Well, maybe for the same reason they keep the iPod around. Their focus has moved on, but they're unwilling to cut off the revenue stream, even if it's small.
I don't know. It's been a long, frustrating day, and I'm just babbling.
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Mac Pro Rising
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Well, maybe for the same reason they keep the iPod around. Their focus has moved on, but they're unwilling to cut off the revenue stream, even if it's small.
I don't know. It's been a long, frustrating day, and I'm just babbling.
the processors are different. If you look at the graphics, the function key one is a 540 and the touch bar ones are a 550. (there are different i7 upgrades for each sub-group even). The CPU-GPU package with the 550 should consume more power than the 540 ( 28W vs 15W TDP. Yes this is thermal power wattage but if don't consume it can't release it as heat. )
I wouldn't be surprised if the battery assignment documentation is backwards. The touch ID one has the higher battery capacity ( and power draw on CPU-GPU ) and the function key one has the smaller one.
I believe tweaking the Magic Toolbar took it's long time.
The idea is great, my concerns are the lack of an (physical) Escape button (can be remapped), the duration of the power/TouchID button (it's sapphire coated at least) and possible problems with the Magic Toolbar display itself. But I guess one can't think of the possible problems that might arise, right?
The idea is great, my concerns are the lack of an (physical) Escape button (can be remapped), the duration of the power/TouchID button (it's sapphire coated at least) and possible problems with the Magic Toolbar display itself. But I guess one can't think of the possible problems that might arise, right?
What about the issues with keyboards on non-laptops?
Since Apple is dedicated to creating devices that depend on highly toxic batteries - can a Bluetooth keyboard support the bandwidth for what is essentially a display on the keyboard? Will the battery last for a day (7 work hours)?
What about the remote access issues? Most of our MacBook users spend much of their day using SSH and RDP to lab servers. Function keys are very important for that - what happens with a soft function keypad? (The Emacs users in our division are in shock.)
You re covered, just press [Fn] and the touch bar becomes a keyboard bar then touch the [esc] at its traditional placement. Also the touch bar has a reversion mode where if it can detect the MacOS api running it automatically returns to fn keyboard mode (as when running another OS or when the system is booting)
I know. But I meant that if there's a problem with the Touch Bar? You can assign the Escape function to another key but it's not the same.
I suspect after three years of no updates if Apple was going to discontinue the Mac Pro they would have done so when discontinuing their display. I think Apple is going to replace the Mac Pro with a redesigned version. The current trashcan mac pro was a failure and no one likes it. So we're going back to something with internal PCI slots etc.
Bet the odds are pointing to an updated trashcan given that Phil said it was the design of the next ten years.
There is a chance, but also have in mind that we have learned about the discontinuation of the TB display after 5 years, with no word about it in the mean time, and yes, they were selling it full price too till the end...
Filmak, My comment was a response to pendragon1984 and not really what I believe as far as wether or not the will be another Mac Pro. I was simply saying that if Apple did produce another, it would probably be more of the same and not something with PCI slots like pendragon hypothesized
Filmak, My comment was a response to pendragon1984 and not really what I believe as far as wether or not the will be another Mac Pro. I was simply saying that if Apple did produce another, it would probably be more of the same and not something with PCI slots like pendragon hypothesized
Think about it though. Apple discontinues the current Mac mini and Mac Pro. Then replaces them both with a mini tower that can be configured to pro specs or low end consumer specs. Maybe they even call the high end spec version the pro and have it come in black. Wouldn't that be a lot cheaper for Apple than making two different designs? Wouldn't that make everyone happy? Why not do this?
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The regular spec mini tower can just be called 'the mac'.
Because it's Apple. Phil already said that the tube is the design for the next 10 years. Yes, what you suggested would be a possible solution but it would require an admission that not only the tube was a bust but the whole idea of the design was a bust as well and they had to start over again and go back to where they came from. Do you really think that the people who keep opening events by saying how much all of the people love their products are going to go on stage and admit that their top pro product and it's design were a bust?
Well from what I've read the trash can is a complete bust. They don't sell. So, I think it's getting the axe. What I'm suggesting makes sense and could explain why the Mac mini hasn't been updated either.
Alternatively, they axe both the mini and the pro and release a iMac pro. They might think of the Apple TV as effectively having replaced the mini. The original jobs four product categories don't make as much sense anymore. The iMac has gotten more and more powerful. The high end is a pretty powerful machine now. Few people need more probably. A lot of architects use iMacs. An iMac pro that's a little thicker could run more than 4 cores and have two GPUs. No?
[doublepost=1477850474][/doublepost]Isn't the least likely thing now a new trash can? They could I guess do a modified trash can that's bigger with at least one pci slot open and room for another ssd.
That's a great idea worth exploring that would satisfy the needs of the whole headless-Mac base, consumer to professional.
As such, it won't happen.
Thanks Tim.
Lots of people point to what Phil said and use it as a serious argument that the Mac Pro will be around for some time yet. What they don't seem to realize is that Phil is a marketing guy, which means everything he says is either an outright lie or subject to change after the next sales meeting.
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Hahahahahahaha! What are the chances of that?
Well it would be the pro version. Even if not thicker with some good thermals they can put in an 8 core chip or something.
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I think it's a great idea. Might cut into iMac sales though. That would be the reason they don't do it. If they don't, why not a black iMac called the iMac pro with beefed up specs. Then they let the Mac Pro rot another year and then discontinue it.
If the iMac is going to replace the MP it desperately needs a new cooling system, some more inches in thickness, as you have wrote, better GPUs, more Ram, and more connectivity.
Anyway, I don't know how many people will find iMac's screen good enough, i.e. architects are ok with limited gamut monitors, they care more about the resolution.
Imho iMac's display needs wider gamut, at least Adobe RGB color space, non glossy coating for less reflections, better colour management etc... things that are almost impossible to happen with the current Apple Inc.
For general work or some limited video editing, now that is dci-P3 color space capable, it may be ok, but for more demanding tasks it's a bit limited.
Phil could have said, "this would be a design for a decade........take my word for it."
[doublepost=1477855769][/doublepost]Apple just need upgradability.
Yes, I agree.Filmak, My comment was a response to pendragon1984 and not really what I believe as far as wether or not the will be another Mac Pro. I was simply saying that if Apple did produce another, it would probably be more of the same and not something with PCI slots like pendragon hypothesized
This the reality, as much as we would like a system with PCI slots etc, it's almost sure that this kind of Apple will never offer it, they 're after slimmer and shiny and smaller, we want something which is completely the opposite, so unforunately is not going to happen...
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Nice thoughts but Apple has other plans. Take an iPadPro... and be happy...
Haven't you heard?
They removed any sign of the mac pro in their mac lineup image and they also removed it from their FCPX (professional app) page. Interestingly, it is on the Logic Pro page (someone probably messed up). That's a pretty good sign that the mac pro is not something that they are promoting so it's priority is heading towards nil.
That chime might end up as taps instead. It's not poor Apple, it's poor Steve. He built a company based on principles and results and watched as Scully and Gassée did a number on it, then took it back and built it up again only to watch from above and see the 4 amigos do a number on it again.