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Apple Envisioned New Mac Pro's 'Cheese Grater' Design Years Ago
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...it is a rumour. Based on a fairly credible leak reportedly based on Intel's forecasts, so worth taking seriously and discussing, but still a rumour... and, yeah, less credible after Apple pulled an Intel-based Mac Pro out of their sleeve on Monday. As I said in another post somewhere - after a years with no viable replacement for the 2013 MP which even Apple admitted didn't meet customers needs - no announcement on Monday would pretty much have been the end of the line for MP, and with no substantial leaks that was starting to look like a real possibility.
So now we know: (a) The Mythical Modular Mac Pro is actually real, not vapourware and actually a fairly traditional PCIe workstation (b) They're really pushing the iPad as a personal computer - re-naming iOS, adding more keyboard and multi-window features (wake me up when they've added mouse/trackpad support) and (c) many of the changes to the next version of MacOS are about improving iPad integration.
I'd say it now looks more likely that the ARM transition is going to be about gradually replacing the lower-end Macs with iPads (Note: no new 12" MacBook still!).
The "pro" would be the hardest to shift to ARM - all of those huge pro creative Apps with their armies of third-party plugins. If they can get to the point where most of the key software is exclusively using Metal and other MacOS frameworks for acceleration etc. and making the maximum use of those 28 core monsters, then they could maybe come out with a workstation-worthy ARM chip with oodles of cores and lots of on-chip acceleration gizmos (which is how ARM can beat Intel chips without being hugely faster for single-threaded conventional code).
I like their products but no, the airflow design on the new Cheese Grater Mac Pro is definitely more efficient.If I were Apple I would have tried to pilfer employees from Fractal and/or Phanteks. People that actually know good computer case design.
Now that's a well-designed case for air flow, water cooling, and accessibility.
They needed room for the 1/8" audio jack.
Nooo - its a pro workstation. It needs XLR connectors - or 1/4 inch jacks (balanced - one per channel) at the least! And a 3.5"... no! 5.25" drive bay (not for a drive - for the audio breakout box!)
(NB: semi-joking please don't reply too seriously).
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Just order one from an Apple store outside the USA...
This was a long time coming. Specs on this thing are insane so much as being able to connect different stuff to it.
I'm not a HUGE fan of the front. I like the old Pro's better, but it does break some unique ground as far as industrial design. Something we all kind of expect from Apple that as of late, has been a bit lacking. If anything, it's certainly different looking. Maybe it grows on me.
I'm NOT the target demo for this product. Even if I did have the coin, I couldn't justify putting it out for a system who's capabilities would go 99% untapped for a user like me. Now, if I won one in a contest or something hell yeah, I would keep it. But when the processing power in my MBP goes pretty much unused on my part, how could I justify it?
It is a unique display of design and execution, coupled with high level computing power in a customizable package. Everything the flagship computer should be from a company like Apple. Including the price
Overall, it's what people in the demographic have been asking for. They probably sell quite a few of them, and it's certainly a step up from the Trash Can....
I'm not a HUGE fan of the front. I like the old Pro's better, but it does break some unique ground as far as industrial design. Something we all kind of expect from Apple that as of late, has been a bit lacking. If anything, it's certainly different looking. Maybe it grows on me.
I'm NOT the target demo for this product. Even if I did have the coin, I couldn't justify putting it out for a system who's capabilities would go 99% untapped for a user like me. Now, if I won one in a contest or something hell yeah, I would keep it. But when the processing power in my MBP goes pretty much unused on my part, how could I justify it?
It is a unique display of design and execution, coupled with high level computing power in a customizable package. Everything the flagship computer should be from a company like Apple. Including the price
Overall, it's what people in the demographic have been asking for. They probably sell quite a few of them, and it's certainly a step up from the Trash Can....
Ummm.. Narrowed. Regardless of what anyone considers a "Pro", that "Pro" will need to justify the expense of this (or any) system. Any and all costs must be passed on to customers to remain profitable. So ask yourself:
1. Who will settle for less profit so they can acquire this machine? I understand a powerful machine can increase productivity, but this is a complex balance that can be tricky to get right. "Burn rate" is "Cash is King's" arch nemesis.
2. Passing hardware costs on to the "Pro's" customers (by raising prices) can and will cause the "Pro" to loose some business. Some customers will even look to replace the "Pro" with a cheap offshore resource. "Pros" in China will have no problem being less productive using inferior hardware to get more business.
3. If the "Pro" thinks they can attract "Bigger Fish" for more business to replace the "cheap skates" they lost to Chinese competition they might think again. Unless the "Pro" has already had to turn away more work from bigger fish due to insufficient hardware, this will result in a vey expensive machine sitting idle - this makes "Burn Rate" seem like a cool breeze.
These are the facts of being a "Pro" in today's globally competitive market.
Let’s stay within the realm of possibility...
You’ve got a greater chance of being repeatedly struck by lightning- whilst winning the lotto.
Thanks for the link. Looks fairly decent for a gaming rig, but like you said, it's 27" not 32", 4k not 6k. Further, it barely meets the HDR spec (600nit, 1k peak), lower contrast ratio, made out of plastic, etc. etc.
There are tons of 4k screens on the market at low prices, and the Asus appears to be one of the better ones, but they're still not anywhere close to what Apple has done here.
I think you misunderstood what I meant. Apple seems to have narrowed the definition with its pricing of the new machine. However, in a general sense, the definition has broadened over the years to cover many different budgetary scales.
It looks friendly in a pixar-ish way...
...then it takes all your money!
...then it takes all your money!
Correct on all 3 points.
Working as a "Pro" in a high end post house, which has seen over the years rates drop drastically due to increased competition from other countries (via internet work), more competition from smaller firms & freelancers, I can tell you that this thing is out of the $$ for most individuals/companies that want to remain in business. Like I said in another post this machine is DOA for us and we do high end TV/Film work...the clients already are clamoring for lower rates & ours are very competitive.
I think a good analogy is what the Verge was talking about which is this machine is a super car like a Lamborghini.
What Apple needed to build is the Audi model range for their 'PRO' users.
A4 - Everyday model almost 70% of their user base. Starts at $39K
S4 - Performance model with is about 20% of their user base. Starts at $50K
RS4 - High End Sports model which is about 5-10% of their user base. Starts at around 70K.
All these cars can also get upgraded in their category by 5-15K at least depending on add ons.
But the point here is that Audi has given their consumer buyer a range to choose from.
We aren't getting that here with the Mac Pro at all....we got the Lamborghini and they really left out the majority of their user base here without a modular Mac Pro.
Imagine if they would have done this with the Mac Pro where you had an modular entry level one for prosumers/users that didn't need a lot, then a mid level that would suffice for most power users and then the extreme one for those pro Hollywood type users.
Forget the "Pro". I bet this new Mac & Monitor will shocase on receptionist desks at media firms and similar wannabes as the ultimate corporate status symbol...
Wow my 10 year old Mac Pro which was $3999 with a new AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, that i got from facebook market from a guy for $200 was such a bad deal. Lets see it was 2009 and Obama just became our president and we just entered the great recession, hmm and the machine is still running, yea i can see how the 2019 Mac Pro is over priced and not a good deal. And sir how many PC computers have you built or purchased, and you total over the last 10 years, properly not even close to $5000 put into theses system, but i saved so much money on my PC computers with all the upgrades I have done or replaced my whole system. $200 a year is a lot to spend on a computer.
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MPX is Apple extending the standard PCIe slot by adding a second slot to the rear of the standard slot, which incorporates additional PCI channels, Display Port, and significant power distribution. Think of it as PCIe + Thunderbolt on steroids. There are only two of these slots. You don't have to use them. They are only used if you choose MPX cards from Apple.
It looks like Apple is providing 2 types of MPX cards right now. One type has a single GPU, the other has dual GPUs. Yes, they have their own power connectors. It looks like standard power connectors are being provided on the motherboard for use with non-Apple cards.
NVMe - It looks like Apple is providing 2 NVMe-PCIe slots for SSDs. I don't think they're proprietary. I know you can get this type of SSD from OWC. We'll have to wait and see exactly what can be done when people get their hands on the hardware.
Looks like it's almost all Intel based hardware. Standard Intel CPU. Standard ECC RAM. Standard PCIe. Standard Thunderbolt. Standard USB. It even looks like there's some SATA connectors in there. Again, we'll have to wait to get hands-on to see what can be added.
I don't put much stock into the rumor of a switch from Intel to ARM chips, not at this level, probably not for any "Pro" Mac Apple makes. Even if Apple could make an ARM chip that could match the processing power of a 28-core Intel Xeon, it would not drop into the socket in the Mac Pro - the electrical requirements, pin-outs, signaling and architecture are completely different.
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[doublepost=1559682591][/doublepost]They took the old Mac Pro and quadrupled the size of grate holes and tripled the price. My 2008 Mac Pro is still chugging along nicely....This design is over 15 years old and still looks better...
What is the difference between a high end “gaming” monitor and a high end “professional” monitor these days?
Not much, if you’ve been following the market. Lots of consumer-grade monitor manufacturers are aiming for reference image quality these days. The difference between what is considered “professional” and what is considered “gaming” would be much more discernible if we were discussing this even a few years ago. But HDR1000, DCI-P3, FALD LCD or OLED are the new hotness.
Other than the fact the new Apple display is 6K, it’s hardly interesting.
You are right, rates have stagnated or dropped and this machine is overkill for my line of work too. But I would have been very happy to buy a desktop that was similar in spec to the imac pro but allowed for the upgrades etc [vega 64 still not fast enough for me........].
As Developer12345 said ‘cash is king’ and cash flow is important. If some really good jobs come off for me this year, I will get one to help me out with VR projects, but otherwise it is a no buy for me. If it was more Audi than Lamborghini then it would be a different question. All I want really is the GPU options, but I know how Apple operates, so this option will remain on the Mac pro only.
BTW warming more to the design a little, but still not a fan. I would have to change those legs for the castors as to my ‘designer eyes’ they are obscene !
Single minded, all consuming, Sith like power, with no concessions to any purpose other than to be the most desirable personal computer ever built.
With updated music app.
That's what this computer says to me.
With updated music app.
That's what this computer says to me.
It will perform slower than a similarly specced (and cheaper) Linux equivalent...
Nevertheless, if I could afford one I would get it!
Here is the Flanders Scientific 4K monitor. It supports up to 60Hz, is only 1000 nits peak (as opposed to 1600 for the Apple Monitor) and costs $35,000. What competitive monitor do you have that is priced less than it?
