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Isn't one of the paradoxes the partner is being portrayed as being on top of Apple product news vs. possibly not knowing the current position of the Mac Pro's product cycle? ... Emotional responses might not follow strict logic also.

It isn't paradoxical. She knew all about it and knew it might be returned for the new one when she bought it.
 
It isn't paradoxical. She knew all about it and knew it might be returned for the new one when she bought it.

Had she bought you an iPhone instead, it might have made your lives a little easier this holiday season.
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You came to the wrong forum, man. Most of the cats here don't have a girlfriend, they still live in mom's basement, and are more stimulated by computer hardware than a pair of boobs. Thus, as you can tell, many don't understand ettiquette when dealing with the girlfriend.

Keep it, enjoy it. Girlfriend or no girlfriend, you got a nice piece of machinery right there.

Ouch...that's pretty insulting coming from a newbie...
 
You came to the wrong forum, man. Most of the cats here don't have a girlfriend, they still live in mom's basement, and are more stimulated by computer hardware than a pair of boobs. Thus, as you can tell, many don't understand ettiquette when dealing with the girlfriend.

Keep it, enjoy it. Girlfriend or no girlfriend, you got a nice piece of machinery right there.

Ouch...that's pretty insulting coming from a newbie...

But what part of it was false?
 
Allright, here is the solution:

Act busy until MWSF. When she asks if you are going to open it, say you don't have the time or whatever. Then if a new mac pro is released at MWSF, it may use the same case. Return yours and buy the new one, don't tell her.

If you can't pull off not opening it, open it. If MWSF has a new one, return it, eat the stocking fee, then bring home the new one. May be able to even talk them out of the restock fee, as you are buying a new computer.

Granted this depends on the return policy at apple, but I thought I read they have an extended one for the holidays.

Thats just an idea, depends on your relationship.

Either way you got a kick ass computer for free, You can't go wrong.
 
Allright, here is the solution:

Act busy until MWSF. When she asks if you are going to open it, say you don't have the time or whatever. ...

...Thats just an idea, depends on your relationship.

Yet another post that doesn't have anything to do with the original question! The OP isn't worried about whether his girlfriend will be pissed if he returns the computer... he even says that she realizes he might need to return it. For the record, he's posting to decide if it's worth waiting to see if Apple releases a better/faster machine AND whether going with the 8 cores will be worth it for his computing needs. IE; will future software be written specifically for 8 or more cores... yada yada. Did I miss anything?

So, instead of actually answering his question, most of the posters have gone all "Dr. Phil" on him thinking the issue was more about not pissing his girlfriend off. Wow! Can you imagine having such a crappy relationship that you couldn't talk to your significant-other about trading your computer in for a better one that probably costs the same amount of money? Sheesh!

And for what it's worth... I said in my earlier post that he should return it and wait for Macworld SF. If they don't announce at Macworld, then he could always go back and buy the same one again. The only thing he is out is a few weeks of time not having access to the computer. Return the darn thing or there is a very strong possibility you will regret it!! 8 cores is always going to be better than 4. Case closed.
 
okay so if you wont do that plan be honest with your wife. No she wont hate you dont listen to the people here. If your wife truly loves you she will understand. Also, again sometimes it is good to do a white lie it is not dishonesty if you do it once in a while. If you tell your wife it has some problems and that you have the oportunity to send it back then why would she get mad? It is a little white lie, relax people it is not the end of their relationship. What I would do is this. I would take my gf out to dinner and treat her out and soften her out a bit. Then tell her you know you love the machine she bought you but the current macs dont support the heavy video editing that you do and that there is some problems with the computer. Tell her that if you could send it back. Also tell her that you feel guilty that she bought you something expensive. I think if you give her money back then that would be the right thing to do. Later on you can tell her nothing was wrong with it and you just felt guilty because you spend so much money. Girls love this! this is what makes a good relationship sometimes you need to spice it up a bit. I mean this is called a white lie parts of it are true:D
 
So, instead of actually answering his question, most of the posters have gone all "Dr. Phil" on him thinking the issue was more about not pissing his girlfriend off.

Reading these responses over, we were just thinking the same thing. :D

She is an actress, and the bulk of the video rendering would be digitizing her films and shows. Still the bulk of our time is not spent rendering video, or wishing that we could. I just really want to know if 8-cores is going to become much more useful for all sorts of stuff as time goes on, and therefore whether the 8-core will last us much longer than the 4-core.
 
Reading these responses over, we were just thinking the same thing. :D

She is an actress

Very niiiiice.

just really want to know if 8-cores is going to become much more useful for all sorts of stuff as time goes on, and therefore whether the 8-core will last us much longer than the 4-core.

This would be my guess. As processor speeds start to level off (at least until they can come up with a groundbreaking new processor that won't melt at high clock speeds), apps are going to be forced to become multi-threaded. I really think this is the direction things are going.

As a heavy FCP user, I'm still waiting for Apple to make FCP fully multithreaded, it'll happen eventually, it HAS to. Apple isn't selling 4 and 8 core machines for fun. Other apps will follow, but it'll be a while. Personally, I'd wait just to see what comes up, but honestly, I don't think the Mac Pro will get update for another month or so given my sources. But I'm always a little hesitant to buy or obtain Apple gear this close to a major event.

okay so if you wont do that plan be honest with your wife.
<snip>
Girls love this! this is what makes a good relationship sometimes you need to spice it up a bit. I mean this is called a white lie parts of it are true:D

Did you read a single thing in the original post???
 
Reading these responses over, we were just thinking the same thing. :D

She is an actress, and the bulk of the video rendering would be digitizing her films and shows. Still the bulk of our time is not spent rendering video, or wishing that we could. I just really want to know if 8-cores is going to become much more useful for all sorts of stuff as time goes on, and therefore whether the 8-core will last us much longer than the 4-core.

I responded to these questions before as others here have already. Read those yet? Any help??

NO ONE knows what and when Apple will release a *new* 8-core (You could always try to email Steve Jobs and ask him). And users don't know when certain applications will go multi-threaded. Do you think they will all suddenly be multi come January? Or maybe later in 2008? 2009? Now, how much more video work could you do on your new 4-core system than your current machine in that time? Also, remember that apps can become inefficient if you multi-thread them, so that is not the end-all for every program. And *again*, Macs have a high resale value, so you could sell it and get a lot of your investment back.

But if I were in your shoes right now, I would really look at rendering tests on existing 4-core vs. 8-core and see what the difference is for the apps you use (especially with multi-threaded apps.) I think you may better find answers to this by Googling them. Try here for instance: http://www.barefeats.com/octopro1.html
Is the cost vs. speed benefit worth it? That is something you (and your gf) will have to answer.

Also, if you search these forums, you'll find that these questions have been raised before:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/371443/
 
I responded to these questions before as others here have already. Read those yet? Any help??

NO ONE knows what and when Apple will release a *new* 8-core (You could always try to email Steve Jobs and ask him). And users don't know when certain applications will go multi-threaded. Do you think they will all suddenly be multi come January? Or maybe later in 2008? 2009? Now, how much more video work could you do on your new 4-core system than your current machine in that time? Also, remember that apps can become inefficient if you multi-thread them, so that is not the end-all for every program. And *again*, Macs have a high resale value, so you could sell it soon.

But if I were in your shoes right now, I would really look at rendering tests on existing 4-core vs. 8-core and see what the difference is for the apps you use (especially with multi-threaded apps.) I think you may better find answers to this by Googling them. Try here for instance: http://www.barefeats.com/octopro1.html
Is the cost vs. speed benefit worth it? That is something you (and your gf) will have to answer.

The thing is, if logic prevails, there will be no cost difference. We can expect at least equal performance when comparing the Harpertown 2.83 and the Clovertown 3.0. Meaning that for the price of the base machine today you can get a machine comparable to the top end today, if logic prevails in January.

We don't know what Apple will do. But I think we have a good idea. You can say "Well, where are the rumors?" I don't think we are really getting much about anything these days. Not even the ultra-portable that is guaranteed to come. Also, I don't think people really care about the Mac Pro. The MBP is a consumer product these days which is why it catches so much in the news. The Mac Pro is in Xserve land in terms of being cared about by most Apple users.

Regardless of what Apple does, an update is needed and expected. Apples unwillingness to update does not mean we should roll over and buy IMO.

OP, I say do whatever you feel is best. If it were me, I would return it and wait. People are throwing smoke by saying "We don't know anything," "Just keep it!!!" because we do know something. We know what exists on the market and we know how Apple positioned the Mac Pro when they released it. It is time for them to follow through. I vote with my money, and my money is staying in my pocket for now. Apple is no exception to this rule. Don't let them fool you.
 
First off, netdog is a veteran user on these forums who knows how to use the search function, 2) you missed the point of the thread, and C) That thread you linked to was STARTED BY THE PERSON WHO STARTED THIS THREAD!!!

:cool::rolleyes:

I know.
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Seems no one has the crystal ball regarding multi-threading, now do we? The answers here aren't much further along than the thread from a couple months ago. That was my point. Sorry to offend you. Do you have the answers, veteran? Please tell us what you know.
 
If you do anything other than open this and use it for 4 years, your wife should divorce you.
 
If you do anything other than open this and use it for 4 years, your wife should divorce you.

Well, there is a lot to be said for swapping it for a Harpertown 2.83 (probably with more base RAM and a bigger stock drive) for the same price thereby getting equal performance to the current 3.0 Octocore top of the line today. She sees the sense in that. It's me who is being the sentimental one.
 
I know.
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Seems no one has the crystal ball regarding multi-threading, now do we? The answers here aren't much further along than the thread from a couple months ago. Do you have the answers, veteran?

We have the answers. Eight-core offers better performance and will continue to do so as the right software is optimized for it. The cost difference between the two(three), doesn't exist anymore.

Harpertown 2.66Ghz: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117145

Clovertown 2.66Ghz:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117110

Woodcrest 2.66Ghz:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117110

So what is the hold up? Sure the apps may not be optimized, but they weren't really optimized when the Mac Pro was released either. I didn't see people complaining then. There is no issue. The question is does he keep the old Mac Pro or wait for a new one.

If you do anything other than open this and use it for 4 years, your wife should divorce you.

That is ridiculous. She isn't even his wife. Read.
 
I know.
wink.gif

Seems no one has the crystal ball regarding multi-threading, now do we? The answers here aren't much further along than the thread from a couple months ago. That was my point. Sorry to offend you. Do you have the answers, veteran? Please tell us what you know.

Mac Pro will get a silent update (i.e. NOT at Macworld, not at the keynote anyway, probably a week or two, maybe a month after). You'll see Harpertown-based processors up to 3.2 Ghz in an Octo config on the high-end while low and mid remain quad core configuration. You'll also see nVidia 8800-based graphics on the high end (Quadro at the ridiculous high end) with 8600 or ATI equivalent on the low. Standard 1GB RAM in the standard config with a cap of 32GB, and a 320GB HDD standard with options for 500, 750, and 1000GB drive upgrades. Same base price point, same complaining on this very forum after introduction, no HD-DVD or Blu-Ray option.
 
Mac Pro will get a silent update (i.e. NOT at Macworld, not at the keynote anyway, probably a week or two, maybe a month after).

I do hope so. I'm ready to replace my system, but luckily am not in a hurry to make a decision on it.

I think if netdog is so concerned about getting the most power/cores for his buck, then he should send back the box and put the dilemma to rest. If something new still doesn't come out after MacWorld, then he can still go pick up a current 8-core then.

If he doesn't have any pressing video projects, or client projects, then I don't see the issue in waiting. From a business standpoint, if I could get my client work done faster by getting a currently available system on some big project next month, then I wouldn't hesitate to get one, even if for a few months. They do this a lot with Macs used for courses--demo systems. They use it for a few days, then sell it for a couple hundred bucks off. They pay for themselves many times over, and the resale value is high, which is another reason why I love Macs.
 
Mac Pro will get a silent update (i.e. NOT at Macworld, not at the keynote anyway, probably a week or two, maybe a month after). You'll see Harpertown-based processors up to 3.2 Ghz in an Octo config on the high-end while low and mid remain quad core configuration. You'll also see nVidia 8800-based graphics on the high end (Quadro at the ridiculous high end) with 8600 or ATI equivalent on the low. Standard 1GB RAM in the standard config with a cap of 32GB, and a 320GB HDD standard with options for 500, 750, and 1000GB drive upgrades. Same base price point, same complaining on this very forum after introduction, no HD-DVD or Blu-Ray option.

I disagree, we will see it at Macworld.
 
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