Sign In
Register
Help
I become depressed whenever I look at Apple's current MacPro offerings. They are so outrageously priced and most of the hardware is becoming rather dated. Even the 2.8GHz iMac outpaces the base line Mac Pro in Macworld's latest Speed Mark testing. Even worse is the fact that Dell and other PC manufacturers are now offering computers with much newer hardware and better specs for significantly lower prices.
For example:
1. The base model only includes 1GB of RAM. Come on Apple, even the MacBook Pro now ships with 2GB standard! Not to mention, Mac Pro RAM is very expensive and it's not even running at 800MHz yet.
2. No terabyte hard drives are offered. These drives have been out for quite a while and are now made by most hard drive manufacturers. Sure, it's easy enough to upgrade yourself, but Apple should give us the ability to order a Mac Pro loaded with 4TB of hard drive space.
3. It is really sad to see the base card in the Mac Pro is still only an Nvidia 7300 and you can't even order a Mac Pro with Nvidia's awesome 8000 series. The 8800GT would be a much better base model card and Apple should also offer the 8800GTX and the 8800GTS as factory options for hard core gamers.
4. There is still no Blue Ray or HD DVD option on the Mac Pro. While I don't think the market is ready for Apple to include a Blue Ray drive as standard hardware, it would be great if Apple made it an option. I'd like to see them come through with their initial support of Blue Ray.
5. Apple's Cinema Displays haven't been updated in a long time and they aren't very price competitive right now. It's time for an update that includes lower prices, larger display models, and built in iSight cameras for use with Apple's latest media capabilities in Leopard. It would also be great to see the Mac Pro made compatible with Apple's remote for using Front Row.
Now that Intel has released its high end Penryn workstation chips, it's high time that we see a dramatically upgraded Mac Pro that puts Apple back on top of all the PC manufacturers. And please don't make us wait for MacWorld in January. The Mac Pro hasn't received an update for well over a year now (other than the addition of the 8 core model earlier this year). This seems hardly acceptable in the high end computer market where technology is changing constantly.
Also, I think that Apple should lower the price of entry on the Mac Pro line by offering a single dual core chip in the base model. Part of the reason that the Mac Pro is so much more expensive than current PCs is because most PC manufacturers don't sell machines with multiple chips. While I think it's great that Apple offers multiple chips in its high end computer line for those who need them, it would clear up a lot of price comparison misconceptions if Apple offered a model more comparable to current high end PC offerings. Offering a single chip Mac Pro could bring the price of the base model down below $2,000, which would hopefully even satisfy most people's demands for a less expensive mid-range tower.
What do you think? Isn't time for Apple to release a substantial Mac Pro upgrade?
On a last note, I think Apple should get more aggressive about staying on top in terms of hard ware specs for all its Mac models. The main component that instantly comes to mind is graphics cards.
Page 1 of 1
Apple: Please Update The Mac Pro
MultiQuote
#2
MacCheetah3 
- Power User
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 6,645
- Joined: 02-April 01
Posted 28 November 2007 - 01:18 AM
Hi
First look at this.
Originally posted by estumpges
Agreed. 2GB is certainly what I would consider a bare minimum for anything a user who feels they need the Mac Pro would use. Even if Apple included four 512MB to fully utilize the quad-channel memory architecture.
Originally posted by estumpges
Agreed ( again ) and I'll go as far as to guarantee that the next revision will include this option as BTO ( a.k.a. CTO ).
Originally posted by estumpges
I can't agree with this one. Apple feels the Quadro FX will be sufficient for 3D modelers and the X1900 or Quadro will be sufficient options for video professionals. However, most processes don't' require excessive GPU processing: Graphic design, web design, audio production work, scientific analysis ( medical, ... ), ... Apple has never shown interest in providing options targeted mostly to gamers in any of their computers. The X1900XT would work but as you pointed out is certainly not a top model by most means. However, it will do for what Apple is targeting the Mac Pro for, or so Jobs feels.
Originally posted by estumpges
[I think] this would be pushin' it yet, even for just an option. With 5.25" Blu-ray writer prices still ~$400-500 and both formats still fighting for dominance, I don't see many sales ( takers ).
Originally posted by estumpges
I don't see a problem with these requests but don't expect Apple to price their displays completely in line with a company like Dell.
First look at this.
Originally posted by estumpges
Quote:
1. The base model only includes 1GB of RAM. Come on Apple, even the MacBook Pro now ships with 2GB standard! Not to mention, Mac Pro RAM is very expensive and it's not even running at 800MHz yet.
1. The base model only includes 1GB of RAM. Come on Apple, even the MacBook Pro now ships with 2GB standard! Not to mention, Mac Pro RAM is very expensive and it's not even running at 800MHz yet.
Agreed. 2GB is certainly what I would consider a bare minimum for anything a user who feels they need the Mac Pro would use. Even if Apple included four 512MB to fully utilize the quad-channel memory architecture.
Originally posted by estumpges
Quote:
2. No terabyte hard drives are offered. These drives have been out for quite a while and are now made by most hard drive manufacturers. Sure, it's easy enough to upgrade yourself, but Apple should give us the ability to order a Mac Pro loaded with 4TB of hard drive space.
2. No terabyte hard drives are offered. These drives have been out for quite a while and are now made by most hard drive manufacturers. Sure, it's easy enough to upgrade yourself, but Apple should give us the ability to order a Mac Pro loaded with 4TB of hard drive space.
Agreed ( again ) and I'll go as far as to guarantee that the next revision will include this option as BTO ( a.k.a. CTO ).
Originally posted by estumpges
Quote:
3. It is really sad to see the base card in the Mac Pro is still only an Nvidia 7300 and you can't even order a Mac Pro with Nvidia's awesome 8000 series. The 8800GT would be a much better base model card and Apple should also offer the 8800GTX and the 8800GTS as factory options for hard core gamers.
3. It is really sad to see the base card in the Mac Pro is still only an Nvidia 7300 and you can't even order a Mac Pro with Nvidia's awesome 8000 series. The 8800GT would be a much better base model card and Apple should also offer the 8800GTX and the 8800GTS as factory options for hard core gamers.
I can't agree with this one. Apple feels the Quadro FX will be sufficient for 3D modelers and the X1900 or Quadro will be sufficient options for video professionals. However, most processes don't' require excessive GPU processing: Graphic design, web design, audio production work, scientific analysis ( medical, ... ), ... Apple has never shown interest in providing options targeted mostly to gamers in any of their computers. The X1900XT would work but as you pointed out is certainly not a top model by most means. However, it will do for what Apple is targeting the Mac Pro for, or so Jobs feels.
Originally posted by estumpges
Quote:
4. There is still no Blue Ray or HD DVD option on the Mac Pro. While I don't think the market is ready for Apple to include a Blue Ray drive as standard hardware, it would be great if Apple made it an option. I'd like to see them come through with their initial support of Blue Ray.
4. There is still no Blue Ray or HD DVD option on the Mac Pro. While I don't think the market is ready for Apple to include a Blue Ray drive as standard hardware, it would be great if Apple made it an option. I'd like to see them come through with their initial support of Blue Ray.
[I think] this would be pushin' it yet, even for just an option. With 5.25" Blu-ray writer prices still ~$400-500 and both formats still fighting for dominance, I don't see many sales ( takers ).
Originally posted by estumpges
Quote:
5. Apple's Cinema Displays haven't been updated in a long time and they aren't very price competitive right now. It's time for an update that includes lower prices, larger display models, and built in iSight cameras for use with Apple's latest media capabilities in Leopard. It would also be great to see the Mac Pro made compatible with Apple's remote for using Front Row.
5. Apple's Cinema Displays haven't been updated in a long time and they aren't very price competitive right now. It's time for an update that includes lower prices, larger display models, and built in iSight cameras for use with Apple's latest media capabilities in Leopard. It would also be great to see the Mac Pro made compatible with Apple's remote for using Front Row.
I don't see a problem with these requests but don't expect Apple to price their displays completely in line with a company like Dell.
#3
estumpges
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 315
- Joined: 15-April 06
Posted 28 November 2007 - 01:54 AM
I think it's great that Apple offers the Quadro FX for 3D modelers and the X1900 for video professionals but this still leaves out the gaming market, which Apple sadly continues to ignore.
I think that the gaming market is too large for Apple to continue ignoring. I know a lot of people who would buy a Mac Pro if they could run all their games through an Nvidia 8800 and BootCamp. I guess it's not a huge deal what card Apple chooses for the base model as long as they offer hard core gamers a chip they can be happy with.
Based on my experiences trying to get people to try out a Mac, gaming is usually the biggest obstacle. People look at the graphics cards included on the various Mac Models and conclude that Macs are inferior to PCs based on that alone. It's sad but true. If Apple just offered better graphics cards as factory options, or made them user upgradable, I think it would be a lot easier to get a lot of people to convert to the Mac Platform, even if they have to continue running Windows through BootCamp for gaming.
Regarding optical drives, I still think Apple should offer Blue Ray drives even if they are expensive and might only appeal to a limited market. we have to start somewhere. As people start buying more high definition capable drives, prices will come down.
About the Cinema Displays, I don't expect Apple to drop prices to compete with Dell's low quality displays. Even just a $100 price drop on each display model would be sufficient. I'd really like to see Apple add a 42" display to the line-up as well.
I think that the gaming market is too large for Apple to continue ignoring. I know a lot of people who would buy a Mac Pro if they could run all their games through an Nvidia 8800 and BootCamp. I guess it's not a huge deal what card Apple chooses for the base model as long as they offer hard core gamers a chip they can be happy with.
Based on my experiences trying to get people to try out a Mac, gaming is usually the biggest obstacle. People look at the graphics cards included on the various Mac Models and conclude that Macs are inferior to PCs based on that alone. It's sad but true. If Apple just offered better graphics cards as factory options, or made them user upgradable, I think it would be a lot easier to get a lot of people to convert to the Mac Platform, even if they have to continue running Windows through BootCamp for gaming.
Regarding optical drives, I still think Apple should offer Blue Ray drives even if they are expensive and might only appeal to a limited market. we have to start somewhere. As people start buying more high definition capable drives, prices will come down.
About the Cinema Displays, I don't expect Apple to drop prices to compete with Dell's low quality displays. Even just a $100 price drop on each display model would be sufficient. I'd really like to see Apple add a 42" display to the line-up as well.
Page 1 of 1
