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New Mac Pro thread (merged)
- Thread starter Supermacguy
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I don't think we can fully judge this until we find out what the expansion options really are.
If you have to fork over $400 for a box and some messy cables just to be able to add an extra drive or two, then this is a half-baked idea -- indeed, a Mini Pro.
If Apple offers an array of relatively affordable TB expansion boxes -- a 2-slot PCIe and a 2-bay 3.5" at least -- that somehow include nice cable management, then this will work out pretty smoothly.
So far, Apple's just put out a $50 TB cable and left the rest to to chance. I don't think it's really worked out that well. If they are serious about external expansion, as this 6-TB port design implies, then they will need to do a lot more than that.
If you have to fork over $400 for a box and some messy cables just to be able to add an extra drive or two, then this is a half-baked idea -- indeed, a Mini Pro.
If Apple offers an array of relatively affordable TB expansion boxes -- a 2-slot PCIe and a 2-bay 3.5" at least -- that somehow include nice cable management, then this will work out pretty smoothly.
So far, Apple's just put out a $50 TB cable and left the rest to to chance. I don't think it's really worked out that well. If they are serious about external expansion, as this 6-TB port design implies, then they will need to do a lot more than that.
While wanting to be open to "radical" ideas - this new mac pro seems to be nothing more than the callous introduction of planned obsolesce for Apple's "pro" line. Or maybe form over function at best - if I really wanted to sweet talk my way into a better frame of mind.
I think it's difficult to find any positives in the outcome besides the most basic idea that they updated the mac pro.
At this point Apple making a product that professionals want would be true innovation. This is Final Cut Pro X all over again.
I think it's difficult to find any positives in the outcome besides the most basic idea that they updated the mac pro.
At this point Apple making a product that professionals want would be true innovation. This is Final Cut Pro X all over again.
ooooooh, a whole $3 out of over $430. Biiiiiiig drop. THAT'LL show em!!!
If you had five figures or more invested in AAPL, had seen it rocket to over 700, then back under 400 in less than six months, and understood how much Wall Street perception affects the value of the stock, as opposed to the reality of the "numbers," you'd be singing a different tune. Apple needed to knock one out of the park today, not with the Pro, but all of the other products. That did not happen.
Yeah , me too , but maybe for different reasons .
Zero innovation, yet small size; limited expandability, compatibility and upgrade options, but supposedly more powerful - noone got it completely right .
Well said.
Not sure about Apple saving money with propriety technology, though .
Unless they count on selling lots of propriety upgrades and replacement parts in the long run, and TB really taking off - a big IF - Apple would have saved a bundle by just updating the old MP with industry standard parts , maybe a new case, I think .
One thing is certain, the end user will pay dearly for propriety parts and switching to TB where necessary/possible ; that's one of the reasons they might well loose some/much of the original MP market .
As for the new (sub)market you mentioned, it all depends on pricing .
But how low can Apple go, or rather for how long do they want to go low, for a base model that has to be attractive for current iMac customers, who'd rather have a headless Mac, only with more oomph and sockets than a Mini ?
The announced specs for the new MP are ambitious; if the actual product gets anywhere near that power in base configuration, I don't know how Apple is going to make a profit in that dubious consumer/prosumer market.
The bulk buyers for high performance workstations are probably lost now, but those never worried about OSX anyways, and could have picked any system . But still, good money, and steady . Gone .
Other bulk buyers, they get iMacs anyways, or switch to Windows, if their system guy has any sense .
It's kind of like the Mac Mini I always wanted
If the price is right and I like the options, I'll bite.
Agreed
You can easily replace the ram, but that's it. But then again, maybe someone will figure out how to expand them in the future.
Tad higher? You'd need another whole RAM bank too. I dobut the additional card would be much shorter than the CPU logica board is now. Perhaps slightly shorter but the vertically mounted RAM DIMMs is driving that height. As long as need 4 more which are also mounted vertically it will be almost as tall.
The problem is going to be that at this point it is out of proportion. The base is too narrow for the height. It could be done but it will be prone to tip over. That whole "twist so slots in front" isn't going to work as well ( if it every did if attach enough limited length cables. )
a shareholders game..
I think this might be exactly what Apple is looking for. -> More customers on the medium end - opposed to fewer customer on the very high end.
Dont forget guys, its a shareholders game here. They want to make money. It just happens to be that they are somehow into computers.... coincidentally..
I think this might be exactly what Apple is looking for. -> More customers on the medium end - opposed to fewer customer on the very high end.
Dont forget guys, its a shareholders game here. They want to make money. It just happens to be that they are somehow into computers.... coincidentally..
I bet they are proprietary. Technically yes can remove and insert another, but going to have to wait to see how many vendors show up for the proprietary form factor of the board and whatever custom pin tweaks Apple did to the slot.
It looks like though that may be able to have a configuration with two GPU cards each with a PCI-e Express drive slot on the box, but the standard set up will only have that slot on the back of one GPU.
The standard form factor PCI-e Express cards are going to have higher capacities and better $/performance ( since a more competitive market.)
What's with all the talk about cables ?
A proper workstation has a lot of ports, so you can plug in lots of stuff .
All my MP's ports are used, 6 internal drives , yet even some of my cables have cables !
Cable management and world peace don't exist, but I can still use my MP with all my gear, without having to use an external device with a fan inside .
I don't see that happening with this gfx card setup not to mention price has not even been discussed so there's no reason to think this mac pro will be any less expensive than previous ones. Plus reading this thread so far it seems the medium end user here is more than disenchanted for their day-to-day needs and it's only the networked "we have servers" pros that don't care about keeping everything in one box.
Ignorance.
I am not terribly technical. I am a creative. I built a Hackintosh (more of a Hac Pro) very easily. I used NoFilmSchool's guide to choose parts and install software. Easy.
Steve Jobs - A secret fan of Halo on the xbox..
Well, didn't you know? Steve Jobs was a secret fan of Halo on the xbox..
Well, didn't you know? Steve Jobs was a secret fan of Halo on the xbox..
Way too much complaining.
They need to create a new hardware thread for the new Mac Pro and rename this one to the "Pre-2013 Mac Pro Users who like to Complain" since it will be dying out anyway. Kind of a hobby thread like restoring antique cars. The rest of the whiners can start a Boxx/Hackintosh thread.
They need to create a new hardware thread for the new Mac Pro and rename this one to the "Pre-2013 Mac Pro Users who like to Complain" since it will be dying out anyway. Kind of a hobby thread like restoring antique cars. The rest of the whiners can start a Boxx/Hackintosh thread.
5 figures? Try 6 in total value. I still have shares I bought at $12. I sold most of them when the price peaked at $700, but I still have a fair amount. I've also bought plenty in the usual dip the stock takes after every announcement. If you pay attention, the price NEVER goes up after a keynote. Investors sell on the news. I usually buy on the dip, then sell after the launch sales numbers are released after the stock gains 10-15%. I understand the stock just fine thanks.