Where are you guys heading to after 5,1 discontinuation?

[skiltrip]

Me, too. Well, I got a 5,1 a few months ago after being on a mid-2010 15" MBP! Hopefully, it will serve me another 4-7 years...

Cool. My previous laptop that I'm still using is a 2011 15" MBP. It's surprisingly still very capable other than the thing getting really hot and the fans running way too hard all the time. Battery life is terrible now too.

I had a 2015 MBP briefly but had to sell it. That was a pretty solid machine.

The 5,1 Mac Pro is a true example of Apple's former design brilliance. It doesn't just look good, it's brilliantly designed on the inside.

 

[SamuraiArtGuy]

i'm going to lean in with my comments from Cult of Mac [ "Tim Cook tells desktop Mac fans not to worry, says Apple has ‘great desktops’ in its roadmap" ] ....

As a graphic and web designer, I rather prefer a desktop machine. But I am using a mid-2010 Mac Pro. Earlier today I was looking at graphics card, memory and SSD upgrades to keep the machine in service till the inevitable software upgrade forces me to retire the machine. As it stands the machine does not support Mac OS X's latest technologies, and the current iMac is arguably the higher performance machine. The new Mac Pro intriguing, but far too costly for what Designers earn these days, not to mention having to replace ALL my externals. It is even less appealing having not been upgraded for over THREE YEARS.

At any other company, that would be a clear sign of a discontinued product line. While Tim Cook assures us that Desktop Macs are still part of Apple's product line, he only referred to the 5K iMac. No mention of the Mac Pro at all. While perhaps Apple has not written off professional users, we are clearly no longer the core market we once were, or a priority at Apple. Apple has positioned the iMac as the desktop computer for most pro users, and also aimed the new iPad Pro squarely at the creative market. But for serious professional design work, especially web development, and working with clients, where we need a discrete file system, we need capable desktop machines.

Furthermore, while all the attention has been on mobile, and specifically iOS, I don't see myself or any other developer building iOS apps on an iPhone. I do realize that the insane waterfall of money that the iPhone and related products represent for Apple compared to Mac OS absolutely is going to divert attention and command the lion's share of Apple's attention, resources, and focus. Of course, Intel has contributed to the pain with their rather desultory release of desktop chips, especially at the workstation class. But without a doubt, it puts the future of Apple desktop computers in question. They have been losing a slow trickle of professional users for years, and I am also wondering whether my next computer, out of professional necessity, be on a different platform.

I have one more for you folks... go to Apple's Mac page [ http://www.apple.com/mac/] Other than on the model strip under the menu... there is no mention of the Mac Mini or the Mac Pro. Scroll down the page to "Compare Mac Models", the Image does not show either the Mac Pro, their top-end machine, or the Mac mini. If that does not indicate lack of interest, nothing does.

 

[fastlanephil]

Don't forget Apple dropping the Thunderbolt Display and offering an LG monitor instead of an updated TBD.

 

[killr_b]

There are a lot of reasons why this is not true for me:

• Even though it's not the latest, CS6 is still professional level software for print production
• I own it
• $100/month for two work stations = $1200 yearly cost = less profit OR raised prices to compensate
• CC features are mostly bloatware from my perspective
• I don't do App-design or interface design, so CC benefits are wasted on me
• I only need 3-4 applications (InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop/Acrobat) and don't care about the rest
• My old-school belief that "It's always better to own than rent"

You get 2 licenses included with the base monthly cost. For example, I have one ID and have CC installed on a Windows desktop and a Mac laptop. I don't know if there's any other provisions or requirements, but for the $49 I have it installed on two machines with different OS's. With a business license you can add seats, I'm pretty sure it's cheaper than $100/4 seats.

I will also add that I've opened CC Photoshop projects on CS6, so you aren't totally at their mercy.

Anyway, we still make vinyl signs on hardware from like 30 years ago on a DELL running XP... print isn't very tech dependent...

 

[crescentmoon]

I have a 2008 mac pro 8 core and 2010 mac pro 12 core. I'm thinking of using the 2008 as a slave to the 2010 for heavy process work. I do not intend to go to PC... been there and hate it. I will hold out until Apple announces an end to the desktop line.....

 

[Ethosik]

I just got a new 2016 Macbook Pro to work on FCPX tasks. The 2013 Mac Pro is still the best in this area, but it costs even $1,000 more to match the 2016 Macbook Pro I got.

 

[sigmadog]

You get 2 licenses included with the base monthly cost. For example, I have one ID and have CC installed on a Windows desktop and a Mac laptop. I don't know if there's any other provisions or requirements, but for the $49 I have it installed on two machines with different OS's. With a business license you can add seats, I'm pretty sure it's cheaper than $100/4 seats.

I will also add that I've opened CC Photoshop projects on CS6, so you aren't totally at their mercy.

Anyway, we still make vinyl signs on hardware from like 30 years ago on a DELL running XP... print isn't very tech dependent...

Thanks for the tip, but I'm not interested in renting software for two laptops and two cMPs at the prices available. And Illustrator and InDesign CC files don't open in CS6. I can understand why Photoshop CC files would still work in CS6, because the file formats haven't changed, just what the program can do with an image that is open. But that doesn't help with AI and INDD files.

Why is everyone so helpful in offering to spend my money?

 

[Ph.D.]

Given Apple's lack of commitment to the Pro market, I've dropped almost all activities except office work off of Macs. Most of my heavy lifting is done on a Linux box now.

The only major problem I have is finding a suitable replacement for Photoshop (CS6), which I still do use on my 3,1. I know I have to let go of it sooner or later, and I'm not willing to move to the cloud (count me as a nay-sayer). I'm reluctant to switch to Lightroom since I'm pretty sure that will be dropped as a stand-alone product too. I'm also not quite happy with GIMP, etc. This is a bit of a quandary for me, but it will work out somehow.

If no nnMP shows up this year, I'll likely continue to reduce my use of Apple products, e.g. to that of a low-end laptop. By then, it will be knocking on my 3,1's 10 year anniversary, and it will have earned a quiet retirement.

 

[sigmadog]

By then, it will be knocking on my 3,1's 10 year anniversary, and it will have earned a quiet retirement.

Or a dignified mercy-killing.

Kidding! I have a 3,1 as well, though it's no longer my main system. They are indestructible.

 

[sn1p3r845]

Why is everyone so helpful in offering to spend my money?

Because why in the world would you want to spend money on your core business? That's unheard of!

 

[Roykor]

In fairness I don't have any major problems with the new MacBook Pro. If I used one I'd probably be happy enough with it, keyboard aside.

But Apple's current direction does scare me. They haven't said anything about the Mac Pro and I'd be willing to bet we won't see one this year, if ever. I'm not entirely convinced that Apple are that interested in the Mac at all right now - macOS still has longstanding issues and their first party software (looking at you Logic Pro) is comically buggy at times. It amazes me that macOS is still using such an ancient version of OpenGL.

I'd be tempted to switch to Windows, simply because Microsoft have, if nothing else than because it is in Microsoft's interests to build a good desktop experience.

Well, i switched 6 months ago to Windows. Its a bit different, but i survived. Hell, Window 10 is even not so far away from OSX in general. I was used to the OS in just some days. And there al kind of simple little tweaks to have best from both worlds.

Adobe is the same on Windows, Affinity is coming to windows (or is all-ready there) I have tried it, but I prefer adobe illustrator and Photoshop. 10 years experience is not something you throw away just like that

Just want to tell everyone here.. Windows is not that bad. I had my share of issues on OSX too. They have both there cons and pro's. On top of that, the machines Apple is giving us the last 5 years, are not well configured for graphic design. The love between Apple and the graphic design world is from long time ago. Its history. A romantic one, but it dont make me a better digital painter. Its just a tool.

I configured a monster PC and let it build by the shop. I received an well clean build machine and installed W10 in just 3 minutes (those Samsung 950 pro SSD's are sick fast) and cost me only 2500 euro. i miss osx here and there.. but my switch to Windows is so far, great.

I use my macbook pro for spare time.

Dont be afraid, see ya on the other side
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Given Apple's lack of commitment to the Pro market, I've dropped almost all activities except office work off of Macs. Most of my heavy lifting is done on a Linux box now.

The only major problem I have is finding a suitable replacement for Photoshop (CS6), which I still do use on my 3,1. I know I have to let go of it sooner or later, and I'm not willing to move to the cloud (count me as a nay-sayer). I'm reluctant to switch to Lightroom since I'm pretty sure that will be dropped as a stand-alone product too. I'm also not quite happy with GIMP, etc. This is a bit of a quandary for me, but it will work out somehow.

If no nnMP shows up this year, I'll likely continue to reduce my use of Apple products, e.g. to that of a low-end laptop. By then, it will be knocking on my 3,1's 10 year anniversary, and it will have earned a quiet retirement.

Be aware that GIMP, so far i know.. is not capable to work in CMYK. If you need Photoshop only, you could go for the simple CC ( i know, u don like it..) and cost you few bucks a month. There is not that much on Linux to work with graphics tho.. so a real replacement like Photoshop, is not on the market. (where i am aware of)