Future Mac Pro Predictions

[Wild-Bill]

those refurbs going on sale I think is a good sign.

if you really sit back and think about it, they pretty much have to release SOMETHING before september.

I mean, no serious updates for a year, people are gonna think they've abandoned the line

I was thinking the same thing......... until I saw the MR article just pop up about the rumor that a new iPod would also hit on August 7th. So, with rumored new iMacs, iLife 07, and now iPods, makes me think its less likely we'll see anything out of Apple on the Mac Pro front.

 

[Topper]

I was thinking the same thing......... until I saw the MR article just pop up about the rumor that a new iPod would also hit on August 7th. So, with rumored new iMacs, iLife 07, and now iPods, makes me think its less likely we'll see anything out of Apple on the Mac Pro front.

There are two reasons why I don't think there will be a new Mac Pro for 4 months:
1. Like you say, there are rumors about iPods, iLife, iMacs, ultraslim MacBook.
But there are no rumors circulating about a new Mac Pro coming.
2. How can you have a new Mac Pro when there is nothing new for the Mac Pro on the market?
Yes, you and I would like a more powerful video card but Apple is not bringing out a Mac Pro just for a video card.
The X1900 XT works for most people, it just doesn't work for us.

 

[slughead]

1. Like you say, there are rumors about iPods, iLife, iMacs, ultraslim MacBook.
But there are no rumors circulating about a new Mac Pro coming.

Speed bump news usually only comes out anywhere from two weeks to a few days before it actually happens. New enclosures like the brushed metal imac, new ipod, and slim macbook require more people to work on, so there's a higher chance of a leak.

All we're talking about here is a speedbump--a 15% speed bump (woodcrest -> clovertown) and some new video cards.

All it would take is some beancounter saying "yes, change from part number M4324324 to M3424583" and the people working in the Apple iDeathcamp in China get different parts to assemble mac pros with the next week.

Also, they HAVE to start including terabyte hard drives pretty soon, even if all they can get are hitachis.

 

[Topper]

Speed bump news usually only comes out anywhere from two weeks to a few days before it actually happens.

That's all we're talking about here--a 15% speed bump (woodcrest -> clovertown) and some new video cards.

An all quad-core "Clovertown" Mac Pro line?
I guess that would work but will Apple do it? Only time will tell.

The reason I still don't think it will happen is the "Harpertown" processor line will have the same prices as July 29th (22nd?) "Clovertown" line.

And I can't picture Apple bringing out a new "Harpertown" line of Mac Pros 4 months later.

If the new video card is either an ATI HD 2900 XT or an 8800 series card, then I hope you are right.

 

[Umbongo]

An all quad-core "Clovertown" Mac Pro line?
I guess that would work but will Apple do it? Only time will tell.

The reason I still don't think it will happen is the "Harpertown" processor line will have the same prices as July 29th (22nd?) "Clovertown" line.

And I can't picture Apple bringing out a new "Harpertown" line of Mac Pros 4 months later.

If the new video card is either an ATI HD 2900 XT or an 8800 series card, then I hope you are right.

We all know Apple aren't too fond of having revisions so close, but they are on Intel's game plan now and the Xeon price changes are so huge as far as Workstation offerings may go. It'll be interesting to see how they deal with the Mac Pro line over the next 3 seemingly big changes: Pricedrops, Harpertown/Stoakley, move to 1600MHz Penryn Xeons; all before what looks like H2 2008. Especially in comparisson to what other Workstation vendors do, as so far they have remained mostly competative, just with less options.

I think by the time Nehalem is shipping it'll be much easier to predict what Apple will be doing with the Mac Pros, and perhaps all current Intel Mac ranges.

 

[pianojoe]

I'm in the market for a Mac Pro, and, while the current model's specs seem fine, the machine hasn't been upgraded in a while—adding another top model is not an upgrade! ...so a revision might be just around the corner.

What happened to the ole "never buy Rev. A of a new product" policy?

 

[Umbongo]

I'm in the market for a Mac Pro, and, while the current model's specs seem fine, the machine hasn't been upgraded in a while—adding another top model is not an upgrade! ...so a revision might be just around the corner.

What happened to the ole "never buy Rev. A of a new product" policy?

The alternatives weren't a very good option, if even options at all.