Evidence?..
Of course, the other question is, will there be GPUs to upgrade to in 3 years? We got stuck with Radeon crap for many years with the current MacPros.
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and my cats won't have a warm spot on the shelf above the old MacPro either...
Your cats can still sit on top
it's now just a fancy hair dryer!
but in al seriousness, I was going to ask the same question to the first point.
So far Apple has been extremely quiet on the upgradability front. They have only confirmed that the RAM and SSD will be user replacable. RAM will be at least standard RAM that can be purchased at your own shop (cause Apple's upgrade price for RAM is highway robbery). The SSD i'm still waiting to see more information. Is it Proprietary connections or will these be a standards based connections that will be available in stores or will we be required to shop from Apple?
We have seen absolutely nothing regarding user serviceability of GPU's or the CPU. The CPU might be soldered in for all we know like they do on their laptop range. This new pro is using custom, mini parts more similar to laptops than desktop computers, So it's not unreasaonable to believe that the CPU's are in fact soldered in. I've seen no evidence that they're using Intel's standard sockets.
Same goes for the GPU's. They're not standard PCI-E based sockets obviously. Which means that to upgrade the GPU, you need to buy a GPU that is designed around whatever socket they are using. again it comes down to standards, and whose are they using? If they went 100% proprietary socket for GPUs, its stands to reason that the only possible upgrades to the GPU is exclusively from Apple. Which means they directly can control what options and upgrade path's are available.
With Apples more recent move to Appliance computing and throw away devices, I'm more inclined to believe apple isn't going to make these replacement "daughter boards" with new GPU's readily available, nor cheaply available. They want users buying new Pros' every 2-3 years. not upgrading little bits and pieces.
Which again points that these machines for the most part are not going to be upgradable in any measureable performance without buying all new ones. For a lot of users, especially those running their own home setupsand offices, This is going to pose significant risk to purchasing the new Pro's. Not every one who's a "professional" pulls in 6+ figures and can drop 3+ grand on a new computer every 2-3 years.
Not everyone either has plethora of desktop space in order to keep this new design, plus whatever other docking stations and thunderbolt based expansion modules that will be required. we're talking about content creation machinery here. 512gb is obviously not sufficient. This means dropping hundreds, if not thousands more than the cost of the unit into drive stations for thunderbolt, Drives and related hardware. This means actually having area to have all this.
My ideal use of workstation hardware would be at home for other uses. My home office is tiny. I live in a small house where space is a serious premium. my desk has enough room for my 2 monitors, keyboard and mouse, and maybe my dinner plate. My Workstation as is goes on the floor behind the desk (and often used as a foot rest!). How does this new Pro workinto that? by it's design, you don't have much choice but to put it ontop of your desk. With all those other Thunderbolt based peripherals.
