Wondering if we're going to even see a new Mac Pro?

http://www.macrumors.com/...of-its-mac-pro-line/
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Ron Priest - Louisville KY
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If we do see a new Mac Pro, it might be the last. Apparently they don't sell very many. With the arrival of Thunderbolt technology, it might be possible to get much of the same PCI-E expansion flexibility of the Mac Pro with external enclosures ( for, say, a graphics card).

The MacPros do appear to be the red headed step child for Apple. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love my tower.


Bill Carnicelli
Carnicelli Media Productions Inc

Well I don't want to say I told you so, but I did a few months back.

With that said though, there really sin;t anything currently out that would lead Apple to upgrade their Mac Pros yet.
This is because the next upgrade to the Intel processors were delayed until the first Q1 of next year. So this alone woudl be one of the main reasons for a delay in a new Mac Pro system.

However like I said earlier in another post; Apple really is now about the consumer more than the professional, as that's where the money is. iPods, iPads etc., not to mention the consumer friendly MacAir, MacBookPro and iMac with the advent of Thunderbolt, enables the consumer for unlimited expandability to a single small form factor system. Now there isn't a ton currently availbale for Thunderbolt technology, but give it a year or two and Thunderbolt tech should be much more affordable and readily available.

And personally speaking as a professional, I love the expandability and customization of my MacPro tower. But with the advent of Thunderbolt, really am leaning more towards a iMac and external TB storage over a hulking tower.
I had been holding off on a new system (I already have a 2009 MacBook Pro and 1st gen MacPro), but am seriously considering a new '27 3.4 Ghz i7 iMac with external storage (eSata for starters, then later on Thunderbolt when it becomes more affordable).

Michael

Video Cameras: (2) Sony NX5U
DSLR: Canon 550D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.8, Tamron VC 17-50mm 2.8
Software: Sony Vegas, Final Cut Studio
Computer: MAC BABY! MacPro, MacBook Pro

I have two 27 inch IMACs and love them but I am also now thinking of getting back to a tower. IMAC = 1 quad core I7, Tower = up to 12 cores and more ram too plus the ability to change graphics cards and other things Iv'e wanted to look into but can't. I do see the inevitable but not just yet, although a 12 core is gonna run ya like over 5 grand.

Here's another article on the subject.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/...ter?source=rss_blogs
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Ron Priest - Louisville KY
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Here's a solution for the graphic card via Thunderbolt.
Sonnet Echo

and a real life test using RED and their RED Rocket graphics card.

BTW for multiple graphic cards enclosure, there's ExpressBox 3T. Which will house up to 3 PCi cards with only 2 Thunderbolt connection needed to your system.

The only thing that a tower might have over a smaller form factor system (iMac, MacBook Pro etc.) might be more core processor horsepower. However at the current stage in the game most of these systems will be more than fast enough for video needs. And with the advent of Thunderbolt, expansion for video and storage seem to be more than possible.

Yes there isn't much in terms of Thunderbolt currently, but give it a year or so, and I think that you will see a lot more. Even more affordable solutions. This seems to be what Sonnet seems to be working towards. Hell if you could buy a Thunderbolt Promise system without the drives, then this could save one lots of money. But currently Promise seems to be very greedy in only giving us solutions with drives installed.

Michael

Video Cameras: (2) Sony NX5U
DSLR: Canon 550D
Lens: Canon 50mm 1.8, Tamron VC 17-50mm 2.8
Software: Sony Vegas, Final Cut Studio
Computer: MAC BABY! MacPro, MacBook Pro

Yeah I guess but neither of my IMACS have thunderbolt and at the cost of things now buying a MAC PRO might cost the same or close. I'm holding off a little while as I test CS5 and FINAL CUT PROX and decide which way to go. Experimenting with CS5 now but I really want to work with FCPX to see whats its got.

I don't know? With the cost of drives going up, you might be better off buying them with their drives installed. That is if they don't increase their already over priced solutions even higher due to hard drive prices on the rise.
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Ron Priest - Louisville KY
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