New Mac Pros imminent with 2TB SSD option?

[iamMacPerson]

Ok, so I have been shopping around for an SSD upgrade for my nMP. Because the pickings on eBay are fairly slim I called some AASPs in the LA area to get a quote for the parts. Out of the four I called, three said they could order me (an official Apple certified part) a 2TB blade SSD. Apparently this is something new that is just showing up in their systems for order and is apparently available as an upgrade for $1500.

I had to make sure this wasn't an OWC upgrade and they all said that it would ship directly from Apple since they don't carry these blade SSDs.

Thats too much money for my blood but could this mean new Mac Pros could be announced at WWDC?

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Ok, so I have been shopping around for an SSD upgrade for my nMP. Because the pickings on eBay are fairly slim I called some AASPs in the LA area to get a quote for the parts. Out of the four I called, three said they could order me (an official Apple certified part) a 2TB blade SSD. Apparently this is something new that is just showing up in their systems for order and is apparently available as an upgrade for $1500.

I had to make sure this wasn't an OWC upgrade and they all said that it would ship directly from Apple since they don't carry these blade SSDs.

Thats too much money for my blood but could this mean new Mac Pros could be announced at WWDC?

Sounds like a mistake of some kind. Apple doesn't even sell existing Mac Pro SSDs for Mac Pro owners who want to upgrade. I can't believe anyone would have an unreleased Mac Pro part for sale.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Mac Pro refresh soon but it won't be anything earth shattering. Thunderbolt 3 w/ DisplayPort 1.3 for an upcoming Retina 5K Thunderbolt Display will be the focus I think. And some incremental Xeon and FirePro upgrades. 2TB seems like a reasonable announcement as well.

 

[crjackson2134]

Considering that the going rate for the 1TB models are hovering around $750, then $1500 for 2TB seems on target.

 

[MacVidCards]

Did you ask if they had any D800 or D900s sitting on the shelves?

 

[iamMacPerson]

Sounds like a mistake of some kind. Apple doesn't even sell existing Mac Pro SSDs for Mac Pro owners who want to upgrade. I can't believe anyone would have an unreleased Mac Pro part for sale.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Mac Pro refresh soon but it won't be anything earth shattering. Thunderbolt 3 w/ DisplayPort 1.3 for an upcoming Retina 5K Thunderbolt Display will be the focus I think. And some incremental Xeon and FirePro upgrades. 2TB seems like a reasonable announcement as well.

What they have done for me in the past is just sold me the part as an OOW item. I have done this before with parts on other Macs, and when I pay the OOW price they let me keep the old part as well.

Did you ask if they had any D800 or D900s sitting on the shelves?

Yeah I now how it sounds, but I am serious. Try calling some local AASPs and see what they tell you. I won't give you the exact names but considering your in Hollywood some of places you call will probably be the places I called.

Considering that the going rate for the 1TB models are hovering around $750, then $1500 for 2TB seems on target.

Yeah that's what I thought. I figure it would be a good investment in the machine at some point down the road. Someday. 2TB is quite a bit of storage!

 

[MacVidCards]

If this is real and they are SSUBX running at 1,500 I will feel sorry for OWC trying to unload bigger, more problematic ones that run at half speed.

 

[Ted Witcher]

What they have done for me in the past is just sold me the part as an OOW item. I have done this before with parts on other Macs, and when I pay the OOW price they let me keep the old part as well.



Yeah I now how it sounds, but I am serious. Try calling some local AASPs and see what they tell you. I won't give you the exact names but considering your in Hollywood some of places you call will probably be the places I called.



Yeah that's what I thought. I figure it would be a good investment in the machine at some point down the road. Someday. 2TB is quite a bit of storage!

Funny, just a few weeks ago I was calling around to Melrose Mac and other spots to see if I could upgrade or replace both the GPU and the SSD in a nMP. My thinking was, what if I buy an entry-level and want to upgrade the GPU at some point? What if that SSD goes down at some point? I was told those parts were not offered by Apple, which turned me off of the nMP altogether.

 

[iamMacPerson]

What if that SSD goes down at some point? I was told those parts were not offered by Apple, which turned me off of the nMP altogether.

Well, I knew they weren't covered when I bought the machine. If the SSD fails under AppleCare is it covered though. I do not know where you read that.

Unless you were talking about the upgrades, then yeah I think you only get a year if bought through an AASP.

 

[Ted Witcher]

Well, I knew they weren't covered when I bought the machine. If the SSD fails under AppleCare is it covered though. I do not know where you read that.

Unless you were talking about the upgrades, then yeah I think you only get a year if bought through an AASP.

Not interested in AppleCare -- I never buy extended warranties, it's a scam. I mean if the SSD fails at any point down the road -- I'm not getting rid of a 3K-5K machine for years, it's not a phone -- I want to replace the drive and I'll pay for it. Or if I find I need more capacity. Or if I require the next level of GPU in the future. But Apple won't even sell me one. That's my issue.

 

[crjackson2134]

Not interested in AppleCare -- I never buy extended warranties, it's a scam. I mean if the SSD fails at any point down the road -- I'm not getting rid of a 3K-5K machine for years, it's not a phone -- I want to replace the drive and I'll pay for it. Or if I find I need more capacity. Or if I require the next level of GPU in the future. But Apple won't even sell me one. That's my issue.

AppleCare and like warranties aren't a scam. Often it goes unused on quality built products, but I've personally used it a few times and it more than paid for itself. I've also had to use warranties on memory modules (very similar to PCIe SSDs) on many occasions.

Just because you've not had a need for it, doesn't mean it's a scam.

 

[H2SO4]

AppleCare and like warranties aren't a scam. Often it goes unused on quality built products, but I've personally used it a few times and it more than paid for itself. I've also had to use warranties on memory modules (very similar to PCIe SSDs) on many occasions.

Just because you've not had a need for it, doesn't mean it's a scam.

I’m going to suggest that on the whole these warranties benefit the insurance companies. With that in mind I’m going to suggest that on the whole they are closer to scam than they are to boon.

 

[crjackson2134]

I’m going to suggest that on the whole these warranties benefit the insurance companies. With that in mind I’m going to suggest that on the whole they are closer to scam than they are to boon.

So you feel it's a dishonest scheme and a fraud? All insurance works this way. Revenue collected from people who didn't file a claim pay for those claims that are filed by others. All insurance works that way, it's a given. I have insurance on my car and I hope I never need it, I don't feel scammed by my insurance company.

Anyway back on topic. I don't need such an expensive SSD, but if it's real, I'm glad to see it coming into the market.

 

[Ted Witcher]

So you feel it's a dishonest scheme and a fraud?

It's definitely a scheme to extract money from you, which is not to say it isn't useful if the product does indeed fail. But the product isn't designed/manufactured to fail within three years or whatever it is. However they will gladly take your money as insurance, selling you peace of mind. And as with all insurance, it generally benefits the insurance company.

 

[H2SO4]

So you feel it's a dishonest scheme and a fraud?

Nope, I’m saying it works out better for them in general than it does for the public. I’ve only ever had insurances that are mandatory. Except Apple Care once if I’m honest. The Apple care did actually pay out for a new PSU for my cinema display but when you look at the cost of it, is it really a bargain statistically?
In my experience extended warranties aren’t worth it and are deliberately priced, (also very shrewdly), to make it serve the seller.

Ooh. Forgot your last sentence. I’d rather two SSD slots. That way I can have two separate 1TB SSDs or one 2TB logical volume. I am hoping with all my being that Apple do the right thing.

 

[crjackson2134]

It's definitely a scheme to extract money from you, which is not to say it isn't useful if the product does indeed fail. But the product isn't designed/manufactured to fail within three years or whatever it is. However they will gladly take your money as insurance, selling you peace of mind. And as with all insurance, it generally benefits the insurance company.

No argument with that statement. You left out the key word "Dishonest". All consumer products/services are designed to extract money from it's customers. Would you expect less?

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Nope, I’m saying it works out better for them in general than it does for the public. I’ve only ever had insurances that are mandatory. Except Apple Care once if I’m honest. The Apple care did actually pay out for a new PSU for my cinema display but when you look at the cost of it, is it really a bargain statistically?
In my experience extended warranties aren’t worth it and are deliberately priced, (also very shrewdly), to make it serve the seller.

Ooh. Forgot your last sentence. I’d rather two SSD slots. That way I can have two separate 1TB SSDs or one 2TB logical volume. I am hoping with all my being that Apple do the right thing.

Well, if it's not "Dishonest or Fraudulent" it's not a scam by definition.

I understand and agree that for many people it's not needed at all. I've used AppleCare about 6 times. Mostly because of other family members (step kids) aren't as careful and gentle with devices as I am. It's a valued service in MY household and definitely not a "Scam".

 

[Ted Witcher]

No argument with that statement. You left out the key word "Dishonest". All consumer products/services are designed to extract money from it's customers. Would you expect less?

I won't say "dishonest" because if the thing actually does break, they'll honor the commitment. But it's a bit of psychological gamesmanship. They're selling you peace of mind -- even though statistically the product is likely not to break. Call it what you will. I've never once needed it on any consumer good. I've used the initial warranty a few times over the years and that's about it.

 

[crjackson2134]

I won't say "dishonest" because if the thing actually does break, they'll honor the commitment. But it's a bit of psychological gamesmanship. They're selling you peace of mind -- even though statistically the product is likely not to break. Call it what you will.

As already stated. It's not always needed, you have to evaluate your personal needs and make you decision on a case by case basis. You aren't FORCED to buy it. I need it in my household and I've gotten my money's worth. I'm not saying it's for everybody but I certainly wasn't scammed.

 

[fuchsdh]

Nope, I’m saying it works out better for them in general than it does for the public. I’ve only ever had insurances that are mandatory. Except Apple Care once if I’m honest. The Apple care did actually pay out for a new PSU for my cinema display but when you look at the cost of it, is it really a bargain statistically?
In my experience extended warranties aren’t worth it and are deliberately priced, (also very shrewdly), to make it serve the seller.

Ooh. Forgot your last sentence. I’d rather two SSD slots. That way I can have two separate 1TB SSDs or one 2TB logical volume. I am hoping with all my being that Apple do the right thing.

Unless the new Xeons have greater numbers of PCIe lanes I'm not sure Apple would kit it out with two SSD slots and sacrifice 4x speeds. Every PCIe lane is being used in the current config for the dual graphics, dual 1GigE, USB3, and Wireless. I agree that dual internal SSD bays would be awesome and satisfy my internal storage needs and desires.

 

[Ted Witcher]

That box should have dual SSDs and Apple should sell SSD sticks and GPUs right on the store page. But I'm not CEO.

 

[MMcCraryNJ]

I purchased a nMP from a third party website that might not even be a legit, authorized Apple reseller, along with an AppleCare packet. The AppleCare packet couldn't be registered because it was from 2009, but Apple had no problem honoring it over the phone and giving me a new agreement number.

A week later, my machine developed the dreaded coil whine issue. I had many different sounds coming from it, and wasn't happy with the noise level. Even though I did not purchase it from Apple, and they had every right to tell me to urinate up a rope and deal with whomever I bought it from, they gave me a brand new machine right off of their shelf, unopened. Even transferred my AppleCare agreement over to the new machine.

When you're buying a $3500 machine, another couple of hundred for this level of service for the next 3 years is small change.

 

[fuchsdh]

Warranties are very much a personal thing, because you're right—pure number-crunching wise it might not be worth it, but the sense of security is a good feeling all its own.

I've never had a mechanical problem besides bad RAM on any of the seven desktop Macs I've owned, and never had AppleCare for them. On the other hand, AppleCare on my Macbook Pro saved me essentially the cost of a new machine, and when I took it in for some screen defects three days after my AppleCare expired they still took care of it. So I'd probably get it again, at least on any portable.

 

[iamMacPerson]

I never buy extended warranties, it's a scam.

Yeah, as someone who has had multiple (15-20 total) MacBook Pro logic board replacements and 3 complete machine replacements over the course of 3 years all covered under AppleCare, yeah I do not think its a scam. Apple's desktops seem to be more reliable then their laptops, yes, but I think with all this and considering that AppleCare bounced from one machine to the other I think the $250 for the coverage is worth it. I have had a couple desktops but one this expensive, one this important to my work, is worth it.

FWIW, these were all 15" MacBook Pros. 2 of those would be under the repair extension program that Apple issued. My current 13" MacBook Pro is working like a charm and I bought it used. I will never buy another MBP with a discreet GPU.

 

[SuperMatt]

If you're not completely sold on AppleCare, know that some credit card companies will double the manufacturer's warranty - meaning 2 years instead of 1 on Apple products. I've used this before, and it works but it took forever for the credit card company to process my claim, so... I got AppleCare for my nMP. 3 yrs of phone support is pretty great too.