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I'm not so sure the reviews would have been _quite_ so positive if they hadn't also announced they're releasing a 'modular' traditional Mac Pro. I think the kn

by DRW_ 9y ago

I'm not so sure the reviews would have been _quite_ so positive if they hadn't also announced they're releasing a 'modular' traditional Mac Pro. I think the knowledge that a new 'modular' Mac Pro is coming gives a different context to this machine. I think people are framing this on the idea that: if you want a quiet, good looking machine with a great screen and the other 'benefits' of an all in one (and don't mind the trade offs), then it's good to have this option. If the trade offs don't work for you, then wait for the more traditional Mac Pro. If it had been released without any mention of another option coming for pro users, then it would have been framed as "if you need workstation grade hardware running mac os, then your only choice is now an expensive, non-upgradeable all-in-one which has traded off performance for quietness and for other thermal constraints".

sudhirj 9y ago
Which might have been okay, because iirc the complaints weren't really 'we want upgradable pro machines' - they were more 'just build a pro machine'. Other than upgradability of core components, I'm not sure what the Mac Pro can possibly bring to the table now. And it seems like there aren't that many folks who care about upgradability alone.
- e40 9y ago
  because iirc the complaints weren't really 'we want upgradable pro machines' That is totally untrue. The places I was complaints were all about upgradability. That's why many people still get the previous generation of Mac Pro's and upgrade the processors, graphics cards and add SSDs. My main machine at work is one of these, and feels just as fast as my Mac Pro 6,1 (the trashcan version) at home.
qubex 9y ago
I'm definitely in the category you describe: owing to ancient personal prejudices, I consider the idea of having one's computer integrated with the screen to be an utter abomination. I have trouble suffering the trend towards laptops and notebooks precisely for this reason, let alone the rise of the integrated all-in-one. Knowledge of the coming Mac Pro allows me to view this device with levity because I can view it as a herald of things to come in a more satisfying format; had I not known of the ‘imminent’ (end of 2018 or beginning of 2019) Mac Pro, I would have been utterly aghast at the idea of Apple pushing me towards the integrated solution. I tend to cram my computers with cards (not graphics cards, but things like SDRs and FPGAs) but what really does it for me is having the monitor built-in: I'm used to multiple monitor desktops, and I like both screens to be absolutely identical make and model. That clearly isn't possible when you have an all-in-one computer with no available ‘identical’ screen. Also, my computer belongs beneath my desk, and my monitors on top of it. It's just the preordained way. All else is heresy. ;)
- lisper 9y ago
  Also, computers and monitors have vastly different life cycles; the former become obsolete much faster than the latter. Binding them together physically forces you to replace one or the other either too soon or too late for absolutely no benefit.
  - kylec 9y ago
    I actually think that the 27" 5K display in the iMac Pro is going to age quicker than the internal components. I suspect that ~32" 8K displays will be mainstream in a year or two.
    - saagarjha 9y ago
      > I suspect that ~32" 8K displays will be mainstream in a year or two. 8K would require new HDMI cables and ports, would it not? I'm pretty sure that many people are still stuck with legacy hardware in this regard.
      - jackvalentine 9y ago
        Current 8k displays use 2x DP connections just like early 4k displays.
  - madeofpalk 9y ago
    At least the displays Apple ships are very very good. Best in the industry.
    - lisper 9y ago
      I agree. I was the very happy owner of an Apple Cinema Display that served me well for many, many years, and was still in perfect working order when I had to abandon it in favor of an ASUS display because I needed more resolution and Apple wasn't selling standalone displays any more :-( I want to be an Apple fan. I really do. But they are making it impossible for me nowadays.
jrs95 9y ago
I wish they would have left the Xeon and Pro GPU components to the new Mac Pro instead of putting them in this. It would’ve been nice just to have top of the line consumer grade hardware available in a Mac instead. That and the amount of time they’re taking on this modular one is just nuts. All people want is a simple tower. They could just bring the damn cheese grater back.
JohnBooty 9y ago
I agree so, so much with what you wrote. I only have one teeny tiny nit and I'm only mentioning it because I think it's a common misconception: if you want a **quiet,** good looking machine with a great screen and the other 'benefits' of an all in one (and don't mind the trade offs) I don't think "quiet" needs to be the domain of all-in-ones; with a $60 CPU cooler from NewEgg one can have a ~4ghz i5/i7 PC that's nearly silent. The old cheese grater Mac Pros were noisy, but that really doesn't need to be the case, especially if Apple would just release a damn desktop i5/i7 based Mac Pro.

by DRW_ 9y ago

sudhirj 9y ago

Which might have been okay, because iirc the complaints weren't really 'we want upgradable pro machines' - they were more 'just build a pro machine'. Other than upgradability of core components, I'm not sure what the Mac Pro can possibly bring to the table now. And it seems like there aren't that many folks who care about upgradability alone.

e40 9y ago
because iirc the complaints weren't really 'we want upgradable pro machines' That is totally untrue. The places I was complaints were all about upgradability. That's why many people still get the previous generation of Mac Pro's and upgrade the processors, graphics cards and add SSDs. My main machine at work is one of these, and feels just as fast as my Mac Pro 6,1 (the trashcan version) at home.

qubex 9y ago

I'm definitely in the category you describe: owing to ancient personal prejudices, I consider the idea of having one's computer integrated with the screen to be an utter abomination. I have trouble suffering the trend towards laptops and notebooks precisely for this reason, let alone the rise of the integrated all-in-one. Knowledge of the coming Mac Pro allows me to view this device with levity because I can view it as a herald of things to come in a more satisfying format; had I not known of the ‘imminent’ (end of 2018 or beginning of 2019) Mac Pro, I would have been utterly aghast at the idea of Apple pushing me towards the integrated solution. I tend to cram my computers with cards (not graphics cards, but things like SDRs and FPGAs) but what really does it for me is having the monitor built-in: I'm used to multiple monitor desktops, and I like both screens to be absolutely identical make and model. That clearly isn't possible when you have an all-in-one computer with no available ‘identical’ screen. Also, my computer belongs beneath my desk, and my monitors on top of it. It's just the preordained way. All else is heresy. ;)

lisper 9y ago
Also, computers and monitors have vastly different life cycles; the former become obsolete much faster than the latter. Binding them together physically forces you to replace one or the other either too soon or too late for absolutely no benefit.
- kylec 9y ago
  I actually think that the 27" 5K display in the iMac Pro is going to age quicker than the internal components. I suspect that ~32" 8K displays will be mainstream in a year or two.
  - saagarjha 9y ago
    > I suspect that ~32" 8K displays will be mainstream in a year or two. 8K would require new HDMI cables and ports, would it not? I'm pretty sure that many people are still stuck with legacy hardware in this regard.
    - jackvalentine 9y ago
      Current 8k displays use 2x DP connections just like early 4k displays.
- madeofpalk 9y ago
  At least the displays Apple ships are very very good. Best in the industry.
  - lisper 9y ago
    I agree. I was the very happy owner of an Apple Cinema Display that served me well for many, many years, and was still in perfect working order when I had to abandon it in favor of an ASUS display because I needed more resolution and Apple wasn't selling standalone displays any more :-( I want to be an Apple fan. I really do. But they are making it impossible for me nowadays.

jrs95 9y ago

I wish they would have left the Xeon and Pro GPU components to the new Mac Pro instead of putting them in this. It would’ve been nice just to have top of the line consumer grade hardware available in a Mac instead. That and the amount of time they’re taking on this modular one is just nuts. All people want is a simple tower. They could just bring the damn cheese grater back.

JohnBooty 9y ago

I agree so, so much with what you wrote. I only have one teeny tiny nit and I'm only mentioning it because I think it's a common misconception: if you want a **quiet,** good looking machine with a great screen and the other 'benefits' of an all in one (and don't mind the trade offs) I don't think "quiet" needs to be the domain of all-in-ones; with a $60 CPU cooler from NewEgg one can have a ~4ghz i5/i7 PC that's nearly silent. The old cheese grater Mac Pros were noisy, but that really doesn't need to be the case, especially if Apple would just release a damn desktop i5/i7 based Mac Pro.