Will there be a new Mac Pro in 2015?

[goMac]

FWIW, they just destroyed the earnings record, so things must be going good. I'd wager that a nMP has something to do with that record..as well as the iPhone 6. Don't really see where adding this or that to the nMP is a true need at the moment. They seem to be riding high.

The Macintosh shipment numbers are public knowledge (it's released as part of the shareholders report), and the record earnings were pretty much entirely due to the iPhone. Mac was up, but not more than it's been up quarter over quarter in previous quarters.

Using your logic, they shouldn't upgrade anything, the iPhone and iPad included. But they will, because if they upgrade they can push even more volume. It's not like Apple just says "Whelp, we broke some records. Send everyone home! We're done! Cancel the iWatch! Everyone must be happy, so why bother?"

(There's also plenty of people in this thread saying they're waiting to buy until upgrades are made, which should be a hint to you that, indeed, there are sales Apple is not getting right now.)

 

[koyoot]

Haswell-E performance compared to Ivy Bridge-E are not nearly as big as the change from Nehalem/Westmere -> Sandy Bridge-E -> Ivy Bridge-E that the current Mac Pro represents.

How about increasing compute power of GPUs two times then?

Or more...?

 

[MacProCard]

The Macintosh shipment numbers are public knowledge (it's released as part of the shareholders report), and the record earnings were pretty much entirely due to the iPhone. Mac was up, but not more than it's been up quarter over quarter in previous quarters.

Using your logic, they shouldn't upgrade anything, the iPhone and iPad included. But they will, because if they upgrade they can push even more volume. It's not like Apple just says "Whelp, we broke some records. Send everyone home! We're done! Cancel the iWatch! Everyone must be happy, so why bother?"

(There's also plenty of people in this thread saying they're waiting to buy until upgrades are made, which should be a hint to you that, indeed, there are sales Apple is not getting right now.)

Actually my logic has been they're a corporation first and foremost. And have to follow economic rules associated with being a large corporation.

Using your logic we should have a brand new xbox one every quarter. Yet we don't.

I don't care if you have a hard time understanding that your beloved Apple has become the very thing Apple fan boys despised to begin with... A do it all for the money greedy corporation. Funny how they make Microsoft look like angels now. Those earnings suggest they're selling their products way above a "fair" price.

And that means they don't give a squat what you and any other unhappy nMP campers think. So keep telling everybody wrong information as to when the nMP will come out. I think it's hilarious that the speculation includes everything except any kind of economic sense.

 

[Nosferax]

Actually my logic has been they're a corporation first and foremost. And have to follow economic rules associated with being a large corporation.

Using your logic we should have a brand new xbox one every quarter. Yet we don't.

I don't care if you have a hard time understanding that your beloved Apple has become the very thing Apple fan boys despised to begin with... A do it all for the money greedy corporation. Funny how they make Microsoft look like angels now. Those earnings suggest they're selling their products way above a "fair" price.

And that means they don't give a squat what you and any other unhappy nMP campers think. So keep telling everybody wrong information as to when the nMP will come out. I think it's hilarious that the speculation includes everything except any kind of economic sense.

bad analogy... Video game consoles are loss leader. they are sold at a loss and the company makes up its profit through licensing and software sales. Computers aren't loss leader. Apple makes its money when they sell you a brand new machine, not through licensing deals and software.

 

[MacProCard]

bad analogy... Video game consoles are loss leader. they are sold at a loss and the company makes up its profit through licensing and software sales. Computers aren't loss leader. Apple makes its money when they sell you a brand new machine, not through licensing deals and software.

Cough FCPX. I disagree. I mentioned more than once I think they are looking to create a new market/new machine for crunching video data. Just like Microsoft/Sony did for video games to some extent. People think I'm crazy for it.

 

[handsome pete]

People think I'm crazy for it.

Yes, I think you're slightly crazy on that point.

The analogy still doesn't work. It doesn't scale.

XboxOne/PS4 - $400 Constant growing library of software.

Mac Pro - $2999 and up FCPX

Not to mention that I'm willing to guess most FCPX licenses are running on Macbook Pros or iMacs.

 

[t0mat0]

Going 2 sockets seems to be a good direction for Mac Pro, having read the arstechnica review of the nMac Pro - would the design have enough TDP headroom to have 2x CPU?

 

[MacProCard]

Yes, I think you're slightly crazy on that point.

The analogy still doesn't work. It doesn't scale.

XboxOne/PS4 - $400 Constant growing library of software.

Mac Pro - $2999 and up FCPX

Not to mention that I'm willing to guess most FCPX licenses are running on Macbook Pros or iMacs.

I'm OK with being a little crazy. But, a computer that can crunch tons of video can also do a lot of other things as well. Another words, it also functions as a very very nice Mac/PC. So while the market is targeted at FCPX, it will appeal to others looking for a powerful Mac/PC that is small, quite and portable.

Point is it's not meant for everyone. Else they would have left it completely upgradeable. Nor do they have any plans to make it the fastest, latest, greatest or whatever. It's going to perform a couple of functions very well. And for those needing what it doesn't have...move along. Why is that so crazy?

 

[goMac]

Using your logic we should have a brand new xbox one every quarter. Yet we don't.

I don't think that logic follows. Consoles have backwards compatibility problems. Computers do not.

(We also do see new Xboxes every year. Just not major revisions due to the backwards compatibility problems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_360_retail_configurations )

A better example would be a car company that has such record profits that they just skip a modal year of cars. You never see that happen.

Lemme ask you this. The iPhone 6 has sold in record numbers. Should Apple not do a new iPhone this year? I mean, technically sales are up. Why waste the effort upgrading something that is selling very well?

 

[MacProCard]

I don't think that logic follows. Consoles have backwards compatibility problems. Computers do not.

(We also do see new Xboxes every year. Just not major revisions due to the backwards compatibility problems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_360_retail_configurations )

A better example would be a car company that has such record profits that they just skip a modal year of cars. You never see that happen.

Lemme ask you this. The iPhone 6 has sold in record numbers. Should Apple not do a new iPhone this year? I mean, technically sales are up. Why waste the effort upgrading something that is selling very well?

Consoles are specialized computers. So it does fit. I could play TitanFall on a PC and I could play it on xbox one. You don't see xbox worrying about the next generation of graphics cards. Because while they are similar, they are not the same.

What is the nMP not doing for the people that bought one? I only hear complaints from those waiting. While HP makes similar products, they are not the same.

 

[MacVidCards]

You guys are going round and round. In the end only Apple knows what will be.

As far as what they "should" do, the can should be the "Pro Jr." and the REAL Mac Pro should be the full size version employing REAL parts not scaled down toy versions. (Since I have one now I can legitimately critique it, yes?)

 

[MacProCard]

You guys are going round and round. In the end only Apple knows what will be.

As far as what they "should" do, the can should be the "Pro Jr." and the REAL Mac Pro should be the full size version employing REAL parts not scaled down toy versions. (Since I have one now I can legitimately critique it, yes?)

Sure you can. I bought an iPhone 6 and it is the worst phone I've had in years. Seriously, it feels like my phone capabilities have went back to the stone ages.

 

[goMac]

What is the nMP not doing for the people that bought one? I only hear complaints from those waiting. While HP makes similar products, they are not the same.

That people are waiting is enough. People waiting = lost sales.

 

[MacProCard]

That people are waiting is enough. People waiting = lost sales.

Not if it costs more money to get those sales. Now get this. Since the product has just been launched or in the early stages of its life cycle...those sales were never targeted to begin with.

 

[goMac]

Not if it costs more money to get those sales. Now get this. Since the product has just been launched or in the early stages of its life cycle...those sales were never targeted to begin with.

The product was launched in 2013. It's not a recent launch, and it's definitely not in the early stages of it's lifecycle. Both the GPU and CPU (to a lesser extent) are outdated.

Apple will keep losing sales because you can buy a cheaper machine from HP with better specifications right now until Apple upgrades. And Mac Pro users are typically not idiots, they'll go where they can get the best deal. When you run a business you've got to spend money wisely.

Apple typically upgrades the Mac Pro every year. There was a new Mac Pro in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 (and technically 2012). Thus there is a history the Mac Pro gets upgraded every year. You may think that Apple does not rev the Mac Pro every year, but the reality is otherwise.

 

[scottsjack]

The product was launched in 2013. It's not a recent launch, and it's definitely not in the early stages of it's lifecycle. Both the GPU and CPU (to a lesser extent) are outdated.

Apple will keep losing sales because you can buy a cheaper machine from HP with better specifications right now until Apple upgrades. And Mac Pro users are typically not idiots, they'll go where they can get the best deal. When you run a business you've got to spend money wisely.

Apple typically upgrades the Mac Pro every year. There was a new Mac Pro in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 (and technically 2012). Thus there is a history the Mac Pro gets upgraded every year. You may think that Apple does not rev the Mac Pro every year, but the reality is otherwise.

Agreed. To my eyes it looks like Apple is easing out of the workstation business just like they eased out of the server business.

 

[MacProCard]

The product was launched in 2013. It's not a recent launch, and it's definitely not in the early stages of it's lifecycle. Both the GPU and CPU (to a lesser extent) are outdated.

Apple will keep losing sales because you can buy a cheaper machine from HP with better specifications right now until Apple upgrades. And Mac Pro users are typically not idiots, they'll go where they can get the best deal. When you run a business you've got to spend money wisely.

Apple typically upgrades the Mac Pro every year. There was a new Mac Pro in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 (and technically 2012). Thus there is a history the Mac Pro gets upgraded every year. You may think that Apple does not rev the Mac Pro every year, but the reality is otherwise.

Don't you think 2013 is a little misleading? I mean really guy. Anything for your message board cred?

Then buy an HP. What's stopping you? An operating system?

You know who Apple just beat in the earnings record...Exxon. That's right oil. We now have a manufactured product beating the one that makes the world go round...because of the dedicated faithful. If other companies could capture that kind of "we care about you" marketing...or taking people that feel different from others and making them feel special...WOW. The world is the limit.

Enjoy telling people how convinced you are a product update is right around the corner....based upon technology alone.

 

[goMac]

Don't you think 2013 is a little misleading? I mean really guy. Anything for your message board cred?

Then buy an HP. What's stopping you? An operating system?

You know who Apple just beat in the earnings record...Exxon. That's right oil. We now have a manufactured product beating the one that makes the world go round...because of the dedicated faithful. If other companies could capture that kind of "we care about you" marketing...or taking people that feel different from others and making them feel special...WOW. The world is the limit.

Enjoy telling people how convinced you are a product update is right around the corner....based upon technology alone.

It really doesn't matter how well you think the Mac Pro is selling or how much money Apple is making. The last time Apple published numbers on individual Macs, it was with the Power Mac G5 right before the Mac Pro arrived. The Power Mac G5 sold 200,000 units a quarter. It sold less units than the iMac, but because the profit margins were higher, it made Apple more profit than the iMac.

And in that context Apple still regularly revised the Power Mac/Mac Pro.

Look, you keep arguing circles around this, but when it comes down to actual facts, Apple has never heldany updates because they made too much money. You're arguing that Apple won't revise the Mac Pro because they're making too much profit, but are also arguing that they won't revise the Mac Pro because they aren't making enough profit to afford to revise it. Huh?

 

[MacProCard]

It really doesn't matter how well you think the Mac Pro is selling or how much money Apple is making. The last time Apple published numbers on individual Macs, it was with the Power Mac G5 right before the Mac Pro arrived. The Power Mac G5 sold 200,000 units a quarter. It sold less units than the iMac, but because the profit margins were higher, it made Apple more profit than the iMac.

And in that context Apple still regularly revised the Power Mac/Mac Pro.

Look, you keep arguing circles around this, but when it comes down to actual facts, Apple has never heldany updates because they made too much money. You're arguing that Apple won't revise the Mac Pro because they're making too much profit, but are also arguing that they won't revise the Mac Pro because they aren't making enough profit to afford to revise it. Huh?

No I'm not. I'm really arguing that it's NOW, a specialized machine to some extent. With a NEW market to some extent. It's no longer going toe to toe with HP. Because HP doesn't have a product quite like the nMP. Sure they are similar, but not the same.

If you're so smart then why did they change everything about the nMP? If everything else(market, users, software) was to be the same, then why invest money in a new design? Just because? Show us your wisdom and answer this simple question!

 

[goMac]

If you're so smart then why did they change everything about the nMP? If everything else(market, users, software) was to be the same, then why invest money in a new design? Just because? Show us your wisdom and answer this simple question!

Thunderbolt. Old design wasn't compatible with it.

 

[MacProCard]

Thunderbolt. Old design wasn't compatible with it.

I have to give your tenacity credit. I priced HP the same time as my nMP and they used a TB card with the same old form factor.

Sorry you don't understand a new product when you see one. That could catch up with you in the long run. Keep trying to fit your square in a round hole.

 

[goMac]

I have to give your tenacity credit. I priced HP the same time as my nMP and they used a TB card with the same old form factor.

Sure, but you have to run a bunch of pass through wires around which Apple wasn't willing to do. It wasn't possible to keep the old form factor, add Thunderbolt, and stay within Apple's design philosophies (for better or worse.) Yes, you can add a Thunderbolt card to a HP, but there are a lot of catches and wire routing that has to go on. It's not as simple as just popping the card in.

PCIe GPUs and Thunderbolt aren't entirely friendly. So Apple opted to cut the PCIe GPU support entirely.

There is also the significant problem that Thunderbolt ports very quickly gobble up PCIe lanes, so if you want to include 6 you're automatically precluded from including much else on the box.

So yeah, Thunderbolt was the big reason all this changed. There is a reason why the old Mac Pros never got Thunderbolt even after it was introduced.

 

[MacProCard]

Sure, but you have to run a bunch of pass through wires around which Apple wasn't willing to do. It wasn't possible to keep the old form factor, add Thunderbolt, and stay within Apple's design philosophies (for better or worse.) Yes, you can add a Thunderbolt card to a HP, but there are a lot of catches and wire routing that has to go on. It's not as simple as just popping the card in.

PCIe GPUs and Thunderbolt aren't entirely friendly. So Apple opted to cut the PCIe GPU support entirely.

There is also the significant problem that Thunderbolt ports very quickly gobble up PCIe lanes, so if you want to include 6 you're automatically precluded from including much else on the box.

So yeah, Thunderbolt was the big reason all this changed. There is a reason why the old Mac Pros never got Thunderbolt even after it was introduced.

Once again the economics don't add up. You saying the cost of wires made them do a complete redesign. Yeah right. Sorry bud. You're making things up now.

Simply put for you..They have a new product with the same old name. And they are targeting a new market. Sounds like you're going to have to find a new love in computers.

 

[goMac]

Once again the economics don't add up. You saying the cost of wires made them do a complete redesign. Yeah right. Sorry bud. You're making things up now.

Simply put for you..They have a new product with the same old name. And they are targeting a new market. Sounds like you're going to have to find a new love in computers.

I'm saying adding Thunderbolt meant they had to take things away. The new form factor is the marketing spin of that fact.

Spin that seems to be very effective, apparently.

 

[MacProCard]

I'm saying adding Thunderbolt meant they had to take things away. The new form factor is the marketing spin of that fact.

Spin that seems to be very effective, apparently.

Now we can agree on something. But you seem confused between the old marketing and the new marketing. It's a hit in the new market and somewhat of a disappointment in the old market. It happens.

And I never said tech didn't drive changes...just that you always need to consider the economics of things. And I think they get underestimated in these threads.