Where's the new stuff?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 
Does it strike anyone else as odd that Apple has only made one major announcement this year?

Not really.

I know; that just makes no sense at all, does it? I certainly hope that's not what they do.

I would HOPE they'd focus solely on OS X and iOS there… 

Not like there's no precedent for that. 2007 was "the year of the Mac". Look how well THAT worked: "Computer" removed from the company name, Leopard pushed back to make way for a phone, virtually no actual Mac announcements at all…

If they're doing with the MacBook Pro line what I think they're doing, they have to wait for MacBook Air chips to be available before they can announce either line.

It would be nice to see a quad-core/discrete graphics mini for $999.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 

Where are the invites to special events?  It's May.  Does it strike anyone else as odd that Apple has only made one major announcement this year?  Why would Apple wait to make all of its major hardware announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11th?  I would think they'd focus solely on OS X & iOS there.  In the past Apple sprinkled its product announcements throughout the year, whether it was MacBook Pro or iMac or iPhone.  Thus far in 2012 we only have the new iPad — in a year that Tim Cook announced was "just the beginning." Good start, but it's since fallen flat.  Intel has new processors for MacBook Pros and Mac Pros ready to go.  So where's the new stuff?

Why would you take executive speak to mean anything? Second note that we haven't seen a lot of components shipping in volume. Intel got burned with early Sandy Bridge issues last year, so they are being more cautious on their releases. You'll see Ivy Bridge Macs before too long. The iphone was updated late last year, so it's not really due for an update yet. The people who expected another within a few months were just those who didn't like the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic 

I would like to see an external graphics card similar to what Sony introduced last year that connects via Thunderbird. That way I could use it on my Mini and MacBook Air. I know you can now buy an external PCIe box with four slots but it costs a small fortune.

You don't seem to be alone in this kind of thinking, but it still makes no sense to me. At the point you start investing quite a lot in the mini, the imac starts to make seemingly more sense for most things. With the Air, I really don't understand. I mean is it that you just require the option of bringing them along occasionally? Keep in mind that the air also has a lower bandwidth chip. Anyway I doubt Apple will do this, so you'd be dependent on a third party. Unless the Windows side adopts thunderbolt with a matching connector, the prices are likely to remain high due to an extremely limited market for this kind of thing. Note how exotic accessories often seem overpriced.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 
The Mac stuff on the other hand...  I understand that some components aren't shipping in volume but geez, that Mac Pro offering is very stale and I believe those parts are available now, yes?

As of only a month or so ago. None of Apple's competitors are shipping Sandy Bridge Xeons yet, even.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 
I'm starting to grow weary, forgive me.  It seems like things are taking a really long time.

My mom's waiting for the new MacBook Pro (well, MacBook, if things go well) line, too. She's no techie, but she asks me every day, "Did they announce the new ones yet?"

There's a song from the early '80s, I believe, that sums this up well.

Yeah Dell doesn't even have the configuration options up for their new workstations yet. I at least like messing around with the configurations for fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 

I'm not too concerned with the iOS products.  They're OK, and they've got an obvious trend.  The Mac stuff on the other hand...  I understand that some components aren't shipping in volume but geez, that Mac Pro offering is very stale and I believe those parts are available now, yes?

Technically it is available, but it hasn't been widely adopted in shipping machines yet. Intel wanted to be able to say they were launched, so they got it to that point. Overall they've been far more cautious this year given the Sandy Bridge issues last year. Stepping problems were rumored to push back Sandy Bridge E before. I can't remember what caused problems with the initial Sandy Bridge release. Anyway I don't think they want to eat a huge loss again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizard69 
 This may require a wait but I dont see WWDC as the hold up for the Laptops. The more we wait he more I think major overhal.
You concerns are noted but this isn't the first time Apple has waited to WWDC.

I don't think they've announced much in the way of hardware at WWDC over the past couple years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 

I'm starting to grow weary, forgive me.  It seems like things are taking a really long time.

It's been 196 days since the last Macbook Pro update, more than a month less than even the shortest previous gap between updates. Although the last one was only a minor bump.

On the other hand it's over a year since the iMac got even a minor bump, the longest ever gap.

I'd have thought they'll certainly announce iMacs at the developers conference, possibly along with the new Macbook line, with or without the Pro suffix.

But yeah, it does feel like an age since anything happened. I'm having to fight off buying an iPad just out of pure boredom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony3d 


HP sure the hell is. I just configured one last week! Sorry, but Apple is out of exuses.

Apparently they are starting to ship. I don't see the custom configurations available on those yet, but I may have missed them. Apple has never been the first to update. A few mentally handicapped individuals claim that they get first pick on computer parts, so everyone always expects them to update before anyone else. The times that has happened, it has been explained by other factors. Now obviously they have have contracts, which would put them ahead of distributors, but that's about as far as anyone should expect it to go. They've always been pretty random. I don't think there's much that can be done about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvin 

The Mac Pro chips are out but they aren't significantly faster and the Mac Pro needs a redesign due to Thunderbolt. It may not be updated at all though.

I know this is the popular rumor, but none of us have any real information on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizard69 
Yes but did you actually buy one and get a shipping date. I actually thinking you are running out of things to whine about.

It says, "Ships 5/16/2012".

But it says that even if I configure with dual top-end processors, 256 gigabytes of RAM, dual nVidia 6000 chips, and a Tegra card. So take that as you will. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winter 

It would be nice to see a quad-core/discrete graphics mini for $999.

I'd like to ask does Apple have a strategy for the Mini which precludes Winter from getting what he wants?

I could go for that myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic 

I would like to see an external graphics card similar to what Sony introduced last year that connects via Thunderbird. That way I could use it on my Mini and MacBook Air. I know you can now buy an external PCIe box with four slots but it costs a small fortune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmm 

 

You don't seem to be alone in this kind of thinking, but it still makes no sense to me. At the point you start investing quite a lot in the mini, the imac starts to make seemingly more sense for most things. 

 

But the iMac has TB also... so it would be come expandable.... and when the MP get TB... expansion becomes exponential!!!!

absolutely agreed.

Although, maybe b/c AAPL destroyed the last quarter, they figured they could wait off on 'new' announcements for the lull after the storm? And, if they stretch iPhone 5 to October as per rumours, then they need jolts of sales and PR in the summer back to school season: new kind of PM and slimmer sexy screen MBP/Air. Also if this IGZO thing is true, maybe that's delayed mad thin designs and batteries etc for the latter; think that would be harder redesign than the 'plan b' iPad 3.

hopefully something soon....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanm9 

 

But the iMac has TB also... so it would be come expandable.... and when the MP get TB... expansion becomes exponential!!!!

Not really. The thunderbolt controller feeds off existing lanes. You'd gain the ability to use the thunderbolt display and share accessories in breakout box form with your laptop. That could be quite valuable for some people. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizard69 


So could many of us! The fundamental problem with the Mini is that performance lagged fairly badly given its price. The qualification there being that the Mini uses low power parts.
Can Winter get what he wants? With Ivy Bridge I don't think it is totally impossible. We would be talking a 35 to 45 watts processor along with a GPU and GPU memory in the box. That is a lot to deal with, though Apple might be able to limit power disapation dynamically as Ivy Bridge has support for that. In any event I consider quad core very important for any desktop purchase so they would have to do something there.
The interesting thing is the so called server model that Apple currently ships which is quad core. I believe it is a 45 watt chip, so let's think a bit about that translated to Ivy Bridge. At 45 watts you would get a respectable CPU speed increase in combo with a new generation of GPU. That would be one hot little box! Such a platform, hooked up to a decent monitor, would make a great development platform but sadly not a more general workstation. This however doesn't represent the performance you could expect out of a descrete GPU or even AMDs Fusion processors.

Agreed.  The Mac community wanted a headless iMac so Apple gave them a headless MacBook and told them to like it. 

It would cost less to build a Mini using larger desktop components.  Add a larger case and a little more expandability, and the build cost is probably about the same.  Then there's no need to fuss over a few watts, Apple could drop in whatever CPU they pleased.  

The Mini is an example of Apple intentionally not building the best computer they could.  It's so obviously designed to sucker people into buying a high margin Apple product without any innovations to justify the high margins.  Totally opposite of the Mac Pro, where one look at the case, inside and out, is enough to convince anyone that it's brilliantly laid out design AND a work of art.  I've spent more time than I'd like to admit just gazing at my Mac Pro with the case open, the attention to detail and usability is simply breathtaking.  The Mac Pro shows respect for Mac users, while the Mini shows contempt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizard69 

 

I'm not sure I buy that it is a machine to sucker people into buying other hardware. It is a low end low power machine which many people find to be very desirable.

I wasn't very clear, what I meant was the Mini is designed to sucker people into buying the Mini, which I suspect has far higher margins than warranted for gimped, entry level product.  

Totally agree.  The Mini is sufficient for the needs of many users, like my parents.  And it is nice to be able to upgrade a display or the Mini without having to replace both the display and the Mini.  That should be a given, but Apple's obstinacy regarding all in one desktops actually makes it a feature. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHagan4755 

I'm starting to grow weary, forgive me.  It seems like things are taking a really long time.

I am growing weary too dude, *takes a seat next to you on bench* I've been waiting since FEB thinking the new MBP is 'right around the corner now!!! *each day goes by where I eagerly check A.I. for news that the new MBP is ready to order, then get sad when I don't see it and instead see a new 'launch' date set a month away*

The Apple store will be down tonight....

Quote:

Originally Posted by not1lost 
The Apple store will be down tonight....

For what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

 

For what?

I just think it will

Quote:

Originally Posted by not1lost 
I just think it will

Mind over matter only works for your own body, not Apple release schedules. Believe me, I've tried. 

And developed the ability to eat just once every other day, walk without making any noise, and answer unspoken questions from the people around me! So there's that.

Doesn't really do much in the Apple realm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by geneking7320 

I'd like to ask does Apple have a strategy for the Mini which precludes Winter from getting what he wants?

I could go for that myself.

I actually bought the base mini and put an SSD in it. I am happy with it. I am just saying that if Apple wanted me to spend a bit more, I would spend more based on that option.

@wizard69 - I don't think I will be upgrading until Haswell anyway. I was a bit disappointed by the fact that Intel cheapened out on the thermal paste for Ivy Bridge.

In addition, the quad/discrete option under a grand I thought would be perfect for me to play Diablo III on (as well as possibly other games in the future). Right now, I really have no interest in playing Diablo III.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

 

Mind over matter only works for your own body, not Apple release schedules. Believe me, I've tried. 

 

And developed the ability to eat just once every other day, walk without making any noise, and answer unspoken questions from the people around me! So there's that.

 

Doesn't really do much in the Apple realm.

I dont know about that... I'm working on Steve Jobs 'reality distortion field'....