End of Mac Pro???

[Magnus Tondevold]

This was not really the news I was hoping for.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...reportedly_questioning_future_of_mac_pro.html

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/31/apple-questioning-the-future-of-its-mac-pro-line/

Cant really see myself on a Mac mini or iMac.

:-(

 

[Mark Phelan]

If true, then I want a RED Pro tower dedicated to the production environment. A specialized system that would have the rocket built-in along with all the other whiz-bang features we need. That I'd buy.

 

[Magnus Tondevold]

Well, Smoke on a mac mini. That would be the day. How could the pro society not be forced to predominantly move to Windows? Linux isn't really an alternate as I see it.

 

[Zeb B]

Rutrow . . . hard to fit a Rocket in a laptop

 

[Thor Melsted]

If this is true, then Apple has officially and fully abandoned the Professional market. I suppose the writing was pretty much on the wall with the FCPX debacle, but this would be the clincher.
I can't stand Windows of any version, so a move like this would only push me back to the Hackintosh world which is what brought me to buy my Mac Pro in the first place...

 

[Mark Phelan]

Hopefully, they might be making the move to a rack mounted unit as some rumors are saying. That would work fine too, then I could put it all in the same box.

 

[Mark Allen]

I think their thinking is not to abandon the professional market per se - but they are thinking that a more feasible option for them would be to use Thunderbolt as an access point for external professional needs. Even third party cards could go in a thunderbolt card chasis etc. Not sure how higher end graphics to video cards would work, but I suspect they're pondering that question.

Clearly their interest is leaning towards the consumer market... but it always was, that's not new.

 

[Zeb B]

Hopefully, they might be making the move to a rack mounted unit as some rumors are saying. That would work fine too, then I could put it all in the same box.

Rack Mount = .001% of potential Desktop market. Wouldn't hold your breath on that one. Apple is gently closing the door on all things not FCPX / MacBook / iPhone / iCloud

 

[Robert Cook]

I knew it! I had this feeling. I was debating about replacing my old 2007 MacBook Pro 2.4GHz dual-core, I'm glad I just purchase the windows version of CS5.5. Now all I need is a PC to put it on. ;-D

 

[Solomon Nero]

Apple has been leaning consumer/prosumer slowly but surely over the past 5-10 years. I would not be surprised. Which is no heartbreak for me, I use all PC anyway, and have had no notable problems.

 

[Tehben Dean]

Assuming thunderbolt is fast enough? for running graphics cards etc with an external enclosure then a new iMac with 2 TB ports is theoretically as or more expandable then current mac pro's....

Imagine a setup where you bring your MacbookPro home from the field, plug it in to thunderbolt and it connects right up to your Raid, monitor system, RR, graphics card etc. etc.

Why limit yourself to a box with 4 PCI slots ;P

Dunno how realistic, but something to think about....

 

[Sam Taylor]

I said goodbye to FCP and bought premiere 5.5. So is the next step goodbye mac, and hello windows?

 

[Zeb B]

I said goodbye to FCP and bought premiere 5.5. So is the next step goodbye mac, and hello windows?

I'd rather eat worms

 

[David Rasberry]

Assuming thunderbolt is fast enough? for running graphics cards etc with an external enclosure then a new iMac with 2 TB ports is theoretically as or more expandable then current mac pro's....

Imagine a setup where you bring your MacbookPro home from the field, plug it in to thunderbolt and it connects right up to your Raid, monitor system, RR, graphics card etc. etc.

Why limit yourself to a box with 4 PCI slots ;P

Dunno how realistic, but something to think about....

This could be a practical solution for small production shops with FCPX. Not so much for big iron facilities though.

 

[Magnus Tondevold]

Tehben,

I share that view that we have to rethink the way we see computers. There will be development in the Thunderbolt technology making the speeds and thus posibilites even grater. Regardless I think its a mess having 6 Thunderbolt devices daisy chained to a MBP or similar. The RAID, the graphic cards, dual monitors and what else you use thunderbolt connections to. Im quite happy with the thought of a "supercomputer" where there are grater choice of hardware. If we stick with the iMac approach, I assume that Apple still will dictate what GPUs etc that will work or not work.

I am an apple fan beyond, but Im finding it hard believing in Apples commitment towards what tools we need to produce the art we live for.

BTW, does anyone want to buy an Xserve? ARGH!

 

[Dave Blackham]

I'd rather eat worms

Im with you on that. Theres no doubt the hardware is good but for any serious facility Windows doesn't cut it. It will be interested to see what Apple decides to do ultimately. One thing that should be considered is that the Pro user group tends to lead opinion rightly or wrongly. If Apple loose that support Im not sure where that might lead.

 

[Martin Weiss]

As Matthew Yohe noted on macrumors article, the source of this rumor is the same one that made this graphic:

 

[Magnus Tondevold]

As Matthew Yohe noted on macrumors article, the source of this rumor is the same one that made this graphic:

Hope your right Martin.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

As we are about to be reminded on November 3rd, nothing is true until it actually happens.

 

[Tehben Dean]

What if the MacPro where to turn into a modular computer along the lines of EPIC. Processor modules, graphics modes, I/O modules, etc. you just stack as many of them up as you want... Infinitely expandable. Now that would be amazing!