Gurman: Mac Studio Isn't One-Off Stopgap Product, New Models Planned

[RalfTheDog]

Apple computers that won't run Intel emulations are practically worthless. You can't run windows Apps, can't run linux, so basically you just set and look at it. Oh, well I guess there is mail, twitter, and browsing. You can get all of that on a Raspberry Pi. Of course the Pi does not have the advertising budget that Apple has.

You can run Linux on an M series Mac. You don't get the full performance you would from MacOS, but then again, MacOS is Unix. It's one of the best flavors on the market. MacOS is fantastic for science applications. It's great for business. Windows is for games and for low cost terminals for network applications.

I won't be upgrading until I see what Apple's AI plans are. If they don't have one I may just build a Linux box with a Nvidia GPU. Is Apple becoming a legacy computer company?

I doubt that M series chips will be running CUDA. That said, if you write to Apple Metal, you get fantastic performance. It's best for GPU applications that require a lot of memory.

***************

Apple will keep developing the Studio as a replacement for the next Mac Pro they have not cancelled yet. I suspect it will be an every other year thing. Even years get the Studio. Odd years get a reintroduction of the Mac Pro in a new fantastic form factor. I think they might have larger screen iMacs in the mix somewhere.

 

[AppleBuddy1]

I'm waiting for M3 Mac Studio and new 32 inch monitor with the higher refresh rate.
I catch some rumors that Apple working on the new model of XDR Display Pro.
So, my pocket is ready to spend money for this stuff.

 

[star-affinity]

It's not loud, it's annoying. It is whisper quiet, but the high pitch sound from it is unbearable. It's like a very very VERY VERY quiet whistle. Barely....just barely noticeable. But it is non stop and so darn annoying. Like I keep saying, I would like a louder Mac without the whine.

Sounds like you’re describing my left ear tinnitus. No, actully mine is not that quiet. 😣

Sounds you don't want to hear truly are annoying!

Is this noise happening on all Mac Studios or is it some models and/or particular units?

 

[Serqetry]

God I wish everyone would stop using the term "stop-gap" it's so ridiculous. I seriously doubt Apple has ever made a product that they considered a "stop-gap".

I like how Gurman was the one who started the idiotic rumor that the Mac Studio was going to be discontinued because the Mac Pro would be too similar, and now he comes up with a completely contradictory story (probably because he heard something real about a Studio update coming) so he can keep his "perfect" track record. In the world of Apple rumormongering, a wrong plus a right always equals a right.

 

[RalfTheDog]

God I wish everyone would stop using the term "stop-gap" it's so ridiculous. I seriously doubt Apple has ever made a product that they considered a "stop-gap".

I like how Gurman was the one who started the idiotic rumor that the Mac Studio was going to be discontinued because the Mac Pro would be too similar, and now he comes up with a completely contradictory story (probably because he heard something real about a Studio update coming) so he can keep his "perfect" track record. In the world of Apple rumormongering, a wrong plus a right always equals a right.

We only use the phrase, "Stop gap" because, no one has come up with a better description. It's just a filler, a stop ga.... No, I won't say it.

 

[Rjbooth]

God I wish everyone would stop using the term "stop-gap" it's so ridiculous. I seriously doubt Apple has ever made a product that they considered a "stop-gap".

I like how Gurman was the one who started the idiotic rumor that the Mac Studio was going to be discontinued because the Mac Pro would be too similar, and now he comes up with a completely contradictory story (probably because he heard something real about a Studio update coming) so he can keep his "perfect" track record. In the world of Apple rumormongering, a wrong plus a right always equals a right.

I would say the PowerBook 190 was a stop-gap.

 

[goji99]

I really hope it’s not just a one-off. I’m in the position where a Mac Pro is absolute overkill but a Mac mini isn’t exactly enough for what I do (music production and light graphics work). An updated Mac Studio would be a dream..

 

[paradox00]

Apple doesn't sell Mac mini that way. They sell it as starting at $599. Consumers don't buy it that way either. That's why Apple has pre-configured systems. Those configs are also sold at many retailers.

It's grossly inaccurate to say the Mac mini "tops out" at $1299. If a gap only exists in pre-configured systems, it's something Apple can easily change by just adding another pre-configured option. They wouldn't need a different product (like the Studio) to fill that gap.

The most comparable Mac mini to the base Mac Pro configuration is a $1999 one (best available CPU and matching ram/ssd). The Studio can exist because the gap between $1999 and $5999 is massive. If the prices were closer, Apple could just pre-configure a $1999 Mac mini and call it a day.

 

[enb141]

We only use the phrase, "Stop gap" because, no one has come up with a better description. It's just a filler, a stop ga.... No, I won't say it.

What the hell means Stop gap?

 

[Realityck]

What the hell means Stop gap?

Defined as something that serves as a temporary expedient : MAKESHIFT
Actually another term that is similar used is "place holder".
Defined as a person or thing that occupies the position or place of another person or thing
Both were referencing the MIA Mac Pro that Apple hasn't announced yet.

 

[CWallace]

What the hell means Stop gap?

In this case, something released to hold over a segment of the Mac user base until a more powerful system can be made ready and released.

The 2017 iMac Pro could be considered a "stop gap" when it was announced because it was more powerful than the 2013 Mac Pro, but Apple stated that they would release a Mac Pro in the "near" future (two years later) that would be much more powerful and expandable than the iMac Pro.

Some people believed the Mac Studio served the same purpose as the iMac Pro - something to address needs that require more computing and/or graphics power than any other Mac on the market until a more powerful Mac Pro could be released at a later date.

 

[dawnrazor]

I’m in the market for a new high end Mac… The Mac Studio M1 Ultra would do it… but I want to know what the Silicon Mac Pro will offer… but it’ll probably stretch my budget too much… so I should probably buy a Mac Studio today… but with WWDC being so close I think I’ll wait until the MP is released, but at that stage we could be looking at a M3 Mac Studio in March 2024…

What I really should ave done was buy the Mac Studio when it came out… but back then it felt like the Mac Pro was just around the corner,,, oh the naivety…

So we weight and see and I keep the iMac Pro going… and it’s still doing a decent job to be fair to it… M3 Mac Studio would be nicer though…

 

[Serqetry]

I’m in the market for a new high end Mac… The Mac Studio M1 Ultra would do it… but I want to know what the Silicon Mac Pro will offer… but it’ll probably stretch my budget too much… so I should probably buy a Mac Studio today… but with WWDC being so close I think I’ll wait until the MP is released, but at that stage we could be looking at a M3 Mac Studio in March 2024…

What I really should ave done was buy the Mac Studio when it came out… but back then it felt like the Mac Pro was just around the corner,,, oh the naivety…

So we weight and see and I keep the iMac Pro going… and it’s still doing a decent job to be fair to it… M3 Mac Studio would be nicer though…

I think there might be an M2 Mac Studio announced at WWDC but no Mac Pro yet.

 

[zach-coleman]

It never really made sense to me for this to be a one-off. It has an obvious niche and also allows the Mac Pro to be the ultimate (and highly expensive) pro product. Not to mention the amount of wasted engineering work on designing an entire body and circuit board design just to never recycle most of it by popping a new chip in it.

I don’t really need the processing power, but to me the Studio is also far more appealing than a huge tower. It’s kind of like a desirable trash can Mac Pro. Or, I guess a sellable G4 Cube.

 

[dawnrazor]

God I wish everyone would stop using the term "stop-gap" it's so ridiculous. I seriously doubt Apple has ever made a product that they considered a "stop-gap".

I like how Gurman was the one who started the idiotic rumor that the Mac Studio was going to be discontinued because the Mac Pro would be too similar, and now he comes up with a completely contradictory story (probably because he heard something real about a Studio update coming) so he can keep his "perfect" track record. In the world of Apple rumormongering, a wrong plus a right always equals a right.

Rewatch the 2017 WWDC keynote where there released the iMac Pro and studiously avoided any mention of a revised Mac Pro despite the trash can design being 5 years old and massively flawed… we had to wait another 2 years before we got a new Mac Pro and the iMac Pro was discontinued shortly afterwards… because it had filled the gap… I agree they haven’t done it often but the iMac Pro was a stop-gap machine, Apple knew it was losing pro users to PCs and had to offer something that could retain that portion of the market while they redesigned the Mac Pro… Agree thought that calling the Mac Studio a stop gap machine is ridiculous… unless sales tank I can’t see it going anywhere…

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I doubt Apple would ever call a product a "stop gap", but yeah, the iMac Pro seems like the most obvious example of one, designed to tide Mac Pro users over until the new Mac Pro was released. At this point then only the Mac Pro would invite "stop gap" devices since the Mac Pro is an expensive high-end machine with infrequent updates (and also seems to be difficult to get right).

 

[Ethosik]

Sounds like you’re describing my left ear tinnitus. No, actully mine is not that quiet. 😣

Sounds you don't want to hear truly are annoying!

Is this noise happening on all Mac Studios or is it some models and/or particular units?

I went through exchanging mine 5 times until I finally just stopped and dealt with it.

 

[Ethosik]

God I wish everyone would stop using the term "stop-gap" it's so ridiculous. I seriously doubt Apple has ever made a product that they considered a "stop-gap".

I like how Gurman was the one who started the idiotic rumor that the Mac Studio was going to be discontinued because the Mac Pro would be too similar, and now he comes up with a completely contradictory story (probably because he heard something real about a Studio update coming) so he can keep his "perfect" track record. In the world of Apple rumormongering, a wrong plus a right always equals a right.

Actually a perfect example of this is the 2017 iMac Pro. In fact they stated it was only temporary until the Mac Pro arrives. Not in those exact words but a "in the mean time, here is this" product.

 

[sunny5]

Then why did you make Mac Studio if Mac Pro with M2 Ultra is similar to Mac Studio? Apple is making another mistake.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I wrote it before and I'll write it again: One of the greatest benefints regarding Apple's own CPUs was that they will no longer have to rely on other party to provide them with upgrades and there will be shorter upgrade cycles between devices. Yet, M2 chips have been out for some time, 12-core M2 Pro is beating 10-core M1 Max in CPU related tasks and yet, no upgrade for Mac Studio.

I think its intentional, they want each product category to have some time in the sun. Also, they have the metrics to know if its in demand or not. I think at this point, whoever needed a mid range Mac, already bought a Studio and they are not in any rush to upgrade even if a new one hits the market. We can see this with even the new M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro's, not many are rushing to upgrade and even some are choosing the M1 Pro/Max because of the significant discounts you can get brand new.

For the Apple, the Mac Pro is likely a symbolic product which is why they have not really rushed to bring it to market. They know the demand is not really there for except for some niche customers who need it. But its about volume, hence why even the iMac is not been updated. Factor in all the issues in the world today, supply chain, China, downturn in the economy. That many studios on a budget are gonna be rushing to buy hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of workstation. Its kinda about doing more with less.

The media landscape has also changed, social media is where the push is. You need a Mac Pro to edit TikTok videos, when the $500 phone in your pocket does that well. The other elephant in the room, CGI production houses have moved their workflows to Linux and Windows using Dell Precision workstations. Apple has suffered in this market over the past 20 years, part of it their own doing.

 

[enb141]

I think its intentional, they want each product category to have some time in the sun. Also, they have the metrics to know if its in demand or not. I think at this point, whoever needed a mid range Mac, already bought a Studio and they are not in any rush to upgrade even if a new one hits the market. We can see this with even the new M2 Pro/Max MacBook Pro's, not many are rushing to upgrade and even some are choosing the M1 Pro/Max because of the significant discounts you can get brand new.

For the Apple, the Mac Pro is likely a symbolic product which is why they have not really rushed to bring it to market. They know the demand is not really there for except for some niche customers who need it. But its about volume, hence why even the iMac is not been updated. Factor in all the issues in the world today, supply chain, China, downturn in the economy. That many studios on a budget are gonna be rushing to buy hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of workstation. Its kinda about doing more with less.

The media landscape has also changed, social media is where the push is. You need a Mac Pro to edit TikTok videos, when the $500 phone in your pocket does that well. The other elephant in the room, CGI production houses have moved their workflows to Linux and Windows using Dell Precision workstations. Apple has suffered in this market over the past 20 years, part of it their own doing.

Apple killed themselves when they released the Trash Can, and also the mac server didn't do well because of pricing and specs.

 

[jimbobb24]

I wrote it before and I'll write it again: One of the greatest benefints regarding Apple's own CPUs was that they will no longer have to rely on other party to provide them with upgrades and there will be shorter upgrade cycles between devices. Yet, M2 chips have been out for some time, 12-core M2 Pro is beating 10-core M1 Max in CPU related tasks and yet, no upgrade for Mac Studio.

Yes and now no Intel to blame. It’s turns out apple just has its own pace. I would love to see everything on a somewhat consistent schedule so I know what to buy with all the overlapping profesor speeds.

 

[mazz0]

I don’t really see the point in the Mac Sudio as a distinct product line, stuck between the Mini and the Pro. How would you describe it to someone in a way that clearly differentiates it?

 

[colinsky]

I'm ready to buy as soon as Apple releases the new Mac Interim.

 

[citysnaps]

I thought it was a stopgap, much like the iMac Pro. Once the new Mac Pro is released I don't see Apple doing anything else with the Mac Studio.

The upcoming Mac Pro will have PCIe slots, and possibly have a rack-mount version, like current Intel-based Mac Pro.

The Mac Studio is for people who don't need slots, and don't want to pay a Mac Pro price.