Roundup: First-Look Impressions of the New Mac Pro

[pika2000]

Not really, i think most were hoping for something like the $1,799 (US) PowerMac G5. But it is clear apple doesn't want upgradable modular PCs in the hand of consumers, so they made it prohibitively expensive for everyone but a very selected few high end customers. Well played? Not really Pro/Prosumer market still has no option but AIOs or Notebooks with expiry date, no upgradeability and ridiculous price hikes for every little spec upgrade. You don't need ECC RAM and Xeon processors for Creative Suite or Logic its money thrown out the window.

In my opinion lots of pros / prosumer "influencers" who will not recommend/support macs for their family because they moved to much more affordable PCs, and so will their peers.
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exactly this. some will bite bullet, but most won't. they move to PCs, and over time their family will too.

Apple does make a Mac mini.
And many “influencers” seem to be contend with iPads and iPhones. Doubt that their friends and families will need Xeon processing power for their computing needs.

 

[Lennholm]

Obviously a vast improvement over the trashcan when it comes to practicality but I still think the old tower looks better. I would've preferred if they made a sleeker, modernized version of that design.

 

[pika2000]

If it's beyond your budget, don't buy it.

I don't resent Bugatti (or post in forums) because they priced their products way out of my price range.

Actually, you’re supposed to bash and doom Bugatti because they don’t make a $20k sedan like Kia. That’s the mentality of the “pros” here.

 

[MetalCores]

Yep. Entry level on this thing should have been at least $1000 less than a comparable iMac Pro. But they're not even matching the iMac Pro base config.

They have the iMac pro for that

 

[pika2000]

This is absolutely wrong. ECC Ram end Xeon Processors are only required in very specific environments.
Majority of professionals who need "pro workstations" do not need it, it is a waste of money. Same with NVME.2. Apple is just pricing out everyone of their modular PC offering to make sure they never get in the hand of consumers. They want them to buy their AIOs and Notebooks with build in planned obsolescence.

Please don’t misquote people. People can have a respectful discussion without putting false quotes,

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

For 5K you can get a base Mac Pro. When the LaserWriter was released it cost like 7K. The MacPro is an absolute bargain.

 

[cube]

Actually, you’re supposed to bash and doom Bugatti because they don’t make a $20k sedan like Kia. That’s the mentality of the “pros” here.

They would not buy a Kia. They would tune a muscle car.

 

[MetalCores]

So wait let me get this straight.

A $6000 workstation computer WITH NO HARD DRIVE OR OPTICAL BAYS?!?!

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FJEISIDHCHCHKA

And a max of 4tb SSD?

My 2009 Mac Pro has 24 TB of HDD and two BDRWs inside it right now. What the hell am
I supposed to do with all that? Spend ANOTHER $2000 for some ugly third-party expansion chassis? The whole point of getting my Mac Pro originally is that I HATE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES.

And after waiting YEARS for the replacement... THEY GIVE US THIS CRAP?!?!

I’m going to commit suicide now. Bye

 

[tallscot]

Not really, not for the people it's intended for.

Not for me. I edit independent films shot on RED and Arri, and do some corporate work with motion graphics videos and corporate videos with After Effects and Cinema 4D, Davinci Resolve.

I’ll trade in my 2013 Mac Pro for a Windows 10 PC and use CUDA with a GTX 2080 in Davinci Resolve. I’ll get Octane (not compatible with Radeon) to make Cinema 4D scream. I’d love a CUDA-accelerated Mac. I refuse to buy an all-in-one and this Mac Pro isn’t for me.
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For 5K you can get a base Mac Pro. When the LaserWriter was released it cost like 7K. The MacPro is an absolute bargain.

Compared to what?

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

some perspective for the people are complaining about the price

https://www.boxx.com/systems/workstations/s-class

Comparing the new Mac Pro to another absurdly expensive "box" computer doesn't justify the price of the Mac Pro.

Here's some perspective:

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/del...-edition/spd/xps-8930-se-desktop/xdvsetcr006s

And people that compare the cost of the new Mac Pro to some of the original Mac workstations claiming those were even more expensive? Remember, those expensive Mac's had ZERO competition. Computers weren't the modern day equivalent to a microwave or toaster like they are today.

Sure, it's a nice machine. But $11K for base computer and monitor? Mmmm...no.

 

[Thresher]

Not really, not for the people it's intended for.

Yeah, but it would be nice if they had a machine that catered to people who want a high end machine, but not an iMac. But Apple isn't really interested in the segment and hasn't built anything that was "semi-pro" since the last cheese grater Mac Pro.

 

[jlocker]

For 5K you can get a base Mac Pro. When the LaserWriter was released it cost like 7K. The MacPro is an absolute bargain.

Absolutely, with a 12 month or 24 month financing, the machine is a deal, looking at the unit i see lots of expansion with Thunderbolt, SSD storage, memory and it even looks like the Intel Xeon processor can be replace pretty easily and the PCI slots are great.

Wish it would have 802.11AX WIFI 6 from the start but i can always upgrade the WIFI chip in the unit or use a external USB antenna when the time comes.

The PCI bus is fast enough with version 3 and with apple extension to the card the graphics bus is feed without version 4, which will take a couple of years to even get cards that would need a bus interface that fast.

This is Apple PC platform of the future, I love this machine and how they designed it, new systems would be created off the same chassis like the old days. Apple keeps it value so well on systems, i am thinking about keeping this unit for 5 years, upgrading over the 5 years and then selling it for $3000 and upgrade to 2023 model with the upgraded technology for that year

 

[Thresher]

They have the iMac pro for that

Not everyone needs a monitor.

 

[virtualruffy]

This is the ugliest mac I've ever seen -and a Mac II CX was pretty boring looking. The double hole, or whatever that design is called, is awful. While calling the original Mac Pro a cheese grater was endearing, as it still looked beautiful, this is just FUGLY. And with that pricing only the most well off can afford it. Pricing is too high. There should have been lower price options.

 

[whooleytoo]

Looks nice (though the design might age quickly) great specs. It's obviously not aimed at me, though I wouldn't mind one.

I'd imagine the external grating will be tough to keep clean; presumably you'd need to remove the external casing and use compressed air to clean it out of the grille.

I'd love to know more about the MPX module. I was worried learning they went with a proprietary expansion format, but as I understand it now you can mix 'n' match MPX and normal PCI cards so no issue there.

So, next up, a low-mid modular mini-tower? Pretty please?

 

[Steve121178]

OK, so tell me what I should buy then, since I am up for a replacement of my machines. The Mac Pro is way too expensive, yet I need a multi-monitor solution with expandability and upgradability as well as decent performance? Exactly, Apple has nothing to offer there since years. The last computer falling into that category was the old cheese crater design before the urn. That is 6 years ago now. This is getting really ridiculous. Of course everybody wanted a real pro machine. But pro doesn't mean that everybody is doing high-end video editing who is a pro. I was hoping that they would offer a decently priced entry model starting at around 3k. Of course they didn't... If I have to configure the new Mac Pro to fit my business needs, I will probably end up between 10-15k, knowing Apple's pricing philosophy. A workstation at this price-point I can't justify in regards to my cost-structure. Clients just don't pay as much anymore as compared to 10 or 20 years ago. I am always pinching myself when people are stating that a machine like this would amortise themselves within 1 or 2 jobs. Even if that does exist, we are talking about a very, very small part of the market. So no Apple Hardware for me in the future anymore. After more than 30 years... Sometimes you just have to let go.

I've seen a lot of your posts today and each time I come to the same conclusion. Just move to Windows workstation class PC's. It will suit your budget and you will be a lot happier.

You sound extremely frustrated with the direction Apple is taking. As you said, sometimes you have to let go. Other times you don't even have to bother to look back...

 

[citysnaps]

Or to put it more correctly, some of the customers expect Apple to be just like another Lenovo/Acer and release some $500 beige boxes that they can use to play their torrented games.

This new Mac Pro answered the biggest demands of many pros, which is expandability and modularity with a lot of headroom than the constrained previous gen Mac Pro.

Spot on and pretty much sums it up. Apple is never going to engage in a race to the bottom with PC manufacturers.

Those whining the loudest likely do not have the need or the $$$$ for the new Mac Pro.

 

[Steve121178]

Obviously a vast improvement over the trashcan when it comes to practicality but I still think the old tower looks better. I would've preferred if they made a sleeker, modernized version of that design.

They did!

 

[citysnaps]

You want to talk sheer power? Regardless of price, you can get much more powerful workstations from Dell or HP, Apple only produced a case that looks better on one's desk.

And that's exactly what those complaining the loudest about the new Mac Pro should purchase. Whining and moaning doesn't solve problems. That only creates an illusion of having power; though it's just a wee bit that dissipates in 10 minutes.

 

[jlocker]

Spot on and pretty much sums it up. Apple is never going to engage in a race to the bottom with PC manufacturers.

Those whining the loudest likely do not have the need or the $$$$ for the new Mac Pro.

And if you look at the specs, with all the technology and the upgrade capability with the longevity it is a good value. The Mac Pro is a long haul semi truck working day in and day out. Not a over priced pickup truck that you drive to work just to show off to your friends ohh look at all those USB flashing colored lights, it makes my computer look cool!!!!!!

 

[citysnaps]

I'm guessing Apple only want to manufacture Macs at low levels these days and that's why this is designed for such an extreme high-end niche market. It's a shame because I'm sure lots of small design studios and even home users would prefer this kind of form factor over iMacs... just like the good old days.

Apple could completely dominate the PC market if they wanted to, but unfortunately there just isn't enough money in it for them.

And more importantly, Apple doesn't need to.

 

[Ishayu]

So much anger, it’s expensive, it’s Apple.

Better known as bitter disappointment.

 

[citysnaps]

And if you look at the specs, with all the technology and the upgrade capability with the longevity it is a good value. The Mac Pro is a long haul semi truck working day in and day out. Not a over priced pickup truck that you drive to work just to show off to you friends

That's an excellent analogy.


"Not a over priced pickup truck that you drive to work just to show off to you friends"

Which would likely have a modified muffler with go-fast 6" tail pipe tips, and sounding like a can of angry bees when the accelerator is floored.

 

[phocion]

I wonder if using NVidia cards is not possible at all or just not confirmed yet. Perhaps it will be possible in the near future. Otherwise they will be missing a great opportunity to bring back 3D pros who moved to PC because of the need to use CUDA enabled renderers.

Someone with access to the hardware will need to confirm this, but it looks like the PCIe slots can use a maximum of 75W, which would rule out adding a serious GPU. You can only get more power for a GPU through those MPX modules, which aren't compatible with any aftermarket card (NVIDIA or even AMD for that matter).

It seems like a total freeze-out of NVIDIA, in both hardware (no power) and software (no drivers).

 

[WWPD]

I like how it looks like a cheese grater with mini flux capacitors in it.