I don't get it. Why don't they just discontinue the Mac Pro?
If a product is still profitable, why discontinue it?
Perhaps they would save more by discontinuing the line than they make in profits on it.
Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
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Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#72I'm curious, why is it not possible to buy pre-configured, off-the-shelf dual or quad CPU PC systems? I know that you can get dual CPU server motherboards and build your own system, but as far as I know no one sells a pre-built desktop system that looks anything like the Mac Pro (spec-wise). EDIT : Looks like I was mistaken. You can get high-end PC workstations.
It's possible; they're called workstations.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#73I think there are two possible explanations: 1. Marco's pessimistic take that they are clearing through existing inventory in slightly reconfigured and cheaper machines. 2. grecy's comment here that they needed to keep people hooked while they get the real bump out the door. If the answer is 2, then they really can't wait too long. A few people will be satisfied that they can get 12 cores for $3800, but it's only a s…
If #2 is correct, wouldn't they tease a new release instead of introducing a new model? No sense making customers buy something only to release a new model out of schedule.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#74Our sound guy is PISSED at the lack of update. Seriously, incredibly pissed. I've honestly never seen him this angry before. He'd been counting down the days till WWDC and a long overdue update. There are three major pieces of software he uses on his Mac that he swears by. It sounds like they have all just released or are about to release Windows versions. I'm beginning to wonder if this is a trend? Apple is clearly…
I read recently that the Mac Pro accounts for less than %2 of Apple's Mac sales. Since thunderbolt basically is a PCI express cable, there's nothing to stop people from building external cases that can hold PCI express cards, like the Mac Pro can. Since thunderbolt is becoming prevalent across the line, I can't really see a need for the Mac Pro so much anymore. True it is nice in some situations to put all your hard…
there's nothing to stop people from building external cases that can hold PCI express cards, like the Mac Pro can.
Such a thing has been announced: http://www.magma.com/thunderbolt.asp
then the answer Apple's intending people to take may be a high end iMac.
Maybe, but the 3.4GHz i7 - currently the highest CPU in the iMac range - still comes in at 2-3x slower than the highest end current Mac Pro CPU.. and there are E5 Xeons out there already faster than those.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
My problem with that line of reasoning is that the company has (had) over $100 billion in the bank. They have no reason to de-prioritize any area of the business that's making a profit. They have enough resources to pump into all their profitable lines of business and more. Is the potential of pissing off dedicated customers worth the money they'll save? What will they do with the money they save? Add it to their uni…
Who says the Mac Pro line is profitable?
How could it not be? The engineering is all sunk and the margin is ~35%.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#76I'm curious, why is it not possible to buy pre-configured, off-the-shelf dual or quad CPU PC systems? I know that you can get dual CPU server motherboards and build your own system, but as far as I know no one sells a pre-built desktop system that looks anything like the Mac Pro (spec-wise). EDIT : Looks like I was mistaken. You can get high-end PC workstations.
It is perfectly possible. You buy them from companies that supply the professional CAD market and it is relatively easy to find 32 core, dual processor, twin graphics card systems for less than $5000.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#77I'm curious, why is it not possible to buy pre-configured, off-the-shelf dual or quad CPU PC systems? I know that you can get dual CPU server motherboards and build your own system, but as far as I know no one sells a pre-built desktop system that looks anything like the Mac Pro (spec-wise). EDIT : Looks like I was mistaken. You can get high-end PC workstations.
Take the Dell Precision T5500. Google it (to get the crazy long Dell configuration page URL) and you can configure it with dual six-core Xeons, for example.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#78Am I the only one who is stoked it comes with a third USB, standard SSD, and HDMI port?
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#79My Dad, who is really into video editing and 3D animation, swears by the Mac Pro line. I have been suggesting that he get a fast MacBook Pro, use Thunderbolt with the nice raid box Apple sells, and move on. After the new MacBook Pro hotness and the minor Mac Pro update, I bet he will make the switch.
My world is Linux servers and a MacBook Air (and a good SSH shell on my iPad if I am travelling light) work fine; some local develop using IntelliJ/RubyMine, etc., and good access to servers == happiness. I could personally care less if Apple wants to concentrate on what makes them money.
For people who do professional video, sound, etc., maybe the Windows world is looking better, especially with Adobe's neat Creative Cloud stuff. I am a rank amateur when it comes to video and digital photo post production, and even I am thinking of dropping Final Cut Pro 7 and paying Adobe $50/month for Creative Cloud. I think that Apple has made their intentions clear.
Re: Mac Pro gets half-assed “update”
#80I'm curious, why is it not possible to buy pre-configured, off-the-shelf dual or quad CPU PC systems? I know that you can get dual CPU server motherboards and build your own system, but as far as I know no one sells a pre-built desktop system that looks anything like the Mac Pro (spec-wise). EDIT : Looks like I was mistaken. You can get high-end PC workstations.
Take the Dell Precision T5500. Google it (to get the crazy long Dell configuration page URL) and you can configure it with dual six-core Xeons, for example.
Thanks, I learned something today. Oh, and the Dell is less than half the price of the Mac Pro.