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MP 7,1 Did anyone return their 7,1
- Thread starter bcomer
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It's my understanding that only 'stock' MP7,1 models can be returned. The CTO, BTO models cannot. At least it used to be Apple's policy. This would mean only the 8-core stock model can be returned, all other models are either considered CTO or BTO models.
I could be wrong about this and if so, I'm quite happy to learn about it.
I could be wrong about this and if so, I'm quite happy to learn about it.
Not necessarily. Asia/Africa/etc have a no return policy even if your device is DOA. You need to visit a service Center.
Anyway, I read their return policy. They don’t have a special return policy for Mac Pro or BTO gear.
I was under the opinion that all the MP7,1's ordered from Apple's website are BTO / CTO .
I got the lowest end possible configuration using Apple's web store selections , in order to get mine the soonest .
The strategy worked . My Mac arrived in three days .
And my AppleCare Agreement is clearly labeled CTO
I got the lowest end possible configuration using Apple's web store selections , in order to get mine the soonest .
The strategy worked . My Mac arrived in three days .
And my AppleCare Agreement is clearly labeled CTO
I hate Catalina so much that I seriously considered returning my Mac Pro 7,1. The reseller from whom I purchased it, though, has a 15% restocking fee. The only thing I found less desirable than paying $7k for a computer that runs Catalina was paying $1000 to not own it. So, I kept it in the hope that Apple will eventually polish the Catalina turd enough to make it tolerable.
If you bought the MP7,1 from the local Apple Store you should be entitled to their 14-day return policy with full refund and no questions asked. At least this is what I was told on the phone with Apple several weeks ago.
I have been on the fence about returning mine. But now I'm pretty convinced the problems I've been having aren't Apples. I'd been with support from the first going into the second week, so we think the 14 day return policy can still apply. I'm testing still and may have found the cause. Music Virtual Instruments with either poor installers or I installed them wrong causing the MP to stop all audio.
I do know someone who returned his due to an incompatibility with a Samsung Ultra Wide display that neither Samsung nor Apple would take responsibilty for. He went past the 14 day window, but because he'd been on it from the beginning he got a full refund.
I do know someone who returned his due to an incompatibility with a Samsung Ultra Wide display that neither Samsung nor Apple would take responsibilty for. He went past the 14 day window, but because he'd been on it from the beginning he got a full refund.
Yep, their return policy has no exclusions for custom configs: https://www.apple.com/shop/help/returns_refund
Slightly off topic, I think I may have that display and the problem is with drivers. I have it running ok with my MP and some custom resolution software.
I don't understand all of the Catalina hate. Is there some crucial software you use that's still not updated to 64-bit? I had only one application not work with Catalina, and it was a total piece of crap app that I no longer used anyway, so I didn't care. Everything else has been fine for me, and I and/or my employees have been using it since the release date on a number of machines--a 2017 27" iMac, a 2019 21.5" iMac, a 2016 15" MBP, a 2018 MBP, my 16" MBP and now my MP 7,1. Very smooth sailing for all us.
With all due respect: there is nothing more annoying & unhelpful than the casual chime-in that 'it works here ...'. Seems to be a plague on blogs.
Clearly, installs can vary greatly depending on specific use assumptions & one should always try to present a little empathy for those who may be having serious issues and are understandably upset (& with such a high purchase cost for a self-proclaimed 'pro' computer').
eg, if I were using Apple-only apps, perhaps could be smoother sailing, who knows. But I very much agree with those who unhappy with Catalina. Its a complete dog. Case use here (just for example):
exact same software and usage (expect for Logic & FCPX of course) on Window 10 Pro on a Dell T7910 workstation; exact same installs for a Mac Pro 5,1 running Mojave.
- DAWs: Nuendo, Wavelab, Studio One, Ableton Live, Logic Pro. + many audio plugins and virtual instruments including Universal Audio, Sound Toys, Steinberg Absolute 4, Native Instruments Komplete Ultimate, etc.
- NLEs: DaVinci Resolve Studio 16, FinalCutPro, ditto re. plugins including industry standards Neat Video OFX, Neat Video FCPX, FilmConvert Pro, etc.
- Productivity apps including MS Office, Acrobat Pro, Chronosync, Carbon Copy Cloner, Handbreak, etc.
- Driver & CPs for RME UFX+, Decklink MiniMonitor 4k, SoftRAID, etc.
Without picking though all of that, there have also been enormous issues with security more broadly. That includes (of course) disabling security and allowing external boot from the BIOS ... excuse me, ahem, UEFI. abeit needing special command and another wired keyboard .. (give me F2 to the BIOS anyday).
Past that, then there are many install issues that require Security & Privacy CP intervention. And that is inconsistent, sometimes clear, sometimes poor OS handling of multiple, confusing screens; sometimes nothing at all to warn. Eg, Logic Pro would not run some (expensive) AU plugins; turns out one had to manually dig around Security & Privacy, then the Authorization [sic] tab to allow ... a week goes by ...
The silly 'notarization' behaviour where the installer will not run (no explanation), but then you right-click, & you choose 'don't open' or 'open' ... go figure ... who in Apple thought that was useful?
Speaking of installs, many apps had to be dumped or at least required expensive update costs (this is not a 32 bit issue). Needless to say, these apps run perfectly on latest Windows & Mojave.
File permissions, what a drag. On and on and on. Suffice it to say, when I migrated across hundreds of project files to a new RAID 4 volume on the MP7,1, some apps like Nuendo would not load saying 'read only' or later not be able to save, again citing 'read only'. This is despite all dirs being set as admin RW & user RW ... the only eventual fix was to set all dirs to Everyone RW (security anyone?) ... another week goes by. Ditto numerous file permissions problems with Carbon Copy Cloner, particularly in booting from another volume & attempting to restore.
Yes, I fully agree with the Catlina complaints, is dreadful, and all in the name of placebo 'security' which is meant to reassure by all those bazillions of password requests and 'are you sure' prompts ... please ... this is 'pro'?. Mostly just very annoying & time consuming. From what I've experienced - and has been the case in many earlier, difficult MacOS rollouts - the silver lining will be firmware and OS software updates over (say) this next quarter in particular, and then we 'should' be more fully leverage our investment in the MP7,1.
It is a shame to hear of these problems for sure. It's also a shame that Mojave cannot be installed on the MP7,1 that possible in your case would solve many of your issues with Catalina. I have been told by film makers, video editors and others that Catalina is to be avoided at this time.
Catalina is quite new (was it release back on Oct 7th 2019); barely 4 months so far. It had some major changes like inhibiting 32-bit applications, splitting up iTunes into 3 pieces, Sidecar, Security, Data protections, splitting the OS off into a read-only APFS Volume, etc -> https://www.apple.com/macos/catalina/features/. The 3rd Party App vendors are still in the process of catching up with these changes.
It's a shame one cannot return to Mojave on the MP7,1 via a snapshot one may have at hand from a Mojave system..... Ah well.... we shall be resigned to muddle through until things settle down.
There's a steep learning curve with Catalina - it has changes and quirks not found in earlier iterations. It took me two weeks to discover those nuisances when connecting and installing hardware and apps used by my company. However, at this time, all our previous files, apps, hardware, etc. have been successfully incorporated into the 7.1 and Catalina runs with no hiccups. Was stressful at times for sure!
Look, I didn't just say "it's fine here," I noted the number of systems of varying age I am running it on and asked what was being used that is causing such frustration.
This won't be popular to hear, but the bulk of the problems you are listing sound like they are all related to third party software, and not necessarily an Apple or "Catalina" problem. Speaking as in IT professional that has significant experience in information security, what Apple is forcing with Catalina is all smart and ideal. I rarely see the security prompts after the first time when installing or granting an application specific permissions; quite frankly I love that as I want to *know* what an application is trying to do on my machine rather than find out later the hard way.
I can see the dilemma if you were eager to get the new Mac Pro and therefore stuck going with Catalina. But problems with 3rd party software does not necessarily mean that Catalina is the problem, especially if Catalina is behaving as designed and the problem is compatibility because the 3rd party software needs to be updated. It's not like Apple surprised people with the release--there were years of advance warning to move applications to 64 bits. There was lots of time for vendors to use beta builds of Catalina for testing their software and updating it accordingly. Apps that require full file permissions to work are the security problem and should be updated--Catalina restricting their access is not the *real* problem.
You can't compare how things are currently working on Win10 as that's very mature at this point--and with the vastly larger install base the software vendors all put most of their development resources there. Same with Mojave, at least because of the maturity and time involved. Whether 3rd parties have kept up or not is not necessarily Apple's problem. I took great care *before* I updated my systems to verify all of the software we use on a daily basis was compatible. I upgraded any software that needed to be upgraded.
You are in tough spot right now because you were essentially stuck with Catalina if you wanted to get a MP 7,1. It's still very early in the release cycle, and many vendors are just getting their updated versions of software released. You will suffer through some teething pains as a result, but putting all of the blame on Apple and not pushing the 3rd party vendors to update their software misplaces much of the blame, IMO.
This, along with the other explanations you've offered, sounds eerily familiar as if such an explanation was offered wrt another operating system.
Back in 08 when I returned the 17" MBP CTO (top spec) within the return window due to the screen warping into a slight smile, which facilitated in getting the 08 MacPro instead. The only issue was that I could not return a CTO Mac to the brick and mortar store, I had to setup the return via Apple over the phone to ship it back.
I suspect this is where the confusion comes from as far as what is returnable and not.
basically if you buy it online, you must return it the same way (shipped) you cant bring it to the store, and at least back then if you were buying online it was to get CTO as otherwise you'd just buy it in store.
I suspect this is where the confusion comes from as far as what is returnable and not.
basically if you buy it online, you must return it the same way (shipped) you cant bring it to the store, and at least back then if you were buying online it was to get CTO as otherwise you'd just buy it in store.
When my MP7,1 was delivered , the Apple Online Store Sales rep said only the Chicago and Boston Apple Stores had inventory for sale .
For professional market, only offering 4 months old premature OS is ********. You can try to defend Apple however you'd like, but this is a "true" professional machine, and they offer only one OS option where they've done substantial changes resulting in many compatibility issues?
How dare can you defend Apple on this? Mojave is proven os and Apple should offer a downgrade as an option.
How dare can you defend Apple on this? Mojave is proven os and Apple should offer a downgrade as an option.
When I purchased it, I anticipated that I would return my Mac Pro 7,1. But I decided to keep it.
I for one, would love to be able to install Mojave - or even Sierra for that matter - on the 7.1
Why don't you install a copy of oracle virtualbox on your MP7,1 and use an USB installer of the macOS of your choice ?