So I replaced my Mac Pro......

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With a Retina Macbook and am very impressed. It drives two 30 inch displays - a HDMI 1080p HD monitor -and doesn't seem to mis a heartbeat.

My 2008 Mac Pro certainly didn't feel as snappy.

Will it last five years for professional work? I Doubt it - but who knows - I expect it will do very well for the next two or so before we upgrade to the New Mac Pro.

But until then, certainly very impressed.

 

[StephenCampbell]

It's got about 40% of the horsepower that the current Mac Pro has (not to mention how it will compare to the New Mac Pro), and is frozen as is forever.

If you're fine with having to upgrade in two years, it certainly is a lovely machine to use! But it is not a reasonable permanent option for Mac Pro users, as you've illustrated.

 

[scott.n]

Were you using an SSD in the Mac Pro?

 

[Wardenski]

My problem with the MBPR is that if one part dies the whole thing is almost useless, need to send the whole thing in to be de-soldered.

 

[scottsjack]

If a laptop fits your needs you certainly don't need a Mac Pro.

 

[throAU]

It's got about 40% of the horsepower that the current Mac Pro has (not to mention how it will compare to the New Mac Pro), and is frozen as is forever.

If you're fine with having to upgrade in two years, it certainly is a lovely machine to use! But it is not a reasonable permanent option for Mac Pro users, as you've illustrated.

Whilst its not a true next-gen mac pro replacement: it depends what you're doing.

The sandy/ivy bridge core i7s have a lot of new instructions to do stuff in hardware up to 30x faster than previous generation intel CPUs.

The current laptop CPUs are very very fast - especially if the new AVX and AES instructions are used for tasks they can be used for.


Of course, CPU power is actually the least important aspect of the mac pro....

 

[Maccho]

Sounds awesome! I really want to buy a new laptop sometime soon and also upgrade my desktop to the upcoming (hopefully soon) Mac Pro.

How's the Macbook Pro Retina Display feel? Any significant drawbacks like heat problems?

I heard its not as fast as the normal MBP's...

 

[DeepIn2U]

It's got about 40% of the horsepower that the current Mac Pro has (not to mention how it will compare to the New Mac Pro), and is frozen as is forever.

If you're fine with having to upgrade in two years, it certainly is a lovely machine to use! But it is not a reasonable permanent option for Mac Pro users, as you've illustrated.

I actually can see Apple killing off the current Mac Pro design. Making it a LOT smaller (say MacMini stacked 4/5 units high, 1.5/2 units wide making the length and witch very close to the Mac Pro). But the power savings would be HUGE!! Not to mention next gen. cpu's being even more powerful and with say 2/3 current Thunderbolt ports or 2 next generation ThunderBolt ports and a 4/6bay Promise TB external drive ... Only a proper video card would separate duties and performance.

RAID drives, swap them,
CPU, need power and low length processing gates,
SSD internals,
Decent video card or work with 3rd party vendors for proper external TB vid cards.

But there is just something sweet and alluring about that solid heavy rack of aluminum!!!

 

[wordoflife]

Your MacPro would've probably felt as snappy with a minor upgrade and clean install, but regardless, new toys are always welcomed, aren't they?

 

[minifridge1138]

If it meets your needs, then I'm very happy for you.

You say that it feels snappier than the 2008 MP did, but you didn't state what kind of applications you use.

Just out of curiosity, have you run any kind of benchmarks (that are applicable to what you actually do and not some random test off of the internet) to compare the performance?

Good luck and enjoy the new

 

[strausd]

Congrats man! I love my rMBP and 2010 MP. Seeing as you were a 2008 MP owner and need a computer to use until the new MPs come it, it seems like a good choice. Seems like a lot of other people posting may have skipped over the part where you were saying that you will be using this until you get the new Mac Pro.

 

[CaptainChunk]

Inexpensive storage and swappable GPUs are the only reasons why I keep my Mac Pro around. Even if I pick up an rMBP (I plan on it, when funds permit), I'll still keep my 2008 MP for those reasons.

 

[JayJayAbels]

No two "pro" users are the same so when someone claims that the new MacBook Pro isn't up to snuff as compared to the current generation of Mac Pros... it's non sensical without knowing what kind of "pro" he is and what applications he'll be utilizing.

You could very well be a "pro" and use an 2011 iMac. No question.

I think, however, it's safe to say that not many "pro" users would find something like a MacBook Air useful simply due to its lack of overall power.

Not every "pro" needs the ability to upgrade their machines just like not every "pro" needs 12 cores. Photographers require different results from their applications as compared to, say, audio engineers. Video editors desire different outcomes from their applications as compared to, say, computer animation specialists. Etc.

The 2011 iMac, stuffed with RAM, is an awesome machine and very capable in its own right.

And that's the thing... we're living in a world where there are applications attempting to utilize all of the components of modern hardware to the best of their abilities. The gap is now widening a bit where the majority of professional users would do just fine with a MacBook Pro or an iMac.

Others who require much more raw power will always have to rely on the Mac Pro to get jobs accomplished in a reasonable manner.

Technology is moving very quickly indeed.