It's a New Mac Pro for me - Upgrade or Not!

[not1lost]

Since deciding to go to Mac from a PC for all my computer needs; after migrating from a iPod Touch to an iPhone4 to an iPad2 and seeing the simplicity and careful attention to quality, ease of use, beauty, and dependability compared to Windows and Android. Therefore after careful consideration and research giving considerable thought to all of the options and advice I have been given here on MacRumors and other forums - Apple support, Macnn, AppleInsider, Cult of Mac, Logos4, Tech Labs (Leo Laporte - the Tech Guy) etc. I have went back to my original intention of purchasing a Mac Pro. I am the kind of person that would go nuts thinking I cant take the side off of my computer and change a hard drive, a card, memory (with ease) replace a fan or whatever. I am used to this kind of thing and actually enjoy it. Considering this when I look into a Mac Pro it is absolutely beautiful! A work of Art! Nothing like the inside of any PC I have ever looked into; which looks like a maze of a mass of wires and boxes just screwed in all over the place - no nice convenient drawers in there.... I've worked on several of them .

I for the most part probably don't need a Mac Pro but then at times with that kind of power it would make some task go much smoother I'm sure. (after I learn the Mac OS). Also the peace of mind and confidence I would gain knowing I had a machine I could depend on and just works (I'm not in dream land I know everything can break) This would mean a lot to me just knowing what I had if I needed it. I also am looking at longevity. I want to keep this machine for a very long time so I want to future proof myself as much as I can with a machine I could upgrade to some extent if I needed to.

So here I am waiting to see if there will be a new or upgraded Mac Pro soon - I sure hope so. If not then I will buy the one that is available now I am not going to wait 6-12 months and really I cant. If anyone has any advice as far as what my choices should be I would appreciate it much but advice on the Mac Pro either the current one or an upgraded model if there is one; I'm settled on that. Advice on buying, processors, video cards, Memory, accessories, whether to buy now or wait etc. Thanks a bunch everyone!

 

[Arelunde]

I just purchased a MBP 13 ... and then discovered a new version is on the immediate horizon. However, I'm not particularly worried because you might have "last year's" hardware, but you will be current on software for a long while to come.

In addition, rumor has it the next gen MBP won't have an optical drive. I feel this is of concern - I have many DVDs with programs, music, etc. Not having an optical reader would leave all that "out in the cold."

So, even though I probably paid more than necessary for my MBP, I'm very happy with it and am making it my primary computer. And, like you, I have to re-learn the Mac-Way compared to PCs. I'm enjoying the challenge - it IS different. But, that's what it's all about.

 

[chilly7]

Since deciding to go to Mac from a PC for all my computer needs; after migrating from a iPod Touch to an iPhone4 to an iPad2 and seeing the simplicity and careful attention to quality, ease of use, beauty, and dependability compared to Windows and Android. Therefore after careful consideration and research giving considerable thought to all of the options and advice I have been given here on MacRumors and other forums - Apple support, Macnn, AppleInsider, Cult of Mac, Logos4, Tech Labs (Leo Laporte - the Tech Guy) etc. I have went back to my original intention of purchasing a Mac Pro. I am the kind of person that would go nuts thinking I cant take the side off of my computer and change a hard drive, a card, memory (with ease) replace a fan or whatever. I am used to this kind of thing and actually enjoy it. Considering this when I look into a Mac Pro it is absolutely beautiful! A work of Art! Nothing like the inside of any PC I have ever looked into; which looks like a maze of a mass of wires and boxes just screwed in all over the place - no nice convenient drawers in there.... I've worked on several of them .

I for the most part probably don't need a Mac Pro but then at times with that kind of power it would make some task go much smoother I'm sure. (after I learn the Mac OS). Also the peace of mind and confidence I would gain knowing I had a machine I could depend on and just works (I'm not in dream land I know everything can break) This would mean a lot to me just knowing what I had if I needed it. I also am looking at longevity. I want to keep this machine for a very long time so I want to future proof myself as much as I can with a machine I could upgrade to some extent if I needed to.

So here I am waiting to see if there will be a new or upgraded Mac Pro soon - I sure hope so. If not then I will buy the one that is available now I am not going to wait 6-12 months and really I cant. If anyone has any advice as far as what my choices should be I would appreciate it much but advice on the Mac Pro either the current one or an upgraded model if there is one; I'm settled on that. Advice on buying, processors, video cards, Memory, accessories, whether to buy now or wait etc. Thanks a bunch everyone!
Image

wait for a new Mac Pro

 

[PenguinMac]

I did the same in 2010 and bought the (then) new 6-core Mac Pro with the best video card option. I've since added a Blu-ray drive, 24GB memory, SSD, 4 2-4TB drives, eSATA and USB 3.0. Being able to completely customize the computer is invaluable, and combining that with the Apple OS and ecosystem has been great.

My 3 kids each have a MacBook Pro, and the oldest of the 13" MBP's (no thunderbolt) is due for replacement. As a previous commenter noted, when the new MBP's with Ivy Bridge and no DVD are announced, I'm going to buy one of this generation's MBP with a DVD drive because my daughter says she uses it often. Micro Center always sells the last generation MBP for months after the new ones are announced, so I plan to purchase it from them.

 

[SEGeologist]

My Mac Mini is on its last leg. My AppleCare officially ran out in March, however when discussing this with the corporate office they extended the warranty for another 6 months due to three logic boards in just as many months.

If a new MP comes out before it fails I am going to use the mac mini as a mini file server till it dies. I will be ordering the MP the day it is announced.

 

[hitekalex]

So here I am waiting to see if there will be a new or upgraded Mac Pro soon - I sure hope so. If not then I will buy the one that is available now

Bad idea. The current Pro is a very poor value for the money. Xeon E5 CPUs are out now.. Updated Pro should be right around the corner, IF Apple continues with the Pro model at all.

 

[Photovore]

I *needed* a Mac Pro about 8 months ago. I didn't want to buy a "new" one while awaiting an update, so I went to CraigsList and bought one (2009 model) used for $1500.00.

I *LOVE* it. By far the fastest machine I've owned, a work of art on the inside, solid and dependable.

When the new ones come out, I'll start looking for reasons to justify buying a 16-core.

But, my used one is Awesome!

 

[throAU]

There are two things to consider when an update is imminent:

1. the current hardware will be outdated shortly
2. the new hardware may have teething issues for a few months until apple or intel, AMD, Nvidia, etc) put out a fix


Generally, having the new and shiny is cool, but be aware that living on the bleeding edge isn't always 100% reliable...

 

[anim8or]

I just purchased a MBP 13 ... and then discovered a new version is on the immediate horizon. However, I'm not particularly worried because you might have "last year's" hardware, but you will be current on software for a long while to come.

In addition, rumor has it the next gen MBP won't have an optical drive. I feel this is of concern - I have many DVDs with programs, music, etc. Not having an optical reader would leave all that "out in the cold."

So, even though I probably paid more than necessary for my MBP, I'm very happy with it and am making it my primary computer. And, like you, I have to re-learn the Mac-Way compared to PCs. I'm enjoying the challenge - it IS different. But, that's what it's all about.

I still find it amazing that people cannot differentiate between a MAC PRO and a MACBOOK PRO.

It bugs me as much as calling the iPod touch an iTouch.

 

[halledise]

In addition, rumor has it the next gen MBP won't have an optical drive. I feel this is of concern - I have many DVDs with programs, music, etc. Not having an optical reader would leave all that "out in the cold."

my concerns exactly transitioning from a 15" MBPro to an MBAir -
but one of these babies allayed all those concerns for those times when reading/writing cd/dvd's - watching movies etc.

http://goo.gl/e5gPJ

I'm sure you'd have similar in the US.
best of both worlds
enhanced portabilty and 'old school' hardware when needed

 

[Cindori]

I still find it amazing that people cannot differentiate between a MAC PRO and a MACBOOK PRO.

It bugs me as much as calling the iPod touch an iTouch.

Almost noone I meet IRL, that uses Mac / iPhone, has any idea what a Mac Pro is. I try to explain that it's the most powerful desktop Mac, and they go: "Oh, now I know! that's the one with a screen build in?"

 

[theSeb]

Almost noone I meet IRL, that uses Mac / iPhone, has any idea what a Mac Pro is. I try to explain that it's the most powerful desktop Mac, and they go: "Oh, now I know! that's the one with a screen build in?"

I find it amazing that an Apple product owner has not visited the Apple store website, but I guess it happens.

 

[not1lost]

I *needed* a Mac Pro about 8 months ago. I didn't want to buy a "new" one while awaiting an update, so I went to CraigsList and bought one (2009 model) used for $1500.00.

I *LOVE* it. By far the fastest machine I've owned, a work of art on the inside, solid and dependable.

When the new ones come out, I'll start looking for reasons to justify buying a 16-core.

But, my used one is Awesome!

Which one is it or what does it have in it? if you dont mind me asking...

 

[DJenkins]

I've been stressing about this new release a bit as well. My 2,1 machine has been acting up a bit and I don't want to pour money into repairs when a new machine could be right around the corner.

I use the latest 12 core machines at work and one of those would keep me quite happy if I found one at the right price. I think I'm going to continue with my external raid so thunderbolt is not that big an issue for me.

Any ideas from pricing on past releases if the new mac pro will be a huge increase in price from the current apple store models?

 

[Photovore]

Which one is it or what does it have in it? if you dont mind me asking...

It tells me it's a "MacPro4,1".

what I got for $1500:

2.66 GHz 4-core Xeon
6 GB ram
640 GB hard drive

... so, not huge as Mac Pros go, but I don't need much ram or disk space -- there's less than 82 GB on the drive -- I got it primarily to run one particular application.

I added about $500 on top of that by putting in an AMD 5870 GPU for parallel computing under OpenCL.

The guy I bought it from lived 1/2 mile from my house and worked at the Apple Store, so it "felt right" and, as my first and only Craigslist experience, I'm very happy with it.

... for what it's worth, though, as I say I got it specifically for heavy lifting; I do most of my stuff on a MacBook Pro that I carry with me everywhere I go!...

 

[thekev]

I've been stressing about this new release a bit as well. My 2,1 machine has been acting up a bit and I don't want to pour money into repairs when a new machine could be right around the corner.

I use the latest 12 core machines at work and one of those would keep me quite happy if I found one at the right price. I think I'm going to continue with my external raid so thunderbolt is not that big an issue for me.

Any ideas from pricing on past releases if the new mac pro will be a huge increase in price from the current apple store models?

There was speculation that pricing could go up on some of the higher models due to higher cpu costs. What kind of problems are you experiencing with your current machine? Think of it this way. Updated hardware could push performance of the less expensive models closer to what you would currently expect from the 12 core model. If the new ones end up being far more desirable, and they maintain the same price point, it should push down the averaged use price of the current 12 core. I do sympathize with you on this. It's a bad time to have computer problems.

 

[iAmRod]

I still find it amazing that people cannot differentiate between a MAC PRO and a MACBOOK PRO.

It bugs me as much as calling the iPod touch an iTouch.

Totally with you on that one!

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Bad idea. The current Pro is a very poor value for the money.

Totally subjective point. I bought a refurbished 2010 Quad-core with full AppleCare and I couldn't be happier.

 

[WardC]

You can just tape a couple Thunderbolt ports on there when the time is right

 

[Arelunde]

my concerns exactly transitioning from a 15" MBPro to an MBAir -
but one of these babies allayed all those concerns for those times when reading/writing cd/dvd's - watching movies etc.

http://goo.gl/e5gPJ

I'm sure you'd have similar in the US.
best of both worlds
enhanced portabilty and 'old school' hardware when needed

That would help, but it seems a step backwards - back to a bunch of periferals to litter the desktop and cart around.

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I find it amazing that an Apple product owner has not visited the Apple store website, but I guess it happens.

Point taken. But in reading the thread, there were many comments on the MBP and the Mac Pro. It was hard to tell which was the center of discussion, despite the thread title.