So going to buy a MP

[VirtualRain]

Logic is one app that can actually take advantage of multiple cores and it can have a dramatic impact (from what I've read - no first hand experience). This is one app where the 8 core x 2.26GHz makes sense.

Buy refurb to take the sting out of the price.

 

[alust2013]

Pretty certain the OSX86 community has developed the code to get it to work. Dunno if it carries over from Hacks to real MPs though.

Hacking a MP to run OSX... Ironic, eh? Would be nice if you could build your own Mac, mostly because I am sick of all this discussion about the MP being weak. I'll stick with my MB though

 

[Umbongo]

Pretty certain the OSX86 community has developed the code to get it to work. Dunno if it carries over from Hacks to real MPs though.

You can get it working on a Hackintosh sure, that is done by editing the OS. To get it to work on a Mac Pro you would need to update the logicboard.

 

[Tonytownsend]

In other words, Dell is selling the exact equivalent of a 2009 8 core Mac Pro TODAY, just like Apple is. At the same price. Sure, you can load the Dell Precision with dual 6-core Xeons, but you pay $4000 extra for them. Yep, Dell wants 4 grand for the fastest ones.

Why is everyone bitching then. I did not know that. Why is Mac Pro a bad deal then?

 

[Techhie]

Why is everyone bitching then. I did not know that. Why is Mac Pro a bad deal then?

Because Apple isn't using those more expensive chips on the SP Mac Pros, so they are taking in enormous profit margins. If you look at the historic chip to system prices, the 2009 models are a rip-off. That, and its been a while since an update (which used underpowered components to begin with, to maximize profit.)

 

[Tonytownsend]

Because Apple isn't using those more expensive chips on the SP Mac Pros, so they are taking in enormous profit margins. If you look at the historic chip to system prices, the 2009 models are a rip-off. That, and its been a while since an update (which used underpowered components to begin with, to maximize profit.)

Yeah but dell is charging the same just checked there site.
Also yeah they are making money. You think an Iphone doesnt cost 5 dollars to make? How is that not a rip off?

 

[deconstruct60]

Because Apple isn't using those more expensive chips on the SP Mac Pros, so they are taking in enormous profit margins. If you look at the historic chip to system prices, the 2009 models are a rip-off.

Only on the 3500 series. For the 5500 series (dual processor packages) it is about the same. In fact as going higher into range Apple isn't as high as some of the other larger vendors. Other larger vendors take lower margins on low end machines and then try to make it up with with higher margins on high end machines. Apple pretty much tries to make about the same margins across the board. No loss leaders or cross product line subsidies.

The margin on the single processor package ones is high, but what is unknown is whether the historic volume is still there or not. If it is dropping then the move to is make the lower end Mac Pros have the same margin amount as the higher priced brethren.

The closer to edge get with iMacs the more folks are jumping off the Mac Pro line up. The pricing certainly doesn't discourage that. Whether that makes it a "rip off" or not depends upon what different in utility place on iMac feature set versus low end Mac Pro feature set.


It is also the case that Intel hasn't released a full series of replacement for the 3500 range that covers the 3600 class parts. Similarly Intel hasn't dropped the prices on the old parts (that's why not surprising all the other vendors haven't dropped their system pricing).

That, and its been a while since an update (which used underpowered components to begin with, to maximize profit.)

The 3500/5500 and 3600/5600 parts have the same number of transistors respectively. Yet Intel charges a broad spectrum of prices for the parts. This layered squeeze for more profits goes deeper than just Apple.