I don't understand everyone's disappointments with the new Mac Pros. First In my opinion people see lower clock speeds and think there getting less and don't understand that the processor is built different. See it as my 3.4 L Pontiac grand am isn't as fast/efficient/powerful as a 1.8 L lotus Elise. Sorry really bad analogy but it kind of makes sense. The newer CPUs that are being made "although they may run at the same or a lower clock rate as older CPUs, get more instructions completed per clock cycle". The new processors use less energy and get more done with less. Any way, my knowledge is very limited in this area but I do have an understanding that bigger clock speed isnt always better!
Second: I am not buying a computer based on its look/case, the cheese grater design is actually practical as it helps get more air where it is needed. I am buying it based on expandability to keep up with future products/demands with out buying a new machine every 2 years, as well as a ton of other reasons. SPEND the $5 on the FW connector and stop complaining about faster technology. I guess they should still use USB 1.1 because some of your old devices still use that!?
Third: The entry-level Quad is what every one has been asking for, and don't complain that the prices went up, I still have to hear it form my mom that bubble gum use to cost 2 cents. Its the nature of products in general. Plus the 8gbs of ram more than plenty that most pro-sumers need who buy the entry level pro. (by the way, I spoke to Apple and they said that you do "loose some by going from 6gb(tri-channel) to 8gb(dual-channel) for test purposes but you gain more in the end using 8gb for real use application."
Plus the new Quad core uses 8 virtual cores. imagine 8 actual cores as a wide open 8 lane freeway, 8 virtual cores is the same highway except with some traffic lights to help control the traffic, it may be a little slower when using all the lanes but all in all most users wont need to utilize all the lanes 100% of the time.
Fourth: I am buying my Mac Pro w/ this configurations:
One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
3GB (3x1GB) (I am upgrading through OWC to save $100)
640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s (I rather put the $90 apple upgrade cost to buying a second drive (1TB 7200 rmp) from new egg for $130)
ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB
One 18x SuperDrive (ONCE again saving $60 by adding second through OWC)
Sorry If i sound rude or ranting, but this really isn't a bad update and i think people just don't understand the update and are jumping on the band wagon. So for now take a look at apples benchmarks, and I think most people will be surprised when 3rd party benchmarks come out that this is a good update.
PS by the way i am no expert at all but have been doing some research. A very nice lady at apple researched my questions and got back to me with real answers about the new mac pro. (she wasn't from the apple store, most those guys are high school kids with no clue) Sorry if my analogies make no sense, they do to me!
