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> Was it all just Jony Ive design hubris? Who is the Mac Pro designed for? Apple consistently chooses form over function, but they don't usually let the scales

by jobu 10y ago

> Was it all just Jony Ive design hubris? Who is the Mac Pro designed for? Apple consistently chooses form over function, but they don't usually let the scales tip this far. The last time they fucked up this bad was the Mac Cube, but back then Apple was proactive enough to kill the Cube within 6 months. It really surprises me that Apple hasn't come out with something to replace the current Mac Pro. Microsoft realized that the niche creative-type markets that Apple has historically owned tend to be broad-market influencers, and they've started to target them with products like the Surface Pro and Surface Studio. Competition is great, and it will be interesting to see if Apple will rise to it or fade away.

LeoPanthera 10y ago
The Cube didn't replace the Power Mac. It was sold in addition to it. If you compared them on specs alone the Power Mac was cheaper and faster so literally the only reason to buy the Cube was because it looked nice. (Or maybe because your desk was really small.) The current Mac Pro replaced the old Mac Pro, though. That's the difference. If you don't like it, your only other choices are iMac (built in monitor) or Mac Mini (horrifically underpowered). Apple could kill the Cube without consequence, but the current desktop Mac lineup is so limited there is no alternative.
- nottorp 10y ago
  [quote] iMac (built in monitor)[/quote] It's not the built in monitor that's the problem, is the overheating with the assorted noise and possibly thermal throttling if you use it for something that actually maxes out the CPU/GPU. Well, and the lack of expandability. While the portable MacBook Pro equivalents are about the same thing (look at Dell XPS 13 pricing), Apple right now has nothing for developers/power users on the desktop side.
  - intoverflow2 10y ago
    > with the assorted noise and possibly thermal throttling if you use it for something that actually maxes out the CPU/GPU. Yeah it's worth pointing out that the trashcan runs silent at full pelt, while the iMac sounds like a jet engine. Keep this in mind when you imagine a row of 10 3d/video artists rendering away all day.
rayiner 10y ago
> Apple consistently chooses form over function, but they don't usually let the scales tip this far. Does it? For example, in the laptop space, Apple has consistently shipped the largest batteries of any notebook without an external battery pack.
- philliphaydon 10y ago
  They used to anyway. Back in the day when their laptops were good.
  - bitexploder 10y ago
    Like mid2015 back in the day?
    - phaed 10y ago
      That's 9.5 internet years, so yes.
- digitalzombie 10y ago
  What about that wireless mouse and how you had to have it on it's back to charge it? Or the apple pencil?
- FireBeyond 10y ago
  That's not true. The 2016 13" MBPs have between 49.2 and 54.5 watt-hours. The XPS 13 9360 has 59 watt hours, for one.
hota_mazi 10y ago
> Apple consistently chooses form over function Like the latest MacBook Air with only one port, which means you need to carry it with a hub dangling from it like a freshly used condom? How is that good form?
- csydas 10y ago
  Minor correction, but it's the Macbook with one port, not the Air. The Air that is still available has two USB and one Thunderbolt port + an SD slot and the Magsafe connector and so on. And quite honestly, the single port Macbook isn't a completely horrible idea, Apple is just trying to push a new standard like they always do. It's an entry level computer that does just the basics. How many peripherals are necessary on a computer with those specs? You certainly can't do any games on it, most printers nowadays have a wireless function to connect to, it has Apple's trackpad which is pretty darn good for navigation, else it has Bluetooth for external mice, which can be had for very cheap now with good performance. I'm all for more options; I don't have a Macbook because my old 2012 Macbook Air feels about right to me in terms of minimalist form with enough function to still do what I want. But I can see how you'd work with a Macbook without running into issues with the port. The majority of the time I use my laptop is just having it plugged in, or I have it when I'm traveling and don't want a bunch of stuff plugged in anyways. Apple's idea isn't far off from how most people use the laptop.
  - SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
    I like being able to plug in a thumbdrive without mucking about with my power cable. Or plug in to a monitor without mucking about with my power cable. Or... Just about anything, really. I don't get the choice of a single port over 2 or 3, besides they wanted to push a "unified" (read: confusing) standard but didn't have the board room to operate 2+ of the ports (eg, if they had two, you probably couldn't charge from both).
    - simonh 10y ago
      Then get an Air or a Pro. Or a Dell, or a Lenovo. There are these things called market segments. For some people the MacBook is a great design. For others, it isn't. No developers were harmed in the making of this laptop.

by jobu 10y ago

LeoPanthera 10y ago

The Cube didn't replace the Power Mac. It was sold in addition to it. If you compared them on specs alone the Power Mac was cheaper and faster so literally the only reason to buy the Cube was because it looked nice. (Or maybe because your desk was really small.) The current Mac Pro replaced the old Mac Pro, though. That's the difference. If you don't like it, your only other choices are iMac (built in monitor) or Mac Mini (horrifically underpowered). Apple could kill the Cube without consequence, but the current desktop Mac lineup is so limited there is no alternative.

nottorp 10y ago
[quote] iMac (built in monitor)[/quote] It's not the built in monitor that's the problem, is the overheating with the assorted noise and possibly thermal throttling if you use it for something that actually maxes out the CPU/GPU. Well, and the lack of expandability. While the portable MacBook Pro equivalents are about the same thing (look at Dell XPS 13 pricing), Apple right now has nothing for developers/power users on the desktop side.
- intoverflow2 10y ago
  > with the assorted noise and possibly thermal throttling if you use it for something that actually maxes out the CPU/GPU. Yeah it's worth pointing out that the trashcan runs silent at full pelt, while the iMac sounds like a jet engine. Keep this in mind when you imagine a row of 10 3d/video artists rendering away all day.

rayiner 10y ago

> Apple consistently chooses form over function, but they don't usually let the scales tip this far. Does it? For example, in the laptop space, Apple has consistently shipped the largest batteries of any notebook without an external battery pack.

philliphaydon 10y ago
They used to anyway. Back in the day when their laptops were good.
- bitexploder 10y ago
  Like mid2015 back in the day?
  - phaed 10y ago
    That's 9.5 internet years, so yes.
digitalzombie 10y ago
What about that wireless mouse and how you had to have it on it's back to charge it? Or the apple pencil?
FireBeyond 10y ago
That's not true. The 2016 13" MBPs have between 49.2 and 54.5 watt-hours. The XPS 13 9360 has 59 watt hours, for one.

hota_mazi 10y ago

> Apple consistently chooses form over function Like the latest MacBook Air with only one port, which means you need to carry it with a hub dangling from it like a freshly used condom? How is that good form?

csydas 10y ago
Minor correction, but it's the Macbook with one port, not the Air. The Air that is still available has two USB and one Thunderbolt port + an SD slot and the Magsafe connector and so on. And quite honestly, the single port Macbook isn't a completely horrible idea, Apple is just trying to push a new standard like they always do. It's an entry level computer that does just the basics. How many peripherals are necessary on a computer with those specs? You certainly can't do any games on it, most printers nowadays have a wireless function to connect to, it has Apple's trackpad which is pretty darn good for navigation, else it has Bluetooth for external mice, which can be had for very cheap now with good performance. I'm all for more options; I don't have a Macbook because my old 2012 Macbook Air feels about right to me in terms of minimalist form with enough function to still do what I want. But I can see how you'd work with a Macbook without running into issues with the port. The majority of the time I use my laptop is just having it plugged in, or I have it when I'm traveling and don't want a bunch of stuff plugged in anyways. Apple's idea isn't far off from how most people use the laptop.
- SomeStupidPoint 10y ago
  I like being able to plug in a thumbdrive without mucking about with my power cable. Or plug in to a monitor without mucking about with my power cable. Or... Just about anything, really. I don't get the choice of a single port over 2 or 3, besides they wanted to push a "unified" (read: confusing) standard but didn't have the board room to operate 2+ of the ports (eg, if they had two, you probably couldn't charge from both).
  - simonh 10y ago
    Then get an Air or a Pro. Or a Dell, or a Lenovo. There are these things called market segments. For some people the MacBook is a great design. For others, it isn't. No developers were harmed in the making of this laptop.