Can't wait much longer... Might go new iMac

[todzo]

Total agreement, its frustrating

First time poster here.... channel my frustration into registering and posting! Many of the posts state it precisely, regardless of cost, a smart intelligent well informed techy (those are the customers you want, right Apple...?) is not going to buy a machine for X dollars, when that same machine cost X dollars a year ago! And of course eventually I'll get my machine.... but my love and enthusiasm for Mac is fading because you are looking more and more like the company you helped me loathe (IBM) when I cut my teeth with an Apple 2 on the original red book back in 1979. I get it Steve, you *have* taste. But why nothing so simple as a RAM bump...or a new video card...that just doesn't make much sense, oh yea..... its all about profit, screw the customer, you're a big giant company now, etc., etc. Wise up!
-Todzo

 

[newportmac]

EXACTLY! We arent looking for a price drop.. 2499 is fine provided there is value. A year ago it was worth it based upon component costs and yes, profit. But today.. please.. I am not giving up 2500 bucks for something a year old.. I'd order tonight if Apple dropped the price 25% to reflect thier drop in manufacturing costs.. but in reality.. I'd rather pay 2500 and get more ram and a better GPU.. but you're right.. as every tuesday comes and goes.. the more I find myself looking at Q6600 machines that are now 1200 to 1500... it's tempting.. but I wait.. and wait.. and wait.. why.. for one reason and one reason only.. it's a better OS than Windows...

 

[TheFuzz]

No, I know. It wasn't an attack. I found an opportunity to explain why DIY doesn't work for me, while at the same time highlighting what used to be my pride and joy. Believe me, if OSX was available to the masses, I'd build myself one hell of a machine, and still be able to use some of the existing components.

I started building PC's back in 2002. Built quite a few, mostly for friends and family. My own personal rig saw many, many, many rebuilds. New hardware came out, decided to try watercooling, went to a bigger case (Stacker), changed platforms (Intel to AMD), got a bigger radiator, etc.. etc.. It was fun while it lasted, and my current setup has been running strong for 2 1/2 years. I guess I've grown out of it.

My biggest sticking point with the Mac Pro is the video card. Because we can use BootCamp, I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want a good gaming machine for the times I play (every so often), want to retain my Windows-specific apps, and have OSX.........all in one box. Aside from the clutter of having multiple machines, its fiscally unsound to throw all that money down the drain (or in this case, the wall socket), and it's certainly not being "green".

I've waited a long time for a Mac Pro update because, like I'm sure everyone can relate to, I said "Oh, I'll wait for MacWorld. Something's sure to be updated then". And then I said "I'll wait for WWDC 2007. Surely they'll update it at WWDC", and of course it didn't happen. So I make due in the meantime by getting my OSX fix with the Powerbook and the gaming/multi-monitor/general usage fix with the PC. So, I can still hold out a bit longer, but that doesn't make the waiting any easier.

i hear you. i went with the stock 7300gt last august because i was thinking apple would release an upgrade to the x1900 in january... and i'm still waiting. i'll probably just leave it as is though now, as i can wait for the ss mac pros at the first of the year(hopefully) and then just use this machine for photoshop, which wouldn't see any benefit from an upgraded gpu.

the waiting game sucks, you wait for a certain day, then when it comes and nothings updated you feel like, hell, i've waited this long, why not wait until so and so. i'm glad i bought when i did; i never would've thought i'd still be using the same machine that's offered almost a year later. very surprising on apple's part, but i guess this is how it works now that they've teamed with intel.

 

[Wild-Bill]

the waiting game sucks, you wait for a certain day, then when it comes and nothings updated you feel like, hell, i've waited this long, why not wait until so and so.

Yeah, but you're one up on us, Fuzz. You're waiting for new video cards and/or the SS, with a Mac Pro. So the waiting can't be all that bad for ya now can it!

Just read an article on the Inquirer stating his Steveness was in England visiting the flagship Apple store out there, and presumably work on iPhone negotiations in Europe.

The FIRST thing I thought of after I read that was: "He needs his ass back in Cupertino poking his head in the engineering department sanding people's faces off and asking where the new Mac Pro rollout is!". I kid you not.

 

[newportmac]

Wake up.. pour coffee.. walk to windows computer.. open browswer... go to Apple store.... look for Mac Pro update.... swear.... turn off computer... pour coffee out... go back to bed.... just another Tuesday.

 

[oceanzen]

Please excuse my ignorance.

What's significant about Tuesdays?

Do Apple always update stuff on Tues?

 

[jasonvp]

"He needs his ass back in Cupertino poking his head in the engineering department sanding people's faces off and asking where the new Mac Pro rollout is!". I kid you not.

No he doesn't. Whether you like it or not, the iPod and iPhone sales are FAR outshining Mac sales of any flavor. And making Apple (and therefore Steve) a boatload of cash. Naturally, his attention is going to be on the new hotness right now, which just happens to also be making him a ton of cash.

As a business man, he's doing the right thing. Whether the Mac Pros get updated this week, this month, or this year, they're still going to sell at their paltry numbers (unfortunately). The iPods and iPhones will continue to rake in millions.

jas

 

[Tracer]

The computers are still important. The iPhone and iPod make people look differently about Mac Computers, when it comes to buying their own.

Is Steve Jobs doing this for the money? My guess is no. He's already worth about $6 Billion, and his salary from Apple is $1.

I'm not saying the only reason behind the iPhone and iPod is to get people to purchase Mac Computers, but the Halo effect that they have is certainly a big factor.

 

[suneohair]

If they neglect the Mac side, I imagine a lot of the early adopters will be gone. And the people who spread the word about Macs and Apple will also be gone. I am not trying to give true Mac users all the credit but I would say we are a big piece of the puzzle. Even around here it is becoming more apparent that Apple is neglecting the Mac side. Leopard delay, lack of updates, no iLife, etc. This is bad.

 

[Kosh66]

I've waited a long time for a Mac Pro update because, like I'm sure everyone can relate to, I said "Oh, I'll wait for MacWorld. Something's sure to be updated then". And then I said "I'll wait for WWDC 2007. Surely they'll update it at WWDC", and of course it didn't happen. So I make due in the meantime by getting my OSX fix with the Powerbook and the gaming/multi-monitor/general usage fix with the PC. So, I can still hold out a bit longer, but that doesn't make the waiting any easier.

LOL... you've waited through an update already. The update was on April 4 with the introduction of the 8-core Mac Pro. Most people I know bought right after that. I did. There was no sense waiting for WWDC - those waiting for WWDC were just overly optimistic.

Now, since there was an update in April, you might be waiting, till beginning of August or later.

 

[flappo]

they're all waiting for a new videocard

thing is

why not just buy a mac pro THEN upgrade the videocard when it's available ??

i thought that was the whole point of the mac pro's amazing expansion possibilities

if not - why don't they just buy a mac mini ??

 

[Wild-Bill]

LOL... you've waited through an update already. The update was on April 4 with the introduction of the 8-core Mac Pro. Most people I know bought right after that. I did. There was no sense waiting for WWDC - those waiting for WWDC were just overly optimistic.

Now, since there was an update in April, you might be waiting, till beginning of August or later.

I believe the consensus around here is that the octo-core was an option, not an update.

And yes, the current video cards have got to go. Also, what guarantee do current Mac Pro owners have that newer video cards would work in their Mac Pro? There is no guarantee. Besides, Apple charges an insane amount for their video card "upgrade" kits. What does the x1900xt upgrade kit cost? $450.00??? That is funny.

 

[flappo]

I believe the consensus around here is that the octo-core was an option, not an update.

And yes, the current video cards have got to go. Also, what guarantee do current Mac Pro owners have that newer video cards would work in their Mac Pro? There is no guarantee. Besides, Apple charges an insane amount for their video card "upgrade" kits. What does the x1900xt upgrade kit cost? $450.00??? That is funny.

you actually think they'd bring out a videocard that's incompatible with the current mac pro ?

i imagine you mean sli or something similar

 

[suneohair]

You hit it on the head Wild-Bill. The upgrade kits are ridiculously overpriced. And for most there are other things driving the wait. Like HUGE price drops!!!

Flappo, its Apple. Doing something non-standard is not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[Wild-Bill]

You hit it on the head Wild-Bill. The upgrade kits are ridiculously overpriced. And for most there are other things driving the wait. Like HUGE price drops!!!

Flappo, its Apple. Doing something non-standard is not out of the realm of possibility.

....you always got my back.

 

[damado]

Having bought one of the original mac pros, I'm happy there's not a new one out yet =P

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

I hear ya.. max out a 24" w/ wireless K/M and buy an apple TV and you might still be under 2500... might be the way to go..

And you still cant watch Tv without another device. Sad as can be.

 

[newportmac]

they're all waiting for a new videocard

thing is

why not just buy a mac pro THEN upgrade the videocard when it's available ??

i thought that was the whole point of the mac pro's amazing expansion possibilities

if not - why don't they just buy a mac mini ??

Your right on one hand that it is really a few bucks stopping most of us from buying tonight.. maybe were cheap, or maybe we dont like the feeling of getting screwed.. If they discounted it 300 to 500, id run out and do the video card and RAM upgrade myself.. but why should I have to..

Honestly I think Apple has two engineers in the whole company.. apparently one is dedicated to working only on iphone while the other (formerly the Mac Pro engineer) is now doing nothing other than playing with the iphone.

 

[jasonvp]

The computers are still important. The iPhone and iPod make people look differently about Mac Computers, when it comes to buying their own.

Keep in mind, I'm debating, not arguing. But, do you honestly believe this statement? I'll bet you a paycheck that the vast majority of iPhone and iPod sales have gone to PC/Windows-only folks. And I'll also bet that same paycheck that the same vast majority are never going to even consider a Mac.

There's a serious disconnect between the marketing for the Mac, and the marketing for the iPod/iPhone. The marketing for the latter is ringing with millions (literally) of folks around the world. The marketing for the former is just ringing with.. well.. us. We think the ads are silly, but they're not going to pull people into the Mac world.

Apple knows that. Their money is on the iP* devices right now, not on the Macs. Remember when they recently changed their name from "Apple Computers" to "Apple, Inc?" What's that a sign of? It's the realization that their cash cow is iP* and iTunes, not computers.

Is Steve Jobs doing this for the money? My guess is no. He's already worth about $6 Billion, and his salary from Apple is $1.

His salary is $1. His stock options are worth lots. And he'll continue to get more. Steve's an attention (and money) whore, like it or not. And the iP* devices are where the attention is right now. And will be, for the foreseeable future.

but the Halo effect that they have is certainly a big factor.

I really don't believe that to be true, in the least. Different markets, entirely. You don't go from being interested in a $200-600 iP* device to a several thousand dollar computer that easily.

jas