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Is Apple laughing at Pro users?
- Thread starter lapieuvre
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My house is moving to HP workstations. We wouldn't have if Apple hadn't dropped the ball so badly with FCPX. Now that we're moving to Avid and Premiere, we see no need to stay in the Apple camp since they have obviously shown no interest in giving us up-to-date workstations to render on.
That's not to say we're not sticking with Apple in our personal lives, but when it comes down to productivity and getting things done faster, Apple just isn't the solution for us anymore, sadly.
That's not to say we're not sticking with Apple in our personal lives, but when it comes down to productivity and getting things done faster, Apple just isn't the solution for us anymore, sadly.
Short answer: yes.
...and it's very likely that Tim Cook was snickering wickedly to himself behind the curtain all the while wearing all black including a top-hat and a "villain stereotype" moustache, while at the same time drinking from a glass filled with the tears of Mac Pro users and also sacrificing a newborn baby from Cambodia to an alter for Satan.
I truly doubt that Tim Cook even gave it a thought. I think the hard reality here is that in order to deliver a real update to the Mac Pro, they've realized that they need a redesign of the system architecture and that to do now would result in half measures.
Yes, I agree that users of Mac Pros should be disappointed that the Mac Pro didn't get the hoped for update, but be glad it hasn't been dumped, and there's a promise of a redesign by the end of next year. Think about it, what has all the work with Thunderbolt, the new Intel chips, changes in RAM access, improvements to the operating system been about? Making the computer process tasks faster, but does the current architecture of the Mac Pro or any PC utilize the available options in the best way to schieve that goal? From what I read, no, and I expect that what's coming down the pike with the Mac Pro will satisfy all desires (just not as fast as we all wanted) better than what we were all hoping for. Keep the faith.
Thunderbolt is an issue on the Mac Pro. Right now Thunderbolt ports are tied to integrated GPUs because it also functions as mini-DisplayPort. However there is no discrete GPU currently that has a Thunderbolt port or likely to have one soon. Adding Thunderbolt is going to require a decent amount of work from Nvidia and ATI and will require custom made cards vs Apple using generic PC cards with EFI firmware currently.
The other option is to have data only Thunderbolt ports on the motherboard and have the graphics card stay mini-DisplayPort but I am not sure if Apple would be willing to do that with their penchant for "elegant solutions".
Anyway it seems like Apple either 1) had to change processors due to Intel supply issue or 2) was going to push out a Mac Pro but had to revert at the last second due to something not ready. It may well be something out of Apple's control.
The other option is to have data only Thunderbolt ports on the motherboard and have the graphics card stay mini-DisplayPort but I am not sure if Apple would be willing to do that with their penchant for "elegant solutions".
Anyway it seems like Apple either 1) had to change processors due to Intel supply issue or 2) was going to push out a Mac Pro but had to revert at the last second due to something not ready. It may well be something out of Apple's control.
Because you interpret his writing english as a second language as a sign of stupidity.
Lets see you translate that post into Romanian and see how smart you sound.
I don't work in an ad agency, but I've run a graphic design business since 1992, starting with Mac IIci, and every major desktop machine in between, and his experience and thoughts about it mirrors mine.
It's one thing if you're an individual with a niche to switch platforms. New machine, new software package, less than $5k.
It's something else entirely when you have an established business with a huge investment in software and other infrastructure built around the Mac platform, not to mention a couple decades worth of client archives that need to be accessed.
Anyone who can't honestly get their work done on a 12 core machine like the current Pro, should be looking outside of the mainstream Mac or Windows machines. Something like a Sparc workstation should be considered if a Mac Pro won't cut it.
Dale
So tell me why should one pay the same price for old, slower hardware when there are real world performance gains to be had? I just don't get that. But it's probably why Apple thought that doing this would be ok. They will still have people apologising on their behalf.
Upgrading computers is rarely about "getting your work done." It's about being able to stay current with software and peripherals, and getting good value for money spent.
Who wants to pay full premium price for a machine with two-year old specs that can't use current GPU, wifi, storage or RAM?
Do you drive some clapped-out 1974 Toyota Celica, or something newer and nicer?
Oracle killed all Sparc workstations soon after acquiring Sun. They didnt even keep their Intel/AMD workstations. So it seems like Steves friend Larry concluded already two years ago that the workstation market is heading the way of the dodo.
Where I work we buy 3-4 Mac Pro a year.
Until I see Sata III in a MacPro, I will have to switch to PC, cause SATA II doesnt' get the job done well.
When they release real new Mac Pros, then I'll gladly switch back to MAC.
Everyone's reality is different. Don't need to be condescendant
I find it quite the oposite. I find a lot of people already upgrading a brand new workstation to fit their needs and the job it was intended for TO get the work done.
I also find people also not willing to upgrade software nilly willy without careful consideration how it might break their current workflow by buggy software, incompatibility issues or drivers for instance.
Getting good value is really relative when talking about workstation and above hardware/software as long as the occupation it was intended for pays quite lucrative for its initial investment.
Can the macrumors admins or mods ban users like this that contribute nothing to the forum except for arrogance and their condescending attitude? This is becoming a frequent problem on the forum with extreme apple fanboyism, i'd like to see it stop and have these individuals be shown the door.
Absolutely Perfect !
Or as my wife would say, "Excuse me while I get out the Worlds Smallest Violin."
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Not sure if you've noticed but... This is a Apple Mac Pro forum.
We should just ban everyone that doesn't agree with you. What did your comment contribute to the forum? arrogance and condesending attitude.
ban yourself.
Do it.
While I don't need thunderbolt, I recently made the decision to basically leave Apple computers after 6 years for a custom built PC.
I'm building a machine designed for gaming and insane storage. And it will rival any Mac currently on the market. And it'll cost half the price.
I won't leave Apple completely but i got tired of compromising to keep using Apple as my main device.
Actually most of the MBP line-up , one model of the mini , and all the iMacs demonstrate that this is a non issue. They all have discrete GPUs embedded on the motherboard.
That is really all that needs to changed and it isn't really a "land a man on the moon, rocket science" project that would take "an extra year" of development to do. Two other "desktop" models have already solved the discrete GPU to TB problem.
There is no "optimized" plan here. Apple screwed up. Most likely Apple doesn't have a Mac Pro update because they either didn't try to have one (it became a low priority) or someone screwed up the development process.
There is likely never going to be a discrete GPU with a Thunderbolt port.
The only work required of Nvidia and AMD is updated drivers for that PCI-e GPU cards work in external Thunderbolt PCI-e slot break-out boxes. That's about it.
The entire PC market is going to EFI. All the Window RT computers coming out this Fall are purely EFI based. Once Windows 8 is the standard install EFI will be the default boot environments. Even more modern PC designs are EFI based with a "built in" BIOS emulator package similar to Bootcamp running on top because of the humugous trail of legacy equipment. But any GPU card vendor now who isn't doing EFI boot is suicidal.
Nope. Xeon E5 class CPUs are on a slower design cycle at Intel. That is likely going to mean the Mac Pro will be on a slower design cycle too. However, this delay by Apple is way too long to be motivated by that.
It is extremely doubtful the June speed bump was a "last second" move.
It was likely a "Plan B" backup but the delay until some nebulous time in 2013 is indicative that they knew well back in 2011 that they had nothing.
If look at the front page news it appears Apple ran out and bought a component company just to secure control over a fingerprint reader. [ There is a big "F you" buried in that buy to Samsung too. But I'll give Apple he benefit of the doubt that it purely a "jerk our competitors chain" move. ]
It isn't the way of the dodo as much as it the margins are too low. Oracle killed off all the relatively low margin hardware that had relatively high support costs.
Oracle needs higher end servers because that is what the Oracle software stack runs on. Workstation tend to only have the OS plus other software that Oracle tends not to sell for megabucks.
It also lowers their profile in competing with partners like Dell, Lenovo, and to a lessor extent HP which have large Windows PC business that heavily overlap with workstations. [ HP has big box servers too so at least part of the company won't be please. ]
Oracle can still port Solaris to some subset of boxes but that isn't a strategically competitive area.
First....i don't really follow all the updated hardware or when a new cpu is released, in my case i'll use whatever gets the job done, not into the branding stuff or the comparing between Apple or a windows machine. Fact is indeed that today's Mac Pro isn't the best value you get for the money, and i understand that if you have invested tons of money in software for OSX and your work demands a faster machine its frustrating that the only option is an outdated computer.
Fact is, and i think allot of people here forget about it...is that Apple is a company, the only motivation they have is $$$, whomever thinks that Apple is concerned about the guy who's been waiting for an updated MacPro is living an illusion...If were real honest here the current MacPro was pretty much outdated the day it was released...graphics card...etc. It was ridiculously overpriced even in 2010. You could have a windows machine with same specs for half the money...and yes this was when Steve Jobs was still in charge, so i don't really get the "ooow steve jobs must be turning in his grave...if steve jobs only was alive today...etc
Soon as Apple thinks its profitable to release a new macpro than thats the day we will see a release...if they think its not worth it then bad luck but no macpro.
Also i find it kind of funny how allot of people are focused on a so called email a guy has gotten from Tim Cook saying they are working on a new mac pro...for all we know the kid made it up, or lets assume the mail is genuine, that still doesn't say anything, ofcourse they are working on the next big thing but isn't that what company's do all the time, that doesn't guarantee a release. Again its all about the dollar, don't think you are important to them because your not, Apple can survive just great without the Pro community point blank. Its the Iphone, Ipad, Ipod, App store and macbook air users that are important to them.
Fact is, and i think allot of people here forget about it...is that Apple is a company, the only motivation they have is $$$, whomever thinks that Apple is concerned about the guy who's been waiting for an updated MacPro is living an illusion...If were real honest here the current MacPro was pretty much outdated the day it was released...graphics card...etc. It was ridiculously overpriced even in 2010. You could have a windows machine with same specs for half the money...and yes this was when Steve Jobs was still in charge, so i don't really get the "ooow steve jobs must be turning in his grave...if steve jobs only was alive today...etc
Soon as Apple thinks its profitable to release a new macpro than thats the day we will see a release...if they think its not worth it then bad luck but no macpro.
Also i find it kind of funny how allot of people are focused on a so called email a guy has gotten from Tim Cook saying they are working on a new mac pro...for all we know the kid made it up, or lets assume the mail is genuine, that still doesn't say anything, ofcourse they are working on the next big thing but isn't that what company's do all the time, that doesn't guarantee a release. Again its all about the dollar, don't think you are important to them because your not, Apple can survive just great without the Pro community point blank. Its the Iphone, Ipad, Ipod, App store and macbook air users that are important to them.
