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New Mac Pro Case Design: Speculation

B

Blue Velvet

Moderator emeritus
Original poster
Jul 4, 2004
21,929
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150px-Macpro.png




No design lasts forever, regardless how iconic its status.

Surprisingly, disregarding some internal changes, it's been almost eight years since the current aluminium case of the Mac Pro (previously the G5 PowerMac) was released in mid-2003 with the G5 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 models. I remember opening up our new work G5s at the time and being amazed at the ease of access and the elegance of its internals compared to my dual G4 which was comparatively cluttered.



150px-Power_Mac_G3_B%26W.jpg




Before then, the overall form (excluding changes of colour and materials) of the G4 PowerMac lasted from 1999 with the Blue & White Power Mac G3 until 2003, when the dual G4 1.4 was released... only four years.

120px-Apple_PowerMac_G4_M8570_MDD_front.jpg



So, it's my guess that within the next 2-3 years we'll see a new design, possibly sooner, assuming that Apple still continue with a professional model and that it's a tower of some form or another.

What would you like to see; size, form, materials, finish-wise? And what improvements do you think could be made on the internals to fit within it and to accommodate new technologies?
 
in a design ?
something along the lines of what we have ?
more ports up front and in back of all kinds :)

I want to keep a flat top though handy place to set stuff I like the handle idea easy to run cords up through and comes in handy when you move it

to me they kinda have a Porsche 911 on their hands :) hope they dont change to much some things are iconic Porsche 911 as a example soda can as a example coke bottle another :)
 
The problem facing them is that internally the case is small as more and more features are added to Intel's chipsets.
 
The Mac Pro really could use a heating redesign. While the case is great in terms of airflow, the CPU(s) are using Jack-and-the-Beanstalk tall-style heatsinks, which take up a ton of space.

The one thing I like about the Mac Pro case is the ease of access for 1) optical drives, and 2) hard disks. Most other [PC] cases require you to pull out drives at a weird angle (toward the center of the case), whereas the Mac Pro enables you to pull the drives directly out of the case and not have to deal with power and data cables.

I can see the Mac Pro getting a server-treatment. External access/hot-swap drive bays in the style of XServe would be really neat.

But Apple: Please, for the love of Flying Spaghetti Monster, DO NOT INSTALL NONSENSICAL BLUE LED LIGHTS TO THE MAC PRO.
 
fswmacguy said:
But Apple: Please, for the love of Flying Spaghetti Monster, DO NOT INSTALL NONSENSICAL BLUE LED LIGHTS TO THE MAC PRO.
Click to expand...

Agreed!

I like the current look and utility of the current case. I especially love all the metal. Minor improvements are welcome, but I fear big changes.
 
The Mac Pro case is almost perfect. It just needs a different set of holes punched in the front and back panels to allow for the changes in connection types. The front could use one TB port, the rear needs two TB ports (on separate channels) and two more USB ports. With TB coming on board two FW ports are just fine.
 
I have no idea how you'd update this case. I think it's a flawless design. Sure you could make it smaller, but then it would lose some of the presence that it has. I have to say I love the size and weight of the thing. Looks like it means serious business.
 
Hakkera said:
I have to say I love the size and weight of the thing. Looks like it means serious business.
Click to expand...

I actually HATE the size and weight of this thing. I regularly have to move them around at work and it is kind of a PITA. The PMG4 was the perfect size IMO, I dont know why this thing needs to be so giant.
 
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The handles were a bit better on the PMG4, but it was still hefty (had a half hour subway ride with one a few months ago, it was a PITA).

What I really loved with that design was the mobo on the hinged door, it was amazing to have all the components right there when opening the machine.

As hard as I try to think of this, there isn't much I could find wrong with the current Mac Pro. It's a very solid structure, the compartments are easily accessible. Anything that you need to get to is right there !

Whatever Cupertino brings out, it's going to have to be really stellar to surpass what is already, IMHO, the best desktop EVER.

And that's probably why we won't see a new design anytime soon: the competition still has a bit of work to catch up.
 
I don't want them to change it. I love it the way it is. It's perfect design and a work of art.

The only thing I would like to see is the etched Apple on the side taken off. We all know what it is and it's a little tacky, it's really big, and very there. But I can't see that happening.

I really don't think it needs changing and I hope it stays like this for a while, but I do trust Jonathan Ive's design so if it were to change Im sure it would be cool. That guy is going to go down as one of history's design greats I think.
 
it would be nice if the handles were more comfortable for those times when it needs to be carried.
 
I have no idea how I could improve the Mac Pro
But im sure Apple will surprise me.
 
It could be made long enough to have 5 bays.
It could be a little taller to allow 1 more pcie slot
OF course a few more slots in front and back for T-Bolt

Last how bout a titanium option. that mofo would be highend.

if not a titanium how about a heavier case 1.5mm of aluminum added in thickness. buck the slimming trend making it more of a stud ram truck work horse. steers away some users to a better iMac but the buyers will be real! mac pro users
 
philipma1957 said:
It could be made long enough to have 5 bays.
It could be a little taller to allow 1 more pcie slot
OF course a few more slots in front and back for T-Bolt

Last how bout a titanium option. that mofo would be highend.

if not a titanium how about a heavier case 1.5mm of aluminum added in thickness. buck the slimming trend making it more of a stud ram truck work horse. steers away some users to a better iMac but the buyers will be real! mac pro users
Click to expand...

Actually this is true.

just bigger would be good, and be able to add more drives. Maybe put them in vertically instead of horizontally? So the height of the drives in extra height?

But keep the general design the same please.

Titanium would bump the cost 3 fold probably.
 
I think that the design is still in it's peak. It fits in which everything else that Apple sell currently.

I don't believe the design will change very much for quite a while.
 
iGary said:
I miss my mirrored-door G4. God, that was a sweet-looking machine.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. It's stunning isn't it?

What I really hated is when someone said what's this button for? sticking their finger in and crushing the speaker.

grrrrr.
 
I love the current design, except when it breaks down and I have to carry it to the service centre, twice.
 
I'd like 6 PCI slots...

The real power of modern computing is with the GPU!!!

We need slots for 2, 3, 4 GPUs.
 
philipma1957 said:
It could be made long enough to have 5 bays.
It could be a little taller to allow 1 more pcie slot
OF course a few more slots in front and back for T-Bolt

Last how bout a titanium option. that mofo would be highend.

if not a titanium how about a heavier case 1.5mm of aluminum added in thickness. buck the slimming trend making it more of a stud ram truck work horse. steers away some users to a better iMac but the buyers will be real! mac pro users
Click to expand...
Hell yeah, lets make it a tank weighing in at 25kg, I want more PCI-E slots and drive bays.
 
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DeeEss said:
philipma1957 said:
It could be made long enough to have 5 bays.
It could be a little taller to allow 1 more pcie slot
OF course a few more slots in front and back for T-Bolt

Last how bout a titanium option. that mofo would be highend.

if not a titanium how about a heavier case 1.5mm of aluminum added in thickness. buck the slimming trend making it more of a stud ram truck work horse. steers away some users to a better iMac but the buyers will be real! mac pro users
Click to expand...

Actually this is true.

just bigger would be good, and be able to add more drives. Maybe put them in vertically instead of horizontally? So the height of the drives in extra height?

But keep the general design the same please.

Titanium would bump the cost 3 fold probably.
Click to expand...

Hey, that is a good idea, you could get like 8 drives in there instead of 4, that would be cool. As for the slots maybe an extra one, but 4 slots is already pretty good.
 
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iGary said:
I miss my mirrored-door G4. God, that was a sweet-looking machine.
Click to expand...

It looked great... Until you turned it on and suddenly went deaf.
 
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