What to do if the Mac Pro is discontinued ?

[thekev]

Whatever happens however, use your current system as long as possible before making any decisions, which should be at least a couple of years yet.

The rumors are still pure speculation. If they do EOL it, as long as you have hardware that is fast enough for now, you have time to think on what to do next. Unfortunately I have to buy something rather soon at the moment

I would build a cloud of Mac Mini's and charge people a reasonable rate to connect to it. I think if Apple discontinues it they may offer some virtualization or cloud alternative.

If those fail; Ubuntu for a workhorse and a shiny iMac for the desk.

Running cloud based applications with anything really powerful that runs in real time (as opposed to a long set of tasks offloaded to a cluster) is sometimes seen in office settings, but it's not very practical to compute to a remote location. Given security and bandwidth issues, I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Apple will offer a Pro solution, just wait and see

We'll see..... I do hope if they kill the mac pro as we know it today, they come up with a really good replacement solution. The nice thing about a tower is that it's uncompromising. Until you truly hit a wall on cpu power, the rest of the machine can be pretty much kept up to date.

If the Mac Pro is discontinued, I expect that Apple will release a high-end iMac - like one with a 6-core processor. That would be a good solution for some, not so good for others.

I've tried to explain this before, but the imac is a very bad solution for anyone dependent on high performance and uptime. Most of these users will also have laptops, and the performance gain over a top macbook pro is there, but not to the degree you would want. Apple displays will never be up to par. They've had a couple strong offerings and many really weak ones. The trend toward primarily glossy displays is a bad one, and for color critical work, the norm is to have a unit with available DDC type calibration and LUT based profiling. Just picking up a generic colorimeter doesn't fix this, as the integration simply isn't there.

I'm tired of writing this because you clearly don't get it. Your formula would create a product that very few people would actually want, moving it toward the same fate as the mac pro.

 

[MaddieBrad]

My main concern if they end the MacPros and then upgrade the iMacs to meet "Pro Users" requirements that I will be forced to use the iMac's glossy display. As a pro photographer I cannot use a glossy screen. If they came out with a matte screen for the iMac, and then some matte option LED cinema displays I might be intrigued. This is to say that the hardware met requirements. Thunderbolt also gives us a whole new look at the way hardware will work, so who knows.

B

 

[gglockner]

I've tried to explain this before, but the imac is a very bad solution for anyone dependent on high performance and uptime.

To play devil's advocate:

The Mac Pro doesn't have dual power supplies, so it's not ideal for someone who is dependent on uptime either.

Most of these users will also have laptops, and the performance gain over a top macbook pro is there, but not to the degree you would want.

For the work I do, Sandy Bridge is a huge improvement. As in: a Core i7 2600 is arguably faster than my 8-core Mac Pro. I just would prefer to use a Mac than switch to Windows or Linux.

Apple displays will never be up to par...

You can always connect an external display of your choice to an iMac. Use the internal display for non-critical tasks - email, web, Twitter, and use your preferred display for the color-critical tasks.

 

[EmbraceNext]

I have to have expansion ability. My MacPro is showing its age. I am trying to hold off as long as I can, but in January I am going to have to move forward with something. So more than likely I will be moving back to Windows for my main workstation. Still have my iMac and MacBook pros, but my main workstation HAS to be a tower type of some sort. I will most definitely still keep my current MacPro though. I will more than likely setup Lion server on it and play with that.

 

[ApplesAOranges]

If the Mac Pro is discontinued, it´s time to switch back to Windows, as terrible as it sounds. And I mean that with all my computers, iMacs, MBPs, MBAs, even the iPhone will go. That´s a promise!

 

[THX1139]

I don't see a major problem if Apple discontinues the MP. Sure, it would be inconvenient and somewhat expensive migrating software licenses, but there are alternatives on the market. You'll just be missing out on the pretty box and Apple logo. Remember, the machine is just to run the software. I can't think of one non-specialized professional application that is Mac only and has no better alternative on Windows. For the majority of work, software is available on Windows and Mac.

In someways, if Apple were to leave the pro industry, it would actually help the professional industry to stabilize and become more compatible. Apple used to be a leader in that sector, now they are more like the odd man out. At one point they had the opportunity to take over, but when they focussed on iProducts and sold off most of their pro applications, for me, that signaled the beginning of the end.

 

[DisMyMac]

Think of it as healthy competition. Windows will pick up the slack, and Apple would probably design something to replace the Pro.

The annoying thing is their silence about it. That isn't likely to change, given Steve's dying wish that secrecy remain a core practice.

 

[MacsRgr8]

IF the Mac Pro will be discontinued, I'll be trying to gat a Westmere 6-Core 3.33 GHz 2010 model, and hope to get some kind of deal...
That, together with 12 GB of RAM, the Radeon HD 5870 and SSD an HD (or two) will give me enough to play around for a few more years.

 

[vitzr]

1) Think of it as healthy competition.
2) Windows will pick up the slack
3) Apple would probably design something to replace the Pro.
4) The annoying thing is their silence about it.
5)That isn't likely to change, given Steve's dying wish that secrecy remain a core practice.

1a) I agree.

Sadly many here fear competition and have come out against it thousands of times... in the iToyz forums they vehemently hate Android, a testimony to the maturity of your average iPhone user.

2a) Windows is in fact already doing a very good job in the workstation class sector.

3a) This is wishful thinking, and I for one... truly hope you are right.

I greatly prefer my Mac Pro... and while I do not need a replacement yet, it's the basic thought that Apple may abandon the professional, loyal Apple customer, and replace them with those who like the dumbed down iToyz influenced OS running their computers, as is already underway.

4a) A longtime Mac loyalist, I'm somewhat used to their silence, yet still abhor it.

5a) True, yet respectfully with the tyrannical oracle gone, Apple is in a position to morph into a company with higher integrity, a return to legendary Apple quality, and true concern for their customer.

There's a lot of opportunity to celebrate if Apple does the next right thing.

If they do not, it's proof that the once vaunted "Apple Computer" we grew to truly appreciate and support, is gone forever.

Replaced by the most successful revenue generating machine ever. Those who value money above their loved ones, will continue to be thrilled.

 

[d-m-a-x]

1a) I agree.

Sadly many here fear competition and have come out against it thousands of times... in the iToyz forums they vehemently hate Android, a testimony to the maturity of your average iPhone user.

2a) Windows is in fact already doing a very good job in the workstation class sector.

3a) This is wishful thinking, and I for one... truly hope you are right.

I greatly prefer my Mac Pro... and while I do not need a replacement yet, it's the basic thought that Apple may abandon the professional, loyal Apple customer, and replace them with those who like the dumbed down iToyz influenced OS running their computers, as is already underway.

4a) A longtime Mac loyalist, I'm somewhat used to their silence, yet still abhor it.

5a) True, yet respectfully with the tyrannical oracle gone, Apple is in a position to morph into a company with higher integrity, a return to legendary Apple quality, and true concern for their customer.

There's a lot of opportunity to celebrate if Apple does the next right thing.

If they do not, it's proof that the once vaunted "Apple Computer" we grew to truly appreciate and support, is gone forever.

Replaced by the most successful revenue generating machine ever. Those who value money above their loved ones, will continue to be thrilled.

The Dumming Down factor seems to be a huge trend across the board lately.
Just the other day i noticed the new google layout does not have a link to "advanced search". I am not a fan

 

[goMac]

I'm not sure Windows will continue to be a good option for workstations after Windows 8.

 

[tamvly]

As I stated in the opening post, iMacs are not a solution for me - the short version is that I'll never accept a lousy integrated monitor and want expansion space for disks. I don't see myself going back to Windows although W7 is a decent system compared to past offerings.

I'm not married to the current form factor (although it is fine) and would be happy to have a single processor box (hex core) that had space for four 2.5" disks, a couple of card slots + 32GB Ram. But these are my specific needs and I suspect many current MP owners would find this solution inadequate.

If a new version is not forthcoming, I'll leaning toward a 2010 quad + processor upgrade. This should last for several years. And my current MP 3,1 should command a fairly decent price on CL.

 

[itsmrjon]

Sadly if Apple doesn't release another model of Mac Pro they're going to lose a decent portion of my lab as customers.

I have had my eye on the new Tyan GPU Clusters lately... maybe I should just go back to a Linux personal cluster

 

[sigmadog]

The Dumbing Down factor seems to be a huge trend across the board lately.
Just the other day i noticed the new google layout does not have a link to "advanced search". I am not a fan

That was awkward...

 

[TheStrudel]

Where is it written that just because Apple upgrades their computers, we must also upgrade?

My plan if Apple introduces new Mac Pros: Keep my 2008 2x2.8 Quad. It's got 14GB RAM, an ATI 5770, and works fine. No upgrade needed.

My plan if Apple discontinues the Mac Pros: Keep my 2008 2x2.8 Quad. It's got 14GB RAM, an ATI 5770, and works fine. No upgrade needed.

The one thing I can do to improve my computing experience is to become more efficient with the software I currently own. It's not the hardware that slows me down.

Everybody loved those machines, though. Most people who got their '08 Mac Pros definitely use them still. It may not be as obvious for everybody else.

 

[strausd]

I would hate to see the Mac Pro go, but I don't think it will really change my plans.

I feel confident that I will be building my next desktop when it is time to upgrade. However, I will be keeping my laptop OS X. That is, unless they start putting iOS on their MBPs

I am very satisfied with render times on my 12-core. However, I am not satisfied with the GPU options. I would love to get a Quadro card, but I have heard bad things about the Quadro 4000 drivers for OS X.

I do not plan to upgrade for a while. I would like to wait until a single CPU is as powerful as the two I have now in my MP, and hopefully that day will come before my MP dies. But I definitely plan to build my own.

On a side note, does anybody know if you can run an NVIDIA GPU and an AMD GPU in the same build? For example, when I build one later down the road, I will need a quadro card but would also like another card for extra monitors and some possible gaming.

So right now, would a Quadro 5000 and an AMD 6870 work in one system? Or would it be better to buy both professional and consumer grade cards from NVIDIA? And obviously when I build mine later these will be updated, I am just curious as to if this would work right now.

 

[tamvly]

I do not plan to upgrade for a while. I would like to wait until a single CPU is as powerful as the two I have now in my MP, and hopefully that day will come before my MP dies. But I definitely plan to build my own.

Here, here. Yup, it is definitely tempting to build a machine to spec, and will become more so as Intel continues to roll out new processors.

 

[ApplesAOranges]

The dumbing down of operating systems and people is the death of everything!

Apple please, NO MORE TOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are not neanderthals, even if you think we are.

 

[spacedcadet]

upgrade

in the unlikely event they drop the MacPro I will be looking at getting the cheapest 09/10 model that I can drop a new hex processor into.

 

[xgman]

There was a time when "everyone" was convinced the Mini was toast, before the 2010 redesign came out.

It may very well have been evaluated on the chopping block at that time also. Hopefully history will repeat itself with the MP and it will go on.

 

[yomibro]

Will keep my 2008 for as long as I can, although if any parts in my 2008 go I'll probably end up getting something else when that day arrives since replacing certain components could be expensive.