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Apple Says All-New Modular Mac Pro With Apple-Branded High-End Pro Display Coming After 2017

Last year was the first time in 20 years that I did not follow my self imposed upgrade cycle - clearly Apple & Co. got the message from the pro users who put their money where their mouths are. It was always my contention that the new campus construction was distracting management from their core responsibility and I'm really glad to see they're acknowledging this misstep.
 
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sarge said:
Last year was the first time in 20 years that I did not follow my self imposed upgrade cycle - clearly Apple & Co. got the message from the pro users who put their money where their mouths are. It was always my contention that the new campus construction was distracting management from their core responsibility and I'm really glad to see they're acknowledging this misstep.
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Why in god's name do you think that a construction project was somehow a focus of the hardware teams? :rolleyes:
 
Neodym said:
Oh, there would have been ways for improvement. It's only that Apple didn't want to. They decided for a setup that brought the design to its limits, but refused to adjust afterwards (such as e.g. bringing in new processors and less power-hungry graphic-cards, the latter also as upgrade for existing owners). They could even have taken the design and offer a "consumer hardware" flavor as the often-demanded xMac.

There is a third option: Expansion without cables (i.e. proprietary internal connectors) and via plug-and-play "Lego" boxes (see my earlier post). All the necessary software is there and even hardware solutions do already exist (especially for the required high-speed, low-latency internal connectors).

That way everyone could configure his "personal Mac" from mini to Pro. And expansion over the lifetime of the machine is possible by additional boxes, sold by Apple. That way Apple could earn money from upgrades and present themselves as ecologically friendly by ensuring a longer operation of computer hardware, instead of the current glue, lock and throw-away machines in their portfolio.
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Apple has never been really large on expansion, and swapping parts for upgrades. The closest they came was the 'big box' Mac Pro (one is sitting beside me right now).

The 'trash can' idea was great. Heat flows up, Apple hates fan noise, the execution was lacking, but the idea, the 'physics' of it is great. Heck, I'd like to see an iMac, or more doable the Mac Mini, in a 'trash can' config, as long as users could upgrade it (memory, SSD, HDD). That would be pretty awesome.

I'm still wondering if Apple has a toroid shape for the new Mac Pro. It's the only shape they haven't done. A Mac Pro Donut... :eek:

One last thing: Burroughs made a 'modular' computer in the 80's. You started with the CPU module, and added more storage modules and drive modules and ram modules, and pretty soon this 'small' computer took up a whole shelf, or table. I think there were also issues with shorting of the connectors, and heat, and it was a mess, plus certain modules had to connect to certain other modules or they wouldn't work which limited the range of expansion. I worked at a computer reseller that hired a new GM that worked at Burroughs, and he really tried hard to get the store to pick it up. This was around the time of the Lisa and the original Mac coming out. If 'modular' means 'building bricks' that 'snap together', it's been tried. I'm not thinking it's going to fly well...

The Burroughs modular computer. I've seen it go as wide as 9 segments, and possibly more. It was not a 'small' computer.

Burroughs-2.JPG

And then there is this crazy Burroughs system I saw. Looks like two monitors, side by side, and one is just blank with plastic cover.

Burroughs huh.jpg
 
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sarge said:
Because decisions are not made in a vacuum
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It's just an absurd assertion to make. The notion that nothing was getting done internally on the Mac Pros because an executive (the people that don't do any actual work) was distracted by the campus is just....dumb.
 
robeddie said:
To be fair, the confusing line is this: "All of the above without asking permission to all Apple's pundits and shills in here. Those who spent years justifying every single fart coming out from Apple's top management's ass."

I've read, and re-read that a couple times trying to figure out what you mean. Why would they ask permission of Apple supporters? I know you're being sarcastic, but who said Apple should listen to macrumors forum members, either pro apple or against apple? It's just an odd line, IMO.

If anything, it's the anti-apple folks (myself included) who have been hoping the company hears us and rethinks the mac pro - we are the ones who have been aching to be heard.
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i really wish my English was better. Anyway you got the point. Some people in here acts as if actually knowing what's happening better than the real Apple employees.
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I7guy said:
Right, you used the word shill, which in the context of your "post" is nearly a synonym to someone who disagrees or has another point of view because there isn't room for another point of view.

While there is always room for improvement it's the way things are said in a public forum such as this. And if the company no longer provides the product you want instead of complaining, find an alternative.
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Already done. My business workflow runs faster than this lame update cycle. It was ok once, now no more. Simple
 
NT1440 said:
It's just an absurd assertion to make. The notion that nothing was getting done internally on the Mac Pros because an executive (the people that don't do any actual work) was distracted by the campus is just....dumb.
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You're absolutely right. It was foolish of me to even take it into consideration. That the entire ethos of the company or what the Germans refer to as gestalt would have even the slightest impact on the outcome of production beggars belief. Humble apologies senior skeptikos
 
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sofila said:
i really wish my English was better. Anyway you got the point. Some people in here acts as if actually knowing what's happening better than the real Apple employees.
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Already done. My business workflow runs faster than this lame update cycle. It was ok once, now no more. Simple
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So then why post all the negativity and generalize this mythical group of people with a label? You found a solution to your issues. I'd be happy if all of my business issues were simply resolved.
 
sarge said:
You're absolutely right. It was foolish of me to even take it into consideration. That the entire ethos of the company or what the Germans refer to as gestalt would have even the slightest impact on the outcome of production beggars belief. Humble apologies senior skeptikos
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Taking something into consideration, and asserting something are two entirely different things. IF you meant the former you did a poor job of explaining that.

Either way, 2018 is going to be a very interesting year for Apple.
 
I7guy said:
So then why post all the negativity and generalize this mythical group of people with a label?
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You're right. I'm tired of all the mr. knowitall and choose the wrong time and place to complain about that. Anyway, for the 2nd time it is not a myth. It is real and quite tangible through the forums.
I7guy said:
You found a solution to your issues. I'd be happy if all of my business issues were simply resolved.
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That is my job. Disposable income of my family and several others depends on this. And I need to get problems solved.
 
PinkyMacGodess said:
Burroughs made a 'modular' computer in the 80's. [...] If 'modular' means 'building bricks' that 'snap together', it's been tried. I'm not thinking it's going to fly well...
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Depends on the quality of execution.

There are precedences of Apple taking existing approaches and refining them, so they would fly where others failed before. Think e.g. mobile music player, online music purchase, mobile internet communicator, tablet, virtual keyboard ... (a.k.a. iPod, iPhone, iPad).

Usually Apple leverages advances in technology to achieve their goals. And technology has come a long way since Burroughs attempted a modular approach in the 80's ...
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Lesser Evets said:
2013's MacPro would be a fabulous 2018 MacMini.
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If they tone down energy consumption by using consumer components and shrink height by about 80% - then yes! Would be great! With full height it could even be a wonderful xMac ... but I'm digressing ;-)
 
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sofila said:
You're right. I'm tired of all the mr. knowitall and choose the wrong time and place to complain about that. Anyway, for the 2nd time it is not a myth. It is real and quite tangible through the forums.
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No it isn't tangible. What is evident is people have different points of view. You just choose to place a pejorative label to this indeterminate universe of people. No different than labeling this indeterminate group as "bashers" is labeling some as "shills".

But at any rate far off topic from this thread.
 
The new 2018 Mac Pro: now as thin as a book with the internals of a 2010 MacBook Air. INNOVATION
 
jeffreyg said:
Yes, I think this strange announcement confirms that Tim Cook - and Apple - have zero real interest in pro machines, and that anyone at Apple who did, is long gone. Now they're letting Phil Spiller cobble something together to keep the complaining "pros" happy. How else can you explain Apple going so completely against their usual secretive approach to new products? They're doing this because it's a niche product for a minority of noisy "opinion makers", who they want to quieten down. But in the broader sense, they don't have their hearts in products like this at all. It's certainly no coincidence that Tim Cook wasn't there.
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I think it's more to placate Schiller and other Apple engineers. They can afford to lose their pro market but they cannot afford to lose their top engineers. Apple could lose their entire pro market and nothing would change for them revenue-wise.
 
Would be mighty cool if the display worked with the Pencil and had an adjustable stand...
 
Please Phil Schiller, one time

Standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please standard M2 2280 NMVe please ....


Pleaseeeeeee

Quit it with your own interfaces. We don't need custom interfaces for anything in the computer for no real reason other than planned obsolescence. C'mon Phil, don't do me that again
 
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