesome tin can sound! :D

He's a good kid, but still has LOTS of growing up to do yet.

[Dmac77]

I'm going to have to agree. If you aren't going to buy a Mac Pro because the design (which is perfectly fine) wasn't updated, you don't need one.

By the way, that mockup looks like a Compaq POS.

But what am I talking about, "It lookz newz ZOMG1111112221121211"

Don

[rylin]

I agree. If looks were THAT much important, I'd just have someone custom build me a bad ass black mac pro case with no computer internals and only pay $150 bucks so that I can just look at it all day.

I'd wall mount that in a heart beat.
Fo rizzle, yo!

[netdog]

They did redesign the box...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwKOIsQzhKA/RmpHmEHoqDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/gsRlSbSeAGs/s320/MacProBox.jpghttp://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/03/apple-nahalem-mac-pro_-(1).jpg

[amoergosum]

The current design of the Mac Pro is timeless. I don't see any reason why they should change it. I still love it.

[CaptainChunk]

They did redesign the box...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NwKOIsQzhKA/RmpHmEHoqDI/AAAAAAAAAAk/gsRlSbSeAGs/s320/MacProBox.jpghttp://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/03/apple-nahalem-mac-pro_-(1).jpg

Hehe... But the black box was sexier!

[More]

Hehe... But the black box was sexier!

+1 Oh yeah!

[Pika]

Guys... i rely needed the machine so i took the plunge and buy the 8-Core Nehalem. I just wished Apple would came up with something that matches the unibody MacBooks. Oh well... Now that i have it i cannot complain.Actually, he does want a Mac...and two 30" Cinema Displays. Why? To use Reason, and play WOW.

i haven't played games since the Nintendo 64 era. :p

[grue]

+1 Oh yeah!

-1, he's back to neutral. ;)

[Setmose]

But it's typical modern Mac user thinking. "Ooh it's pretty, I'll buy one", otherwise known as the reason the MacBook Pro has been ruined with glossy screens, and why the MacBook no longer has FireWire: Because Apple's average customer is a college kid spending daddy's money, or a trophy wife who just wants to have a computer to match the retarded dog she keeps in her purse.

lol ok, rage has its moments :apple:

[Ploki]

Guys... i rely needed the machine so i took the plunge and buy the 8-Core Nehalem. I just wished Apple would came up with something that matches the unibody MacBooks. Oh well... Now that i have it i cannot complain.

i haven't played games since the Nintendo 64 era. :p

it matches unibodies more than old macbooks if you ask me.

its the same color and material and shapes looks more like unibody mb than the previous one. the mbs were black and white, and mbp looked like sprayed plastic. the only thing they could change to match it more is the powerbutton and audio connectors (plastic to metal)

i love the looks of MP to be honest, its better that they keep it this way than to screw it up... until they come up with a mindblowing design they better dont touch it.

[Tallest Skil]

i love the looks of MP to be honest, its better that they keep it this way than to screw it up... until they come up with a mindblowing design they better dont touch it.

Cheese Grater Forever!™ :D

[NightwalkerUK]

My two year old son who loves Mini Babybel actually tested the effectiveness of the cheese grater front of my old g5. :)

Cheese Grater Forever!™ :D

[music3]

I don't care about how it looks...I do care that it's not "longer" to support more memory slots. This is one reason that makes me believe that we may see another update for the Mac Pro in another 6 months or possibly less. Call it crazy or wishful thinking but one can hope. The lack of Memory slots was not the best call nor support for just 1066 Mhz DDR3.

[Tallest Skil]

I don't care about how it looks...I do care that it's not "longer" to support more memory slots. This is one reason that makes me believe that we may see another update for the Mac Pro in another 6 months or possibly less. Call it crazy or wishful thinking but one can hope. The lack of Memory slots was not the best call nor support for just 1066 Mhz DDR3.

They won't do it. The Mac Pro's audience counts on their machines not being outdated within a year. It's the same with any workstation.

[Jpoon]

Seriously, this looks like something my 18 year old nephew would want.

Actually, he does want a Mac...and two 30" Cinema Displays. Why? To use Reason, and play WOW.
:rolleyes:

Yeah because it runs like crap on every other Mac system. You have to pay 2500+ just to play an MMO for the video card.

[Tallest Skil]

Yeah because it runs like crap on every other Mac system. You have to pay 2500+ just to play an MMO for the video card.

You can play World of Warcraft, a four year old game, perfectly well with the 9400M.

[music3]

Tallest Skil, What are the chances in your opinion that the Mac Pro will have a speed bump in 6 months that supports faster memory like 1333 Mhz DDR 3 ram? My main problem with the current Mac Pro is the memory speed primarily stuck at 1066 Mhz.