10.7.3 support for Radeon 7950 - Mac Pro??

Pentad · Dec 5, 2011

wikus said:
If it wasnt for the insanely low price i got my 15" 2011 macbook pro (high res, 750gb, matte screen) for $1200, I'd still be on my 2007 Mac Pro.

I'll easily sell the macbook pro in exchange for a Mac Pro and get back to using a real machine for real work. Laptops are nice, but theyre too limiting for professionals.

Are you kidding me? I would HATE to be tethered to a ball and chain Mac Pro again.

As a professional I have found my MBP to be the best at power and portability. I can take my work with me, work with clients at their location, and if I need anything extra (larger display, backup, raid, etc..) I can plug them in back at my office.

The days of having a flat/office with a big ole honking computer are gone. If you are not mobile and in the field your competitors are going to eat up your clients.

I don't care if you are a programmer, photographer, writer, teacher, video editor, etc... Being mobile in this economy is the key...

-P

goMac · Dec 5, 2011

Extremely doubtful, and there wouldn't be much reason to put these in a TV. The A5 can push 1080p no problem.

(Was trying to reply to bketchum but the forum burped and reply isn't working right..)

jamesryanbell · Dec 5, 2011

InuNacho said:
Shame it'll be running Lion.

That needs to be viewed as a great thing. Any failure to keep up with the latest operating system by software vendors should result in them losing customers and everyone moving to the software company that keeps up with every little change every time. The day it launches, it needs to immediately be viewed the the best operating system. Snow Leopard needs to be viewed as ancient.

50% serious.

BTMKRS · Dec 5, 2011

I tend to believe that most Macbook Pro users are just people that want to be Trendy, which is fine.

Its like people that want Solar Panels on their homes but want them on the FRONT of the Roof so their neighbors can see ... instead of the back of the Roof where it would save them more money.

Nobody can see Mac Pro's but its great when people bring projects they couldnt finish on their Laptops.. so Keep buying them !! PLEASE

Lestdog · Dec 5, 2011

Pentad said:
Are you kidding me? I would HATE to be tethered to a ball and chain Mac Pro again.

As a professional I have found my MBP to be the best at power and portability. I can take my work with me, work with clients at their location, and if I need anything extra (larger display, backup, raid, etc..) I can plug them in back at my office.

The days of having a flat/office with a big ole honking computer are gone. If you are not mobile and in the field your competitors are going to eat up your clients.

I don't care if you are a programmer, photographer, writer, teacher, video editor, etc... Being mobile in this economy is the key...

-P

It's amazing to me that people can make statements like this. This guy is going is going to have us think a 3D artist is going to be knocking out millions of polys on a laptop and still make deadlines? Also, not everyone has to be mobile... why do you think that? You know, there's this funny thing called the internet through which a lot of people communicate.

And who says you can't have both a Desktop and a laptop? Most serious content developers have both anyway.

viktore · Dec 5, 2011

Lestdog said:
It's amazing to me that people can make statements like this. This guy is going is going to have us think a 3D artist is going to be knocking out millions of polys on a laptop and still make deadlines? Also, not everyone has to be mobile... why do you think that? You know, there's this funny thing called the internet through which a lot of people communicate.

And who says you can't have both a Desktop and a laptop? Most serious content developers have both anyway.

Couldn't have said it better

Chupa Chupa · Dec 5, 2011

BTMKRS said:
I tend to believe that most Macbook Pro users are just people that want to be Trendy, which is fine.

Its like people that want Solar Panels on their homes but want them on the FRONT of the Roof so their neighbors can see ... instead of the back of the Roof where it would save them more money.

Nobody can see Mac Pro's but its great when people bring projects they couldnt finish on their Laptops.. so Keep buying them !! PLEASE

Based on what? Your own preconceived notions? If you expand your logic then most people that prefer the Mac OS only do so b/c they only want to be "trendy" and not because it's an easier OS to maintain. Plus I doubt fashionistas would haul around old design MBPs when all their pals have the svelte MBA.

Laptops (PC and Mac) have been the preferred computer form factor for years now since laptops can be as powerful as some desktops. That trend continues if that's what you mean by trendy, but I don't get that people haul around Mac laptops to impress people. I don't think many people are wowed you own a Mac laptop. It's more like big whoop.

tr8dr · Dec 5, 2011

Most of the MP design is brilliant. There are 2 internal design aspects which could be improved:

Would be nice to have screw-less drive trays
Having disks at the top of the case increases the amount of heat they are exposed to (since heat rises). I've found that my drives get warm/hot in the MP enclosure, whereas in a different enclosure the drives were at room temperature.

That said, other aspects of the internal design are brilliant. The plug-in cpu board is great in terms of access to CPUs / memory and putting much less physical stress on the logic board, where the traditional setup has to support a cooling system on each CPU pulling the logic board outwards.

50548 · Dec 5, 2011

hayesk said:
That's irrelevant. The point that started your conversation was that it's not dead, not where on the priority list it was or will be. If it gets updates, it's not dead. That's it. End of story.

When did he say the MacPro was DEAD?

jonnymo5 · Dec 5, 2011

Woohoo I've been waiting for a new card.

I've tried to go without a desktop computer and it just doesn't work for me. A laptop is just "good enough" to work remotely. If I could shrink my pro and carry it with me I would do that. Having a machine that doesn't have to compromise speed and power for a small form factor and inadequate cooling is really helpful. Not to mention all the screen space you can afford.

mrxak · Dec 5, 2011

If they do redesign the case, and I'm still not convinced that they will, it will be for usability purposes, not to make it pretty or small just for the sake of it. When you open up a Mac Pro, and really, you should, they are gorgeous inside, you can tell they were designed to be used, not look pretty on the outside. Inside they are neat and organized, and a dream to work with. When they're running, they are quiet and cool, with ports organized in a logical way. The original G5 cases were excellently designed, but they've only gotten better.

Apple won't retreat from the current Mac Pro case. They might, if they can figure out how, advance to something better. If the internals start using less power, and don't need as much cooling, and Apple expects that trend to continue for the foreseeable future, Apple might start moving to a smaller case design. As much as I'd like to think SSDs will be small enough, cheap enough per GB, and standard, so that Apple can stick 4 SSDs in there for less space, I think we're stuck with four large HD bays. Pros need all those bays, though, so don't think they'll drop down to 2 HDs just to get a smaller case. I do think the Mac Pro will be the last Mac to have optical drives still on there. Pro Macs always are the last hold-outs for obsolete technology (not that optical discs are quite there yet, they're getting close). I remember SCSI cards being an option in the Apple Store for the old G4 PowerMacs for the longest time, even as everything was moving to FW400 and USB.

No doubt Apple would love to reduce their aluminum and shipping costs by making a smaller case Mac Pro, but they know their market. The Mac Pro market needs all the stuff that's in those current cases. Until they can figure out how to shrink those internals, and maintain the same functionality and usability, Apple won't change the case. I don't see a radical change happening soon, but maybe they will reduce the size slightly, internals allowing, to make it more easily rack-mounted.

Anyway, it's fantastic news hearing some hints of a new Mac Pro model. I can wait, but not too much longer.

wiz329 · Dec 5, 2011

Chupa Chupa said:
Laptops (PC and Mac) have been the preferred computer form factor for years now since laptops can be as powerful as some desktops. That trend continues if that's what you mean by trendy, but I don't get that people haul around Mac laptops to impress people. I don't think many people are wowed you own a Mac laptop. It's more like big whoop.

You're simultaneously quite right and awfully wrong. Of course, smaller, lighter, and more portable is preferrable. If a Macbook Air could do everything a Mac Pro could, I would happy to have that form factor instead! However, with current technology, I guarantee you that for serious content creation requiring multi-threaded loads and 3D rendering, laptops are not the preferred computer.

keyword: powerful as *some* desktops. Maybe if you consider the mac mini a desktop. Otherwise, I guarantee you no macbook pro is as powerful as a MP.

Wild-Bill · Dec 5, 2011

I'd LOVE to see a new Mac Pro, with a current(new) video card for a change, and with pricing to bring it more in line with what they were charging for the 2008 models. From 2009-on they seriously jacked up the prices. Apple can't expect to get the same margin percentage on a Mac Pro that they do with the portables.

And I'd love to take that new Mac Pro home, summarily execute Lion, and install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard on it.

shaunp · Dec 5, 2011

mrxak said:
If they do redesign the case, and I'm still not convinced that they will, it will be for usability purposes, not to make it pretty or small just for the sake of it. When you open up a Mac Pro, and really, you should, they are gorgeous inside, you can tell they were designed to be used, not look pretty on the outside. Inside they are neat and organized, and a dream to work with. When they're running, they are quiet and cool, with ports organized in a logical way. The original G5 cases were excellently designed, but they've only gotten better.

Apple won't retreat from the current Mac Pro case. They might, if they can figure out how, advance to something better. If the internals start using less power, and don't need as much cooling, and Apple expects that trend to continue for the foreseeable future, Apple might start moving to a smaller case design. As much as I'd like to think SSDs will be small enough, cheap enough per GB, and standard, so that Apple can stick 4 SSDs in there for less space, I think we're stuck with four large HD bays. Pros need all those bays, though, so don't think they'll drop down to 2 HDs just to get a smaller case. I do think the Mac Pro will be the last Mac to have optical drives still on there. Pro Macs always are the last hold-outs for obsolete technology (not that optical discs are quite there yet, they're getting close). I remember SCSI cards being an option in the Apple Store for the old G4 PowerMacs for the longest time, even as everything was moving to FW400 and USB.

No doubt Apple would love to reduce their aluminum and shipping costs by making a smaller case Mac Pro, but they know their market. The Mac Pro market needs all the stuff that's in those current cases. Until they can figure out how to shrink those internals, and maintain the same functionality and usability, Apple won't change the case. I don't see a radical change happening soon, but maybe they will reduce the size slightly, internals allowing, to make it more easily rack-mounted.

Anyway, it's fantastic news hearing some hints of a new Mac Pro model. I can wait, but not too much longer.

I fully agree, for some tasks a Pro is the only machine that can do the job and is massively quick. However for me, and many other people, there is too much of a gap between the Pro and the Mini, and I don't want an iMac.

BTMKRS · Dec 5, 2011

If you expand your logic then most people that prefer the Mac OS only do so b/c they only want to be "trendy" and not because it's an easier OS to maintain. Plus I doubt fashionistas would haul around old design MBPs when all their pals have the svelte MBA

Thats Exactly what I believe .
The average computer user doesnt know that its EASIER TO MAINTAIN. Thats just schpeel to most folks.

Most People ARE buying them because its TRENDY to have one, which is Fine with me.

seek3r · Dec 5, 2011

Pentad said:
Are you kidding me? I would HATE to be tethered to a ball and chain Mac Pro again.

As a professional I have found my MBP to be the best at power and portability. I can take my work with me, work with clients at their location, and if I need anything extra (larger display, backup, raid, etc..) I can plug them in back at my office.

The days of having a flat/office with a big ole honking computer are gone. If you are not mobile and in the field your competitors are going to eat up your clients.

I don't care if you are a programmer, photographer, writer, teacher, video editor, etc... Being mobile in this economy is the key...

-P

When I'm not home I just access my mac pro remotely *from* my MBP, run compiles and tests on it via SSH, and everything is still nice and setup and running when I get home later

(anything big gets tossed on clusters miles away anyway so it doesnt exactly bother me to do the same thing on a smaller scale with my own personal machines, YMMV)

xgman · Dec 5, 2011

Anyone ever wonder why the folks who bash the "need" for a mac pro are trolling in the mac pro section of the forum in the first place?

AppleDroid · Dec 5, 2011

the8thark said:
In short don't put the iMac in full direct sunlight and it is an excellent screen. Yes there is always ways to improve things. But it's way better then the matte white iMac screen. I'd not have believed you in 2006. I got my white iMac cause I didn't like the (at the time) rumoured glossy screens. But now after using one I'd not go back. Glossy all the way.

And that is your opinion and it is wrong. (Because I said so!)

Also why do people always assume us glassy-haters are stupid enough to place our screens facing a 7ft window? My 2007 iMac was in the corner of a room with no directly light source hitting it and I could still see my beautiful face in any dark gray or black areas of photos/designs I was working on. Some people may be able to crank up the brightness to 100% and live with scorched eyes to reduce glare/reflections but for design work it has to be much, much lower and that was an annoying issue with glare/reflections.

mayhone1 · Dec 5, 2011

Anyone think the Mac pro update will come with a price change, and how much do you think that change will be? I really want one but the $2500 starting price needs to change before I can get a new model.
:apple:

BBriggs · Dec 5, 2011

Mac Pro already pulled from retail store

I was in Brent Cross in London today and the Mac Pros were missing and I was told they were 'discontinued'.

Hope I was misinformed and this was a retail space issue but the guy seemed pretty sure of it.

Bummer, mine is 2 years old, got it to replaced my same form factor G5 and I can't see going to a Mac Mini when the time comes.

Plus I have a PC video editing friend I was just hoping to switch over and now this makes mac seem even less pro...where the roots were.

What is happening?

Fandongo · Dec 5, 2011

d-m-a-x said:
try working on location with that rational, like outside on a photoshoot or movie

Location work: That's what the quad 15" and 17" MBPs are for....

That would be why those are offered in Matte screen.

Not Thunderbolt displays/iMacs.

mayhone1 · Dec 5, 2011

BBriggs said:
I was in Brent Cross in London today and the Mac Pros were missing and I was told they were 'discontinued'.

Hope I was misinformed and this was a retail space issue but the guy seemed pretty sure of it.

Bummer, mine is 2 years old, got it to replaced my same form factor G5 and I can't see going to a Mac Mini when the time comes.

Plus I have a PC video editing friend I was just hoping to switch over and now this makes mac seem even less pro...where the roots were.

What is happening?

This may be proof of a re-designed model with a new name, or at the very least new internals with a new name, don't worry yet.

xgman · Dec 5, 2011

BBriggs said:
I was in Brent Cross in London today and the Mac Pros were missing and I was told they were 'discontinued'.

Hope I was misinformed and this was a retail space issue but the guy seemed pretty sure of it.

Bummer, mine is 2 years old, got it to replaced my same form factor G5 and I can't see going to a Mac Mini when the time comes.

Plus I have a PC video editing friend I was just hoping to switch over and now this makes mac seem even less pro...where the roots were.

What is happening?

I would not be surprised at all if the retail stores stopped carrying the MP's. Pretty much already the case at most retail Apple stores aside from a cursory demo model. I wouldn't read to much into this yet.

mBox · Dec 5, 2011

xgman said:
I would not be surprised at all if the retail stores stopped carrying the MP's. Pretty much already the case at most retail Apple stores aside from a cursory demo model. I wouldn't read to much into this yet.

True when the Apple Store opened at my area there was one single Mac Pro.
Its still there. But if you hit any of the older Mac stores (older vendors), you can sit and play with a few.
Ive always thought that MP were BTO anyway.
Ive never ordered a standard MP in my life.
Ive ordered over 2 dozen in my lifetime due to work.

deconstruct60 · Dec 5, 2011

BBriggs said:
I was in Brent Cross in London today and the Mac Pros were missing and I was told they were 'discontinued'.

Evidently the online store didn't get that memo:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_pro

Hope I was misinformed and this was a retail space issue but the guy seemed pretty sure of it.

Probably pretty sure they were removing it from display so can get "hotter" Holiday gifts more display room. If he had bothered to check the ordering system he wouldn't look so clueless. When Apple discontinues something there is a press release and/or it is gone from the stores (all of them.)

Most likely Apple is not making any more current model Mac Pros right now. At this point they need to do a inventory flush.

It also may turn out that Mac Pro disappear from most Apple stores. If the store sells 2-6 per year there really is very little need to display them. Some of these "trendy consumer malls" are highly unlikely places for people to go buy a Mac Pro. Apple may have delivery pick up from the stores but doesn't make sense to use up display space for something people in the store don't buy.

10.7.3 support for Radeon 7950 - Mac Pro??

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