Flextronics Hiring 1,700 Workers in Austin for 'Next Generation Desktop Computer', Likely New Mac Pro

[AidenShaw]

Apparently performance is off the charts...

"Off the charts" in the sense that it's so far below the dual socket workstations with the same chip that it's invisible?

Whatever Apple does, HP/Dell/Lenovo/SuperMicro... can double or triple it with dual CPU sockets and quad GPUs.

That's what an expandable box gives you.

I could be talked into a Mac Pro based on price and specs. But it has to be less then $3K including monitor and SSD!

Perhaps with a 17" monitor and a 32 GB SSD, quad core 16 GiB and single GPU with 512 MiB VRAM.

 

[Mac Kiwi]

What are you talking about? RAM, CPU, GPU and SSD Boot Disk are all in the enclosure.

Ya I know but, what about when you want to add a ton of ram.

 

[AidenShaw]

Ya I know but, what about when you want to add a ton of ram.

You can't. Only 4 DIMM slots.

If you need a "ton" of RAM, go to HP/Dell/Lenovo -- they have workstations with 16 DIMM slots.

They'll also offer you a system with 24 cores instead of only 12.

 

[ElectronGuru]

1700 employees for Mac pro only, I don't think so.

One interesting thing in the article was that Flextronics is trying to get their Austin plant declared a foreign trade zone. That would allow them to build units and not pay customs on parts unless the device is sold in the US.

Exactly, making the US the center of production for many (or even all) Mac Pro's:

The document, part of a push by the computer and electronics manufacturer to have its Central Texas facilities designated as a foreign trade zone, suggests the company already created 879 jobs for the project and could add another 815 positions if it hits peak targets.

Other possible uses of so many people include chassis and other metal parts production and doing the Mac mini at the same time. It all sounds good to me!