Anybody considering skipping Mac Pro for the 16"?

[chfilm]

Hey guys,

I'm currently on a Mac Pro 6.1 hooked up to two Dell 5k Displays at home. As a freelance editor, often times I'm being forced to work at clients places on their 6.1 or -god beware- Windows machines.

My plan is to get a 7.1 for myself at home, because I've grown more and more unhappy with the performance of my machine, specifically the GPU performance, because it has trouble keeping up with both of these monster screens.

Of course I'm being tempted by the new macbook, specifically because it would offer a mobile solution to take to clients places to always ensure a good performance. Also it seems to be faster than the 6.1 in almost every aspect, but not MASSIVELY faster. Of course I could add an EGPU and then it would scream.

For the price of just the mac pro, it would be possible to get the Macbook AND the ProDisplay XDR (about 10k).

How are you guys feeling? Anybody from the mac pro camp getting cold feet?

 

[bsbeamer]

I'm shocked anyone can freelance in the video industry (especially at client offices) and not have their own laptop on hand. If you're working mostly in Mac environments, it's almost required to have your own MBP.

My personal MBP is aging and needs to be upgraded. It's fine for daily usage and some Photoshop work, even for minor changes to an AE or Premiere Pro project, but past it's prime for much more than that.

Initially was going to look at the typical Black Friday deals or closeouts from B&H on upgraded models from 2018/2019, but changed this plan for the 16" MBP. Likely holding off another 7-10 days before ordering since ship times have already slipped for the configs I'm looking at.

 

[chfilm]

I'm shocked anyone can freelance in the video industry (especially at client offices) and not have their own laptop on hand. If you're working mostly in Mac environments, it's almost required to have your own MBP.

My personal MBP is aging and needs to be upgraded. It's fine for daily usage and some Photoshop work, even for minor changes to an AE or Premiere Pro project, but past it's prime for much more than that.

Initially was going to look at the typical Black Friday deals or closeouts from B&H on upgraded models from 2018/2019, but changed this plan for the 16" MBP. Likely holding off another 7-10 days before ordering since ship times have already slipped for the configs I'm looking at.

Seriously? In what place are you working?
In Berlin every agency either has their own workstations for freelancers, or they let us work from home...

 

[bsbeamer]

USA... The majority of freelance work from home agreements require your own equipment and your own software licenses. More and more offices are becoming BYOD for freelancers in their offices. You are your own independent contractor (business) and there is no reason they need to provide you with equipment.

They offset the IT costs this way as well. The agreement "requirements" usually state to be on the latest OS version (Mac or PC) within 6-months of OS release. Usually can workout an arrangement for an extra 3-6 months due to plugin compatibility and specialized video software. There will be no further exceptions for the MP5,1 in this situation, however. (Cannot hack upgrade to Catalina and still observe the agreements.)

No exceptions for machines accessing their email servers or some firewall servers.

 

[gazwas]

I'm too considering the the new 16MBP over the MP now as its looks a very tempting machine.

My biggest worry with the new MP is its price/adoption/update scedule.

Considering Apple pigeon holed the new MP into a very select high end catagory due to its price point, I can imagine the adoption by many Pro's will be considerably less than every proceding MP as its much less accessable now.

Will less sales equal less interest from Apple when new GPU's/processors etc become available?

 

[chfilm]

USA... The majority of freelance work from home agreements require your own equipment and your own software licenses. More and more offices are becoming BYOD for freelancers in their offices. You are your own independent contractor (business) and there is no reason they need to provide you with equipment.

They offset the IT costs this way as well. The agreement "requirements" usually state to be on the latest OS version (Mac or PC) within 6-months of OS release. Usually can workout an arrangement for an extra 3-6 months due to plugin compatibility and specialized video software. There will be no further exceptions for the MP5,1 in this situation, however. (Cannot hack upgrade to Catalina and still observe the agreements.)

No exceptions for machines accessing their email servers or some firewall servers.

Sounds pretty rough!

 

[impulse462]

the mac pro isn't worth the money theyre charging if there is no nvidia gpu support

 

[jerryk]

USA... The majority of freelance work from home agreements require your own equipment and your own software licenses. More and more offices are becoming BYOD for freelancers in their offices. You are your own independent contractor (business) and there is no reason they need to provide you with equipment.

They offset the IT costs this way as well. The agreement "requirements" usually state to be on the latest OS version (Mac or PC) within 6-months of OS release. Usually can workout an arrangement for an extra 3-6 months due to plugin compatibility and specialized video software. There will be no further exceptions for the MP5,1 in this situation, however. (Cannot hack upgrade to Catalina and still observe the agreements.)

No exceptions for machines accessing their email servers or some firewall servers.

Yep. A lot of companies are worried about blurring the line between consultants (no benefits and little labor protection) and employees (benefits and labor protections). They want it to be obvious who is a consultant and who is an employee.