Anyone else disappointed by the Mac Studio?

[mectojic]

Not the specs or price. The specs for the Mac Studio are great value for the price (except the 512GB storage...) The price itself is perfectly reasonable. These Macs will easily last 10 years, so long as there is no failure of components.

No, what I'm disappointed by is the design. Frankly I think it looks very ugly, just as bad as the renders predicted, if not worse. A height-stretched Mac Mini has none of the elegance of the Mac Mini form factor, and is rather ridiculous.

I'm disappointed because Apple had a real chance to showcase a bold new design, like the M1 iMac, but instead they played it very, very safe, because of "pros hate colour" or "pros hate risktaking" or whatever.

This could've been a chance to do something like the G4 Cube – heck, I bet enthusiasts are already planning to mod a Mac Studio into a G4 case. To quote Steve Jobs, Apple could've had the power and the sex. They've got the power now... just not the beautiful design they once pioneered.

Who knows where Apple design language will go in future, but what I'm seeing now is just Jony Ive-style aluminium chassis, minus Ive-style thin design. I'm not asking Macs to be ultra-thin, I'm asking them to be cool. Cool like the Cube, iMac G4 and iPod. Today, Apple's design team seems only capable of creating products that look like an iOS app. They're not pushing the boundaries anymore.

 

[B.A.T]

I'll take this design over a design that cracks like the G4 did.

 

[killawat]

imo the Mac studio has a big forehead so it wont cook itself under load....like certain Macs of the past. Want a more elegant, weaker Mac Studio? Check out the Mac mini.

 

[fwmireault]

I agree it’s not the best looking Apple mac, but I guess from a cooling standpoint, it’s a way better design and it’s still a design language similar to the Mac mini. This is in line with the recent return of function over form in Apple computers. MBP is arguably in the same boat, I preferred the previous design, but I understand why this more boxy design is better for the purpose of a pro laptop

 

[sunny5]

Well, I like it tbh.

 

[skaertus]

Unremarkable design. It is not ugly. But it lacks the elegance of the Mac Mini.

 

[JMacHack]

This is the same goddamn shape as the mythical cube, just slightly shorter and not plastic.

Either people are blinded by nostalgia or I need to switch meds.

 

[Andropov]

This is the same goddamn shape as the mythical cube, just slightly shorter and not plastic.

A pizza box fits that description too, and it wouldn't make a good looking computer enclosure either.

 

[robco74]

What? The Centris 610 was a thing of beauty!

 

[mcnallym]

Looks ok to me but I don’t spend too much time looking at my computer.

It isn’t hideous, but nothing inspiring. Then again it is a computer case.

Looking for the reviews to hit the web before decide on getting one. A mini with an M1 Pro was what had been looking at however I can deal with the studio max. Ultra way more then I need

 

[Andropov]

What? The Centris 610 was a thing of beauty!

If we're sticking with 1993 Macs, the Classic II is the clear winner. Most beautiful compact Mac ever.

 

[robco74]

Well, for pizza box Macs. The LC475 did get an update as well. And of course, there was the Apple ][c.

 

[Andropov]

The LC475 did get an update as well.

Heh, I still have one of those around.

 

[Chevysales]

Not the specs or price. The specs for the Mac Studio are great value for the price (except the 512GB storage...) The price itself is perfectly reasonable. These Macs will easily last 10 years, so long as there is no failure of components.

No, what I'm disappointed by is the design. Frankly I think it looks very ugly, just as bad as the renders predicted, if not worse. A height-stretched Mac Mini has none of the elegance of the Mac Mini form factor, and is rather ridiculous.

I'm disappointed because Apple had a real chance to showcase a bold new design, like the M1 iMac, but instead they played it very, very safe, because of "pros hate colour" or "pros hate risktaking" or whatever.

This could've been a chance to do something like the G4 Cube – heck, I bet enthusiasts are already planning to mod a Mac Studio into a G4 case. To quote Steve Jobs, Apple could've had the power and the sex. They've got the power now... just not the beautiful design they once pioneered.

Who knows where Apple design language will go in future, but what I'm seeing now is just Jony Ive-style aluminium chassis, minus Ive-style thin design. I'm not asking Macs to be ultra-thin, I'm asking them to be cool. Cool like the Cube, iMac G4 and iPod. Today, Apple's design team seems only capable of creating products that look like an iOS app. They're not pushing the boundaries anymore.

I like the new design a heck of a lot better than the cube or colors.

 

[Andropov]

On the bright side, no one is going to go bananas this time because the newly released Mac looks feminine...

 

[pertusis1]

I think it's beautiful. Down with everything being super-thin! Down with no rectangular USB ports! Down with no HDMI! Assuming it works half as quickly as advertised, I think they hit it out of the park for users like myself. The mini is not enough. The Pro is too much.

True, it's not a work of art, but it's not ugly either.

 

[mectojic]

I think it's beautiful. Down with everything being super-thin! Down with no rectangular USB ports! Down with no HDMI! Assuming it works half as quickly as advertised, I think they hit it out of the park for users like myself. The mini is not enough. The Pro is too much.

True, it's not a work of art, but it's not ugly either.

Agreed. I don't expect Apple can go ugly, but they are sure riding a safe line these days.

 

[Eduardot]

Finally the Upgrade to 3 monitors on a desktop that does not cost an arm and a leg. Thank You Apple, you made my day. I needed this, have been using 3 monitors for more than 10 years now, and my Mini M1 only supports 2. It's about time. I really like the design. Will still need a dock for all my peripherals. Most of the time at the computer is spent either looking at the monitors and then the keyboard.

 

[SAIRUS]

Minor quip….hdmi 2.0 not so great for people working on variable refresh projects…

 

[saulinpa]

Functionality wise I think it hit the mark. More ports, power, and storage than the mini but not over the top with prices like the Mac Pro is viewed.

The problem is with its looks. It's not hideous, just ugly. Jony Ive may have had some bad designs but at least they were designs. This Studio is a package, not a design. They took the mini and figured out that by adding 3 inches they could add big fans and heat sinks. Like it or not people pay Apple a price premium for looks and this one doesn't have it.

 

[Maven1975]

Ugly as it may be, I intend on mounting it under my desk. Lots of power, clean desk

 

[mectojic]

Ugly as it may be, I intend on mounting it under my desk. Lots of power, clean desk

Yeah that was what I thought.

 

[MayaUser]

No, not disappointed at all...all i need to see in person is the thermals, thats all...if that has a proper thermals that sustain ultra under heavy load 24h/7...then this is heaven
For this kind of power, outside of Apple, as a maya user i would need to build a 3-4x studio size tower, with over 800-1000W power supply ...and that just for one...and i need in my studio at least 4
So even from design perspective, this is beautiful, clean, not massive and in your face on your desk or under the desk

 

[prefuse07]

Yes, very disappointed, but now I guess will hold out and see what the AS Mac Pro looks like

 

[Matt2012]

Probably in the minority here but i really don't care what it looks like. I just want raw power, speed, something that doesn't sound like an aircraft taking off (like my 3090 PC) under load and something that doesn't chuck out loads of heat under load.
Oh and something smaller than a deskop case.