Waiting for modular Mac Pro 2019

[Aldaris]

That is exactly why I will not purchase an "all-in-one" as a pro workstation. It's bad enough that their laptops are barely repairable. The iMac Pro looks cool on a stage or at a conference for a demo, but that's not where I'd be using it 99% of the time.

I’m right there with you. It’s one thing for a laptop but a 5k (base price) “workstation” that is horse sh—.

In my personal dealings I’ve always had excellent service with repairs (except for having to wait for all the iOS toys to be handed out-this very morning, just take my signature and hand me my MacBook Pro, and then do all the little iOS bedside manner...).

Never have I owned an all in one, nor do I want to, for this very reason-something goes and you’re down and out. 5k ugh.

 

[AidenShaw]

For this kind of service / support, it's scary to treat the iMac Pro as a real workstation.

A year or so ago my ThinkPad fell out of my daypack (forgot to zip the laptop pocket) and hit the floor just right to shatter the touch screen.

The Lenovo tech came to my office the next day with a new screen, and replaced it. (Our Lenovo contract includes 4 year next business day service, including accidental damage.)

That's the kind of service that "Pros" should expect.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

Anyone happen to know the maximum theoretical length for a pci riser cable? Looking at a pc I’m thinking of building, it occurred to me that eGPU doesn’t necessarily require thunderbolt, eg magma’s chassis back in the day...

A Mac Pro with no internal card slots (or the space they use), but, say 3 or 4 dedicated “pci direct” ports that are just a full-fat pci slot reshaped into a plug connector, which support a single device each, could be a workable compromise. Put gpu (or decklink 8k) into box, plug whatever into card, plug box into “slotport” or “magicbus” or “cyclone” or whatever goofy name marcom comes up with... “slotless” Mac Pro with expansion capabilities that aren’t maxed at 1/4 the lanes of traditional workstations.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
[doublepost=1523974337][/doublepost]

Guarantee you, that’s how they’ll position it. Put it this way, if the pro display they’re developing is the same as the one in the iMac Pro*, the price of a Mac Pro plus the pro display, will be the same as a similar config iMac Pro with a (second) pro display.

*my money is still on the pro display being 32”8k, and damn the number of cables it requires.

"pic direct ports"!! Nobody wants this. We sort of had it with this mac pro (TB2), and they decided at the last minute we can have it for everything but GPUs. No thanks. Regular PCIe or GTFO.

Then we're back to a jumbled mess of external expansion, not to mention the additional cost always associated with going outside the main box.

Give it 4 TBx ports, but it also needs 4 slots.

 

[mattspace]

"pic direct ports"!! Nobody wants this. We sort of had it with this mac pro (TB2), and they decided at the last minute we can have it for everything but GPUs. No thanks. Regular PCIe or GTFO.

Then we're back to a jumbled mess of external expansion, not to mention the additional cost always associated with going outside the main box.

Give it 4 TBx ports, but it also needs 4 slots.

Look, I agree PCI slots would be better, and that the HP Z4 is the platonic ideal of what the next Mac Pro should be, it's certainly what I want, I'm just trying to think of a way a solution could be salvaged that isn't thunderbolt for external graphics. Apple's new pet reporter Panzarrino (feel sorry for Richie and Gruber, Apple's love is so fickle) reported from the pro workflows group tour at seeing eGPUs everywhere, but Apple knows and acknowledges that thunderbolt-limited eGPU isn't enough for everyone...

 

[OS6-OSX]

Never have I owned an all in one, nor do I want to.....

I own an all in one and it's pretty cool!

 

[AidenShaw]

I own an all in one and it's pretty cool!
View attachment 758720

Is that the QHD screen option?

 

[Dr. Stealth]

I own an all in one and it's pretty cool!
View attachment 758720

That's a damn nice all-in-one.... Color even! Who really needs 5K Retina ? I've owned them too....

Desktop Publishing for the masses courtesy of Steve Jobs !

( Like Hitler's People Wagon, aka Volkswagen )

Remember when Apple hooked up with Volkswagen to promote the iPod?

They were both considered POD's.

"Pods Unite!"

Anyway I'm old... Please forgive my drifting off into the past. I do that a lot these days....

 

[zephonic]

For this kind of service / support, it's scary to treat the iMac Pro as a real workstation.

Apple refusing to repair an essentially brand-new iMac Pro? They should be taken to task for that.

Hope this will go viral and force Apple into action.
[doublepost=1524015928][/doublepost]Actually, this guy on the LTT forum seems to have a reasonable explanation:

What most likely happened, and what I have seen in the past, is that the store had no certified employees for iMac Pro repairs, so none of them were able to order the needed parts.

https://linustechtips.com/main/topi...our-imac-pro/?do=findComment&comment=11251430

 

[Aldaris]

Actually, this guy on the LTT forum seems to have a reasonable explanation:

Wouldn’t they be able to ship it somewhere where it could be repaired though?
[doublepost=1524021110][/doublepost]... although that makes sense given there isn’t a real good support system for this new ‘platform’. Based on what was presented in the video with the AASP circle jerk that seems to be going on.

 

[Chancha]

This raises serious concern. If Apple's (3rd party) services and support landscape is built upon the toss-and-replace approach of their mobile devices where parts aren't readily available and authrozied, then the servicing and longevity of the next Mac Pro is going to suffer. And we still don't know how fancily proprietary the chassis will be, especially concerning the outward PCI lanes.

 

[singhs.apps]

This raises serious concern. If Apple's (3rd party) services and support landscape is built upon the toss-and-replace approach of their mobile devices where parts aren't readily available and authrozied, then the servicing and longevity of the next Mac Pro is going to suffer. And we still don't know how fancily proprietary the chassis will be, especially concerning the outward PCI lanes.

So the idea is to wait 6 months after the launch just so you might get replacement parts in case things go belly up with your nMP. Nice.

 

[mattspace]

So the idea is to wait 6 months after the launch just so you might get replacement parts in case things go belly up with your nMP. Nice.

waiting 6 months after launch is standard safety protocol for any new Apple design.

 

[Chancha]

The best favor Apple can do for pros is to reveal at least the mMP form factor during the next WWDC. Just by knowing that alone is enough for most to judge if its time to switch the **** out.

 

[singhs.apps]

waiting 6 months after launch is standard safety protocol for any new Apple design.

Refusing to buy designs that one sees as short sighted is even better protocol.

Or bailing out.


[doublepost=1524028711][/doublepost]

The best favor Apple can do for pros is to reveal at least the mMP form factor during the next WWDC. Just by knowing that alone is enough for most to judge if its time to switch the **** out.

That’s my timeline anyway.

 

[iPadified]

I do not understand why people stay with Macs if a PC would do better? After all, the price performance,upgradability and software availability is generally much better on PC than on Mac and reading the thread it seem quite clear that many wants Macs to become PC. What is stopping you moving over?

It is ironic that the MacIntosh Classic is posted in this thread. So far from the DOS/early win machines that was the standard at the time (same standard applies today, the box is just tilted 90 Deg and called a tower) and a game changer.

Personally, I use Macs because I like the workflow of Mac OS and Apple hardware is sufficient, nice looking and generally of high quality. Would I be a Mac user only if I did more 3D modelling and animations, CAD drawings - No, that would be foolish and even unprofessional.

 

[goMac]

Actually, this guy on the LTT forum seems to have a reasonable explanation:



https://linustechtips.com/main/topi...our-imac-pro/?do=findComment&comment=11251430

Remember when I said around these parts that Apple doesn’t want to manage Mac Pro upgrades in store and that they’re not good at it?

Take this nonsense and multiply it by everyone who wants to get a proprietary Mac Pro GPU upgraded when new GPUs launch at the Apple Store.

Ahhahahahahaha oh I made myself sad.

 

[Chancha]

I do not understand why people stay with Macs if a PC would do better? After all, the price performance,upgradability and software availability is generally much better on PC than on Mac and reading the thread it seem quite clear that many wants Macs to become PC. What is stopping you moving over?

It is ironic that the MacIntosh Classic is posted in this thread. So far from the DOS/early win machines that was the standard at the time (same standard applies today, the box is just tilted 90 Deg and called a tower) and a game changer.

Personally, I use Macs because I like the workflow of Mac OS and Apple hardware is sufficient, nice looking and generally of high quality. Would I be a Mac user only if I did more 3D modelling and animations, CAD drawings - No, that would be foolish and even unprofessional.

Years of software licenses piling up, workflow, GUI habits, ease of maintenance (until lately), general good build quality (especially the portables). Switching out is always a possible if not viable option, but there are realistic financial and logistic friction keeping us from doing so.
[doublepost=1524036926][/doublepost]

Remember when I said around these parts that Apple doesn’t want to manage Mac Pro upgrades in store and that they’re not good at it?

Take this nonsense and multiply it by everyone who wants to get a proprietary Mac Pro GPU upgraded when new GPUs launch at the Apple Store.

Ahhahahahahaha oh I made myself sad.

To put this into perspective, I seriously don't understand why Apple even bothers anymore. Up until last April, it looked like they were pulling out of the pro-space for good, and frankly being silent with the 6,1 stagnation was the "right" way to do it in the business context (despite being unfair to us).

It now looks like if the mMP doesn't end up being a CheeseGrater 2.0, then it will have no hope surviving real world demands if Apple doesn't back it up accordingly.

 

[zephonic]

I do not understand why people stay with Macs if a PC would do better? After all, the price performance,upgradability and software availability is generally much better on PC than on Mac and reading the thread it seem quite clear that many wants Macs to become PC. What is stopping you moving over?

It is ironic that the MacIntosh Classic is posted in this thread. So far from the DOS/early win machines that was the standard at the time (same standard applies today, the box is just tilted 90 Deg and called a tower) and a game changer.

Personally, I use Macs because I like the workflow of Mac OS and Apple hardware is sufficient, nice looking and generally of high quality. Would I be a Mac user only if I did more 3D modelling and animations, CAD drawings - No, that would be foolish and even unprofessional.

I don’t think the folks posting here are necessarily a representative sample of professional Mac users.
[doublepost=1524038134][/doublepost]

Remember when I said around these parts that Apple doesn’t want to manage Mac Pro upgrades in store and that they’re not good at it?

Take this nonsense and multiply it by everyone who wants to get a proprietary Mac Pro GPU upgraded when new GPUs launch at the Apple Store.

Ahhahahahahaha oh I made myself sad.

lol, only too right.

 

[h9826790]

I do not understand why people stay with Macs if a PC would do better? After all, the price performance,upgradability and software availability is generally much better on PC than on Mac and reading the thread it seem quite clear that many wants Macs to become PC. What is stopping you moving over?

As a truly Apple fans, my answer is “The emoji”

 

[barmann]

Guarantee you, that’s how they’ll position it. Put it this way, if the pro display they’re developing is the same as the one in the iMac Pro*, the price of a Mac Pro plus the pro display, will be the same as a similar config iMac Pro with a (second) pro display.

I'm not saying it's beyond Apple to do that, just that it'd be ridiculous .

I think they painted themselfes into a corner with the iMP; but pricing the next MP based on Apple's vision for the iMP would paint the customers into that same corner .

Who will swallow that pill ?
It's for Apple to suck it up for once .


iMP = workstation light, expensive design ( x$ ) + display ( y$ ) = x+y$

Next MP = workstation proper, simple design ( x$ ) = x$

There, simple !

 

[fuchsdh]

Apple refusing to repair an essentially brand-new iMac Pro? They should be taken to task for that.

Hope this will go viral and force Apple into action.
[doublepost=1524015928][/doublepost]Actually, this guy on the LTT forum seems to have a reasonable explanation:



https://linustechtips.com/main/topi...our-imac-pro/?do=findComment&comment=11251430

As pointed out by MacRumors, the entire story is ********. Apple has repair techs and a program in place, so likely the problem was that no one wanted to repair a machine he damaged himself to a total loss.

A year or so ago my ThinkPad fell out of my daypack (forgot to zip the laptop pocket) and hit the floor just right to shatter the touch screen.

The Lenovo tech came to my office the next day with a new screen, and replaced it. (Our Lenovo contract includes 4 year next business day service, including accidental damage.)

That's the kind of service that "Pros" should expect.

You can get this with Apple too... I'm not sure why people treat on-site repairs as something that Apple doesn't do. If you don't need something up-and-running, you take it to the Apple store. If you do, you pony up for a contract like Lenovo or Apple or Dell or whoever offer.

And if you performed catastrophic damage to your machine, I expect they would deny service and tell you to get a new one too. It's like expecting a mechanic to repair your totaled car.

 

[singhs.apps]

likely the problem was that no one wanted to repair a machine he damaged himself to a total loss.

So why wasn’t it mentioned in the response email ? Why did it take two days to respond ? Why not say it at the time when it was brought to the store ?

Even in the thread over at the forum, Apple technicians are offering to help. Shouldn’t they all be pointing out the void warranty ?

Linus is offering to pay for the repairs if Apple isn’t wiling to repair it under warranty. Since Apple is the only one authorised to repair it, and in control of the repair parts, what option does a user have ?

 

[Nugget]

...no one wanted to repair a machine he damaged himself to a total loss..

He ruined the display panel. How is that a “total loss”? CPU, mainboard, storage, RAM are all still fine. Nothing at all like a totaled car as in your analogy.

 

[iPadified]

Years of software licenses piling up, workflow, GUI habits, ease of maintenance (until lately), general good build quality (especially the portables). Switching out is always a possible if not viable option, but there are realistic financial and logistic friction keeping us from doing so.
[doublepost=1524036926][/doublepost]

Yes, sometimes it is difficult to move on due to completely other reasons. What is your opinion in quantitative gains moving to PC compared to Mac? Benchmarks are telling very little in terms of sum total using a computer and I guess a more valid benchmark is if you get overall more work done per time unit. In other words, will you earn more money using a PC compared to Mac?

 

[singhs.apps]

Benchmarks are telling very little in terms of sum total using a computer

Benchmarks are only reliable for the user to decide whether the results are worth investigating further.

3d rendering benchmark tells us little about pro res benchmarks and vice versa. Running simulations tell little about photoshop performance and so on.

The better option is to ask knowledgeable, objective Proffesionals from your own field who use similar systems and workflows ( for a decent period of time.. say two-three years )

PCs have their own issues just like macs and while windows 10 isn’t quite Mac OS, it compensates in its own way ( I had an easier time switching to Mac once I stopped booting into windows at every little snag, and stopped expecting OS X to behave like windows.

Also hardware design aesthetics has been improving past few years