What I did about the lack of a new Mac Pro... A Heartfelt Rant

[jbg232]

OK, so I use my computer as a prosumer photographer. To be honest, the macbook aluminum connected to a 30" cinema display just ain't cutting it anymore. My 30MB RAW files in aperture are just ridiculously slow to load and edit. Not to mention that the hard drive is full and the external drive holding my masters is on USB 2.0! Back in the day I would have gotten the new retina macbook pro but ever since my iPad I've literally NEVER used my laptop again. It just sits under my desk connected to all my peripherals acting as a desktop computer. Plus, with all my files, calendar, email, music, notes, tasks, and bookmarks in the cloud I really find NO reason for a laptop if I have my iPad (this is going to be especially true with 10.8).

So here I am thinking that I was going to get my nice fast mac pro with new graphics card, 32GB memory, 4TB raid 0 media drive hard drive, 500GB accelsior SSD, internal time machine storage, etc, etc and we all are obviously disappointed with what they gave us. Now don't get me wrong, the current mac pro or imac would be light years ahead of my current setup and would benefit me enormously in terms of my hobby (and be completely acceptable solutions), but in the end I can't mentally justify paying 2012 prices for 2010/2011 technology especially if a redesign is one year away. Case in point, my current macbook aluminum (5,1) is one of the earliest computers supported by Mountain Lion 10.8. I waited until the new generation (much like now) and bought it the day they came out and now it really will last me for 4 generations of operating systems so I would say I definitely got my money's worth.

So Apple's got me in a pickle... The iMacs and Mac Pros are basically certain to be coming out in 2013 (after following Apple every day for 5 years I can say that when they tell multiple media outlets something themselves, it will happen) and my computer now is on its last legs. Actually, MC Siegler summed it up best today "If there's a Limbo in the tech world, it's in it." There really isn't a right or wrong answer, you have to choose something and get on with your life. I've chosen to wait it out.

So here's what I did:
I put the money I was going to spend on the Mac Pro into a savings account not to be touched until 2013 and will now be buying myself 8gb of memory (from 4) and a new hard drive or ssd (not over $200) to hold me over and keep my computer running. In 2013, it's go time!

And to all of my fellow disappointees, I recommend to make a choice and be done with it, your energy is better spent on other things.

 

[Pval]

4TB RAID-0 Media drive? I hope you'll have backups.

 

[GermanyChris]

OK, so I use my computer as a prosumer photographer. To be honest, the macbook aluminum connected to a 30" cinema display just ain't cutting it anymore. My 30MB RAW files in aperture are just ridiculously slow to load and edit. Not to mention that the hard drive is full and the external drive holding my masters is on USB 2.0! Back in the day I would have gotten the new retina macbook pro but ever since my iPad I've literally NEVER used my laptop again. It just sits under my desk connected to all my peripherals acting as a desktop computer. Plus, with all my files, calendar, email, music, notes, tasks, and bookmarks in the cloud I really find NO reason for a laptop if I have my iPad (this is going to be especially true with 10.8).

So here I am thinking that I was going to get my nice fast mac pro with new graphics card, 32GB memory, 4TB raid 0 media drive hard drive, 500GB accelsior SSD, internal time machine storage, etc, etc and we all are obviously disappointed with what they gave us. Now don't get me wrong, the current mac pro or imac would be light years ahead of my current setup and would benefit me enormously in terms of my hobby (and be completely acceptable solutions), but in the end I can't mentally justify paying 2012 prices for 2010/2011 technology especially if a redesign is one year away. Case in point, my current macbook aluminum (5,1) is one of the earliest computers supported by Mountain Lion 10.8. I waited until the new generation (much like now) and bought it the day they came out and now it really will last me for 4 generations of operating systems so I would say I definitely got my money's worth.

So Apple's got me in a pickle... The iMacs and Mac Pros are basically certain to be coming out in 2013 (after following Apple every day for 5 years I can say that when they tell multiple media outlets something themselves, it will happen) and my computer now is on its last legs. Actually, MC Siegler summed it up best today "If there's a Limbo in the tech world, it's in it." There really isn't a right or wrong answer, you have to choose something and get on with your life. I've chosen to wait it out.

So here's what I did:
I put the money I was going to spend on the Mac Pro into a savings account not to be touched until 2013 and will now be buying myself 8gb of memory (from 4) and a new hard drive or ssd (not over $200) to hold me over and keep my computer running. In 2013, it's go time!

And to all of my fellow disappointees, I recommend to make a choice and be done with it, your energy is better spent on other things.

I thought my hobbies were expensive..you just rattled out a $4000-$6000 computer for a hobby..

 

[wisty]

I thought my hobbies were expensive..you just rattled out a $4000-$6000 computer for a hobby..

Wait till you hear what he spends on lenses. Photography is a cheap hobby, compared to owning a yacht or plane. Compared to most hobbys, it's not.

 

[Macman45]

OK, so I use my computer as a prosumer photographer. To be honest, the macbook aluminum connected to a 30" cinema display just ain't cutting it anymore. My 30MB RAW files in aperture are just ridiculously slow to load and edit. Not to mention that the hard drive is full and the external drive holding my masters is on USB 2.0! Back in the day I would have gotten the new retina macbook pro but ever since my iPad I've literally NEVER used my laptop again. It just sits under my desk connected to all my peripherals acting as a desktop computer. Plus, with all my files, calendar, email, music, notes, tasks, and bookmarks in the cloud I really find NO reason for a laptop if I have my iPad (this is going to be especially true with 10.8).

So here I am thinking that I was going to get my nice fast mac pro with new graphics card, 32GB memory, 4TB raid 0 media drive hard drive, 500GB accelsior SSD, internal time machine storage, etc, etc and we all are obviously disappointed with what they gave us. Now don't get me wrong, the current mac pro or imac would be light years ahead of my current setup and would benefit me enormously in terms of my hobby (and be completely acceptable solutions), but in the end I can't mentally justify paying 2012 prices for 2010/2011 technology especially if a redesign is one year away. Case in point, my current macbook aluminum (5,1) is one of the earliest computers supported by Mountain Lion 10.8. I waited until the new generation (much like now) and bought it the day they came out and now it really will last me for 4 generations of operating systems so I would say I definitely got my money's worth.

So Apple's got me in a pickle... The iMacs and Mac Pros are basically certain to be coming out in 2013 (after following Apple every day for 5 years I can say that when they tell multiple media outlets something themselves, it will happen) and my computer now is on its last legs. Actually, MC Siegler summed it up best today "If there's a Limbo in the tech world, it's in it." There really isn't a right or wrong answer, you have to choose something and get on with your life. I've chosen to wait it out.

So here's what I did:
I put the money I was going to spend on the Mac Pro into a savings account not to be touched until 2013 and will now be buying myself 8gb of memory (from 4) and a new hard drive or ssd (not over $200) to hold me over and keep my computer running. In 2013, it's go time!

And to all of my fellow disappointees, I recommend to make a choice and be done with it, your energy is better spent on other things.

A very well written and sensible post...I'm in the same boat, but a little more lucky in terms of what I use now. It's a shame you have no Thunderbolt capability....Solving your USB 2 Issue would be pretty simple if you did.

I have a maxed out 27" iMac, a 17" (yep gone for sure) MBP and a 13" MBA. My upgrade path was due to be in January next year, so I had my plans in place and waited to see what the "New" Pro would be, and how I would spec it up when I purchased it. I too, have decided to wait it out, I never considered jumping ship really anyway. But I have a 4TB Pegasus R4 Thunderbolt system...This will almost certainly be increased before the Pro is finally where I /We want ti to be, but the storage is super fast, and when you consider the performance and flexibility, relatively inexpensive.

The last line in your post says it all really....Life IS too short. We will mange until 2013!

 

[GermanyChris]

Wait till you hear what he spends on lenses. Photography is a cheap hobby, compared to owning a yacht or plane. Compared to most hobbys, it's not.

I died when I bought my 70-300 lens for the D80...I'm new to the photography thing..

 

[CrAkD]

I'm in a similar situation. Only I'm using an i7 nehalem hackintosh. I have it a little better cause it's a desktop and I have alot of internal storage and an SSD. its been rock solid for years but it's starting to slowdown when I'm running Protools. I have a $3000 apple gift card waiting for a new Mac pro or even a new iMac. I'm ready for a new system but apple is making it difficult. now apple saying a redesigned Mac pro is coming in 2013 is killing me. Because I know an iMac is going to come out much sooner......do I wait or get the iMac? ahhhhhhhhh!!

 

[mim]

I put 8 gig in my 5,1 Al MacBook - it's a different machine. Such a difference. Adding an SSD would easily see you through to the next iMac/Macpro update if you've made it this far!

Edit:I also made it run with the 64bit kernel. Worth doing even though it's a small pain to get working.