What ports will be removed from next MP?

[toke lahti]

Since apple is now in fashion to reduce the amount of ports in laptops, what do you think will happen to next MP model?
Which ports do we loose and which will survive?
Will there also be proprietary graphics cards with miniDP?

 

[brand]

The Mac Pro is not a laptop so there is no need to remove ports because of space issues. The Mac Pro is also expandable unlike the MacBook. You can add a PCIe card for whatever ports you want so it doesn't really matter.

 

[toke lahti]

The Mac Pro is not a laptop so there is no need to remove ports because of space issues.

REmoving ports from new laptops is not space issue. They have same diameter than before... and lots of free space now.

 

[chaos86]

They will remove both ethernets, all the USB, both firewire, bluetooth, DVI, and all the audio ports except the optical audio in.

Basically you have to control it though the optical audio in by shining a laser pointer in there and tapping the little on button repeatedly, like morse code. And you have to guess what would be on the screen. You can also listen to the fans for some feedback.

 

[inigel]

Although I haven't seen the new MacBook Pro, it appears to be wider and longer then the previous model.

http://images.appleinsider.com/mb15alumunbox-081016-9.jpg

 

[strikeinsilence]

Although I haven't seen the new MacBook Pro, it appears to be wider and longer then the previous model.

http://images.appleinsider.com/mb15alumunbox-081016-9.jpg

What does that have to do with anything? I'll be a little bummed if they take DVI off the MP, but oh well.

 

[nanofrog]

What does that have to do with anything? I'll be a little bummed if they take DVI off the MP, but oh well.

That would depend on the graphics card used.

DisplayPort is already being adopted, but will be awhile before it completely takes over DVI I should think. There aren't even that many monitors that support DisplayPort yet.

 

[dpaanlka]

The next Mac Pro will be nothing more than a thin sheet of metal mounted to your wall.

 

[strikeinsilence]

That would depend on the graphics card used.

DisplayPort is already being adopted, but will be awhile before it completely takes over DVI I should think. There aren't even that many monitors that support DisplayPort yet.

That's true, but we'll see. At the rate at which they update the MP, all graphics cards may be Displayport only by the time the next update is unleashed.

 

[nanofrog]

That's true, but we'll see. At the rate at which they update the MP, all graphics cards may be Displayport only by the time the next update is unleashed.

Things do move fast, but not by Jan '09.
Threads galore on this one.

 

[inigel]

What does that have to do with anything? I'll be a little bummed if they take DVI off the MP, but oh well.

See this:

REmoving ports from new laptops is not space issue. They have same diameter than before... and lots of free space now.

 

[strikeinsilence]

Things do move fast, but not by Jan '09.
Threads galore on this one.

I know, I know. I'm kidding. Right now I'm debating waiting till Jan. or buying used now.

inigel, thanks for clarifying. They didn't have to take DVI off, but by keeping all the ports on one side DVI was pretty much a goner.

 

[nanofrog]

Right now I'm debating waiting till Jan. or buying used now.

Same here. I waiting for the details on the next one to make up my mind as well.

 

[strikeinsilence]

Same here. I waiting for the details on the next one to make up my mind as well.

I feel like I could get some pretty sweet deals right now by buying used, saving a lot on RAM and HD's indirectly from people who have upgraded theirs. But of course there's always that voice in the back of your mind that says "wait for the latest and greatest!"

 

[nanofrog]

I feel like I could get some pretty sweet deals right now by buying used, saving a lot on RAM and HD's indirectly from people who have upgraded theirs. But of course there's always that voice in the back of your mind that says "wait for the latest and greatest!"

Used has always scared me. If I end up buying the current model, I'd look for a refurb first, then check resellers for close-outs if they're any to be had.

 

[strikeinsilence]

Used has always scared me. If I end up buying the current model, I'd look for a refurb first, then check resellers for close-outs if they're any to be had.

The thing is that you can usually find used MP's with 16 GB RAM and 2TB worth of HD's selling for almost the same price as the refurbs. It's a tough decision, because I'd be buying all that stuff if I got a refurb anyways. So I'd really be saving a bunch of money on used.

 

[nanofrog]

The thing is that you can usually find used MP's with 16 GB RAM and 2TB worth of HD's selling for almost the same price as the refurbs. It's a tough decision, because I'd be buying all that stuff if I got a refurb anyways. So I'd really be saving a bunch of money on used.

Good point. I might have to get over my trepidation, and go that route.
After the new Mac Pro specs are revealed, though.
Hurry up Jan.!

 

[strikeinsilence]

Good point. I might have to get over my trepidation, and go that route.
After the new Mac Pro specs are revealed, though.
Hurry up Jan.!

Seriously. I really wonder if it'll be a case update or just a speed bump. I guess we'll wait and see!

 

[nanofrog]

Seriously. I really wonder if it'll be a case update or just a speed bump. I guess we'll wait and see!

There are quite a few threads about the new Mac Pro.
Quite a bit is known on the basics, but the details are yet to appear.

It will be a significant speed bump, as it gets a new architecture. Nehalem based.

This thread should give you most of the answers, or at least a good starting point.
It's 4 pages of posts, so it may take awhile, but it would be worth it.

 

[Sehnsucht]

They will remove both ethernets, all the USB, both firewire, bluetooth, DVI, and all the audio ports except the optical audio in.

Basically you have to control it though the optical audio in by shining a laser pointer in there and tapping the little on button repeatedly, like morse code. And you have to guess what would be on the screen. You can also listen to the fans for some feedback.

R O T M F F L M M F A O!!! Priceless. Made my day

 

[nick9191]

There will probably be just one Firewire 400 on the front, and 2 Firewire 3200's on the back (since 3200 and 800 use same connector). Perhaps one 3200 on the front as well.

 

[nanofrog]

There will probably be just one Firewire 400 on the front, and 2 Firewire 3200's on the back (since 3200 and 800 use same connector). Perhaps one 3200 on the front as well.

No S3200 (formal name) in the new Mac Pro. The standard is proposed, but not yet ratified by IEEE.

The IEEE 1394 group says it will begin to ratify S3200 in January but should complete the process as soon as early February, clearing the route for shipping products later in the year.*

FW800 will have to do for now.
eSATA could be really useful though, and is currently available.

*Source.

 

[Fast Shadow]

1 FW800 on the front
1 10/100/1000 NIC
2 USB front
2 USB back

 

[cube]

The only port to be removed will be Power

 

[nanofrog]

1 FW800 on the front
1 10/100/1000 NIC
2 USB front
2 USB back

Make it 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 4 USB ports on the rear, and add 2 hot-swappable eSATA ports, and then we'll have something.

Yes, I want it all.

The only port to be removed will be Power

Well it certainly won't come with its own fusion reactor, so how do you propose to make it work?

A generator attached to a treadmill?