Well, then they'll have to either deal with the existing hardware or not buy a Mac.
It's really the only way that Apple will ever change.
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Mac Pro the terrible
- Thread starter ericsthename
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Well, then they'll have to either deal with the existing hardware or not buy a Mac.
It's really the only way that Apple will ever change.
I just did a little reality check in the section for businesses on www.dell.de. The Dell Precision beats the Mac Pro and comes with a better specification at a lower price and longer warranty. As a matter of fact, the Dells -always- came with a longer warranty than the Macs, but that has always been ignored when people were comparing the prices.
Seeing that RAM and hard disk prices are in the dump, there's nothing left to argue why Apple still sells a 64-Bit workstation with less than 4 GB RAM and baby-sized hard disk space. And the graphics cards situation in the Apple market only has one simple message attached to it: "We're not in the graphics business. If you want to do CAD or something with similar needs, buy a PC."
It's just an opinion - this subject was being bantered about back in the G5 days, but then the supporters used to say "its because companies like ATi have to release mac versions of their cards, and the economies of scale cant compete"
basically, I'm simply expressing dissatisfaction with apple's highest end computer line. I would love to buy a powerhouse apple desktop, but will never be able to understand why they seem to insist on pinching where it doesn't make sense.
ps. then I say, if i could have a nickel for everyone who agrees, then I could afford to upgrade my mac pro
Where do they pinch? Obviously the GPU is a major issue in terms of the scope of updates avaialble - but the machine spec-configuration itself (quite apart from the compromises evident in the engineering of the machine) I'm not seeing a problem with.
Well, obviously.
There can be little criticism directed towards the Mac Pro in itself, because (when a new model is released, at least) it represents decent value for money. But this is a site for discussing all things Apple, and addressing the need for another model in their lineup (or a watered-down Mac Pro using desktop-class CPUs) seems to be well within the mandate of the forum.
So just replying "get a PC" comes across as, well, pretty arrogant. None of us work at Apple, so no need to get all defensive and dismissive on their behalf.
*slow smile*
Sure. No one on MacRumors works at Apple.
Yes, no one in the important departments posts here, but there are Apple employees on here.
Moronic comments are ruining this forum, but threads aren't started every week about it.
If you don't like it, don't buy it. My over priced mac pro has been a dream for the past 13 months. Extra £200 for 8GB RAM, not bad for something that will last me professionally for 4 years. £500 a year. Not bad in my book.
People are weird. Like it or not, the Mac Pro is still a state of the art dual processor workstation. Compare dual processors workstations from HP or Dell. The Mac pro still compares favorably.
My first apple computer was an iMac. I quickly learned that I needed more power and screen space. I just bought a Mac Pro.
I love OSX so much that I never thought of buying another workstation while configuring my Mac Pro.
If you think only in terms of hardware when buying a computer, then you should think of somewhere to post about this.
You are buying OSX when you buy a Mac, and I happily pay the $2800 for my 8-core with OSX!!!
I love OSX so much that I never thought of buying another workstation while configuring my Mac Pro.
If you think only in terms of hardware when buying a computer, then you should think of somewhere to post about this.
You are buying OSX when you buy a Mac, and I happily pay the $2800 for my 8-core with OSX!!!
I am so, so sorry. Were you forced into the purchase due to time/work constraints?
LOL, i didn't mean on a time scale.
I bought the Mac Pro Spring 2008 because I needed more power and wanted OSX.
No other option
LOL, i didn't mean on a time scale.
I bought the Mac Pro Spring 2008 because I needed more power and wanted OSX.
No other option
Wait, you bought it in spring 2008, or you just bought the current model?
No, he just bought the brand new Mac Pro Spring, which was just announced.
Apple seems to have gotten the year wrong, then.
exactly
I tried to spec these things as close as I could with my limited knowledge of server class desktops. This is what I got. While the dell comes with a crappy 20" monitor, tack on a 24" Apple monitor and you get:
Apple = $5497
Dell = $5720
I'm sure I misspecd somewhere, but still.
Oh, right, and that's after the "instant savings" of $544!
I tried to spec these things as close as I could with my limited knowledge of server class desktops. This is what I got. While the dell comes with a crappy 20" monitor, tack on a 24" Apple monitor and you get:
Apple = $5497
Dell = $5720
I'm sure I misspecd somewhere, but still.
Oh, right, and that's after the "instant savings" of $544!
Attachments
Monitor
Good grief!
No adapter option?
It's like rocket science. especially with Dells awful website. It took me an hour an a half to figure that crap out. It's nice to know I was close from the resident expert.
Good grief!
No adapter option?
It's like rocket science. especially with Dells awful website. It took me an hour an a half to figure that crap out. It's nice to know I was close from the resident expert.
That's the point: Buy a new computer to use the new display.
And seeing your screenshots now, I can say:
Change the OS on the Dell to be Vista Ultimate, as anything less is an inadequate comparison to Leopard and add AppleCare to the Mac Pro, since the Dell has a 3-year warranty.
Other than that, you're spot on.
I can't BELIEVE that you can give the Mac Pro more RAM directly from APPLE and have it STILL cost less.
crunching
Actually the price of applecare was included in that figure; I had navigated away from the MP configuration page, then navigated back before snapping the screenshot. Firefox cleared the list of options but not the actual price and I forgot to reselect the applecare option before I grabbed the shot. So anyway the Mac price stays the same, tack 50 bucks on the Dell.
Actually the price of applecare was included in that figure; I had navigated away from the MP configuration page, then navigated back before snapping the screenshot. Firefox cleared the list of options but not the actual price and I forgot to reselect the applecare option before I grabbed the shot. So anyway the Mac price stays the same, tack 50 bucks on the Dell.
I find it frustrating that Apple doesn't regularly upgrade the video card offerings inside the Mac Pro. I can understand them not wanting or being able to update the processors very often, but the video card market continuously evolves. How hard is it for them to pick out a video card, write Apple specific drivers for it, and then sell it as an option for current owners, and begin offering it as an option on the system. Right now, they should be offering ATI 4670/4830 as the base GPU, ATI 4850/4870 as the mid-level GPU, and offer the GTX285/295 as the top level GPU.
It's very frustrating when you're shopping for the best Mac money can buy, and the best you can get is one equipped with an 8800GT, which has long since been discontinued and no longer on sale at vendors like Newegg.
In addition, I can careless if Apple doesn't upgrade the CPUs in the Mac Pro for another 6 months, because right now, they are not much different than the newer ones.
Also, FB-DIMM memory prices have fallen though the floor. A refresh could've been made already. There is no reason why they can't just do a stop-gap update to tie them over for another 6 months.
Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors
4GB memory (800MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
ATI Radeon HD 4830 graphics with 512MB memory
640GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
16x double-layer SuperDrive
Not in the least bit a major overhaul, but would make it far more attractive than it is now.
* ATI Radeon HD 4830 512MB
* 2 x ATI Radeon HD 4830 512MB [Add $117.00]
* 3 x ATI Radeon HD 4830 512MB [Add $234.00]
* 4 x ATI Radeon HD 4830 512MB [Add $351.00]
* ATI Radeon HD 4870 1GB [Add $155.00]
* NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 4GB [Add $2,565.00]
****** OR *******
Two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors
4GB memory (800MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 1GB memory
640GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
16x double-layer SuperDrive
Not in the least bit a major overhaul, but would make it far more attractive than it is now.
* ATI Radeon HD 4670 1GB
* 2 x ATI Radeon HD 4670 1GB [Add $117.00]
* 3 x ATI Radeon HD 4670 1GB [Add $234.00]
* 4 x ATI Radeon HD 4670 1GB [Add $351.00]
* ATI Radeon HD 4850x2 2GB [Add $315.00]
* NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 4GB [Add $2,565.00]
Until the next Mac Pro is out, then this thread should be changed to, Yay!! The Gainstown Mac Pro the GREAT!!
Mac Pro - now with up to 64GB RAM, 4GB of Video Memory, and up to 8TB storage.
# 4GB (2x2GB)
# 8GB (4x2GB) [Add $350.00]
# 16GB (4x4GB) [Add $1050.00]
# 24GB (6x4GB) [Add $1,650.00]
# 32GB (8x4GB) [Add $2,250.00]
# 64GB (8x8GB) [Add $8,190.00]
By Apple just upgrading the components inside the Mac Pro, without making changes to the case, motherboard, and CPUs - they can make it into a beast with modern specs that outshine the competition.
All of the possible changes I listed are evolutionary, require minimal R&D/development, and are very easy to implement.
.
# 4GB (2x2GB)
# 8GB (4x2GB) [Add $350.00]
# 16GB (4x4GB) [Add $1050.00]
# 24GB (6x4GB) [Add $1,650.00]
# 32GB (8x4GB) [Add $2,250.00]
# 64GB (8x8GB) [Add $8,190.00]
By Apple just upgrading the components inside the Mac Pro, without making changes to the case, motherboard, and CPUs - they can make it into a beast with modern specs that outshine the competition.
All of the possible changes I listed are evolutionary, require minimal R&D/development, and are very easy to implement.
.
But there is no reason for Apple to do any of them from a business perspective. The only reason to update specificaitions is to sell more systems. Those changes aren't going to entice someone who wasn't interested or is waiting for processor updates.
I think a lot of people forget that the Mac Pro isn't really being sold on it's specifications and value for the components it contains vs. what you can get elsewhere. It is sold as a powerful tool to run OS X and applications or a workflow that demands such power and features. It does that job and it's the only thing that can do that job for a business.
Also I don't think anyone makes 8GB 800MHz DIMMS, just 667MHz.
Exactly what I think. It's a powerful machine that will handle whatever you throw at it, without sweating.