http://gizmodo.com/5919087/hp-builds-a-supercharged-video-editing-machine-worthy-of-red-cameras
We need something like THIS on the MacPro side.
We need something like THIS on the MacPro side.
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HP / RED Workstation
- Thread starter JesterJJZ
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Yeah...a RED branded MacPro would be ace. A lot of the RED guys I know are switching to PC left and right, I'm starting to feel like a crazy minority sticking around on the Mac side. It would sure be a great way for Apple to get back in the game and show everyone they aren't out yet!
Just looking at this sentence
" .... The machines will also come with a Blu-Ray burner, ... "
It seems highly likely that Apple isn't going to counter as a CTO offering.
It is 100% certain that Apple would never co-brand a box ( put Red's logo on the box).
However...... Red Rocket cards don't work in the current speed bumped Mac Pro ? Yes, this HP machine would probably win in a drag race between the two boxes, but as far as just deploying a solution now.
Even if Apple upgrades to newer Xeon , works with Nvidia on Quadro drivers, and leaves the optical drive cage. It is unlikely though they are going to do custom 3rd party integrations like this as supported configurations for very small niche markets.
It can't be that small if HP are targeting it so aggressively. As are Dell, Fujitsu and a host of specialized system builders. When Apple finally gets round to updating the MacPro, it will be too late. All their performance computing customers will have migrated to Windows.
relative to the overall markets, yes it is.
Yes, in part because they have nothing to differentiate on and are desperate for very high margin boxes to offset the money they loose on "loss leader" boxes. The margins on the overall PC business are crap and they need band-aids to cover that up.
Apple will likely sell an order of magnitude more MBP 15" Retina units then all of these specialized "red" boxes combined across HP, Dell, and Fujistu.
Similarly HP, Dell, and Fujistu will probably sell 5-8 times as many other more generic workstations as these specialized RED boxes.
Not really, if they are will play it out over several years. The primary advantage they have is that these systems are so expensive that most people buy only infrequently (relative to mainstream general PCs ).
For sure Apple has screwed up. The Mac Pro "base" is going to shrink over the next year. What is not clear is that Apple can grow that again next year and over the following 2-3 years.
All ? Not going to happen. Some weren't up for upgrades anyway ( had a 2009-2010 model that was less than 3-4 years old and are on a every 4-6 year buying cycle. ). Another significant fraction are going to move to hackintosh. It will be much easier to bring the hackintosh folks back than those who flip to windows. Finally, there is going to be the smaller crowd of "spent last 15-20 years on Mac " who will go to windows and then 3-4 years will be itching to come back.
For the big corporate shops run by large IT orgs .... Apple was likely going to loose them over time anyway.
If Apple came back it would not be on RED. This very small niche is not large enough to jumpstart the Mac Pro back into being viable. If Apple is going to bring the Mac Pro back to growth, these boxes wouldn't have been it anyway. So they strategically they are not a big factor.
It's not about the size of the market, it's about making a bold play.
It wouldn't be custom hardware, the HP isn't either, just a custom configuration tuned for RED users with integrated card readers. The only "custom" part is the bevels on the front.
When the "new" MacPro comes out it wouldn't take much to make a similar configuration aimed at RED. It wouldn't be a whole separate product line or anything. Comparing sales to a Retina MPB is useless. It's more like a "Product RED" version of an existing line.
Dropping the MBP 17" and putting a twice as dense as everyone else 15" panel on the MBP 15 retina was a bold play.
This isn't a bold play by HP. It is actually the opposite since just doing minor product differentiation. Everyone else's, including Apple's "too old" new Mac Pro, can run those Red cards. HP actually needs the Red logo marketing to make a difference .... that is driven far more by necessity than boldness.
Boldness is the bevels chosen. Not really.
In addition to the margin grab, this is more so a play at HP services. "We can run your IT, deliver your PC and printers , etc etc etc even if you need some custom configurations. one stop shopping . we are big , we are big , we are big. ....". That too isn't bold. It is variation on the "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM" mindset that IBM peddled through the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Some stuff just different flavors.
Apple doesn't do co-branding except on rare occasions where they have little choice (e.g., celluar service carriers). There are no "powered by Intel" stickers on Macs. There are no celluar service logos on the outside of an iPad/iPhone. (carriers get some logo on the screen to indicate service is active.).
If RED needs to sell RED stuff that's primarily RED's problem. Apple will work with them so the products work well together. But Apple isn't going to sign up as a major salesman/vendor for RED.
Only if you're peddling the misdirection that these will amount to relatively substantial number of sales. They won't.
One of the problems that the Mac Pro labors under now is the stigma that it is "only good for Final Cut and Logic". Cobranding with RED only magnifies that liability rather than diminishing it. Not only is it not bold, it is exactly backwards of the market broadening message the Mac Pro will need to grow and recover.
The Mac Pro is a good/viable general workstation is better than the Mac Pro is great specialized video ingest machine for the privileged few.
It's not about selling RED. RED doesn't need any help with that, trust me. Here's the thing, much of the RED crowd is, or have been Mac users. Even I will admit that PC offerings are completely blowing Mac offerings out of the water right now with hardware best suited for working with RED material. The PC side is making the roadmap for hardware pretty clear, if you want power and expandability, go PC. Apple doesn't tell us much.
The generally thinking of the current Mac based RED user is "Please Apple come out with a powerful system because I really don't want to switch to PC in the future." or "I really don't want to switch, but I'm getting pretty tempted." Apple is damn near pushing the pro market out the door and telling us to just switch already. As if they don't want to bother with our "needs."
It's not about what the current Mac system can or can't do, they are good machines. It's just that they are already behind what competitors offer. When you're spending $10k+ on a workstation, like I'm ready to do, you need to know that it will be supported well into the future.
Having a system aimed directly at arguable the most pioneering company in cinema technology products today would reassure a lot of people that Apple is still serious at being in the pro market.
Absolutely. Let's look at video cards to see how much catching up Apple has to do. Here is what is supported on the Windows platform, but not supported on a Mac:
1) Any card released in 2011 or 2012
2) Any video card that draws more than 300W
3) Dual GPU cards
4) Nvidia Maximus
5) Nvidia Mosaic
6) AMD FirePro cards
7) SLI
Given the lame ass "update" we got and the words of wisdom from Tim Cook, this is Apple last shot at making an impact on the pro community. Next MacPro or whatever it is needs to be a knockout.
I also have faith that eventually we'll see a 17" retina MBP. I think the 15" was more like a trial. The entire MBP line is going that way. Maybe a 17" would even have room for an extra internal drive.
I also have faith that eventually we'll see a 17" retina MBP. I think the 15" was more like a trial. The entire MBP line is going that way. Maybe a 17" would even have room for an extra internal drive.
Primarily, looking for a glowing "red rocket" logo plastered on their box? Probably not.
That is all the above really is.