The Intel Powermac / Powermac Conroe / Mac Pro thread

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  • Reply 141 of 946
    tenobelltenobell Posts: 7,014member
    I'm sure at some point Apple has a big boost in PowerMacs when the majority of the professional market was moving from the G4 to the G5. I'm sure Apple selling over 400,000 PM was a temporary phenomenon.



    The same selling boost will happen with the Intel PM when most of the pro market moves from G5 to Intel.



    Most average users can afford and only need the iMac, that's why its logically the best seller.
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  • Reply 142 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by onlooker

    I don't remember the exact number, but about a year, or so ago when I thought the powerMac line was not selling at all because it was: Old, and not been updated in forever.
    The last of the powerMacs before the new G6, and a huge PM update that everyone was waiting for.
    Long overdue for an update. (moving to 3GHz IBM)
    Apple had a conference call, and in it they said they had sold over 400,000 PowerMac units in that quarter.

    The ones that were not selling was the iMac, and PowerBook which both had been updated before the last powerMac update at that time.



    So saying the PowerMac is a not as big a seller than the iMac for Apple may be just a what you think, because you really have no idea about pro users, or what kind of sales apple has with pro users.



    I was suprised at the numbers. I thought that everybody was pretty much waiting on the revision. I know a lot of people that were. Which is actually what I'm doing right now. I want an intel Dual Woodcrest machine with a Quadro FX (if not two of them).




    No way! They haven't sold 400 thousand PM's a quarter for years. They are selling about 125 thousand a quarter. I wouldn't be surprised if that number is well below that now, and has been for several months.



    The iMac has been their best selling desktop since it came out. The Powerbook sales haven't sailed for a while, but their sales were up 16% last quarter.
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  • Reply 143 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by melgross

    No way! They haven't sold 400 thousand PM's a quarter for years. They are selling about 125 thousand a quarter. I wouldn't be surprised if that number is well below that now, and has been for several months.



    The iMac has been their best selling desktop since it came out. The Powerbook sales haven't sailed for a while, but their sales were up 16% last quarter.




    Like I said "I don't remember the exact number", but it was way beyond what I had thought they should have sold in that situation. Nevertheless it was a ton of PM's, and it was at an odd time for it.
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  • Reply 144 of 946
    gargar Posts: 1,201member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by TenoBell

    The same selling boost will happen with the Intel PM when most of the pro market moves from G5 to Intel.



    I don't think that this 'selling boost' will be as big as you think.

    The so called pro market will see a much larger selling boost when Adobe CS3 will be intoduced.

    That's the best moment to upgrade for most pro-users and they will.

    imo.
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  • Reply 145 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by gar

    I don't think that this 'selling boost' will be as big as you think.

    The so called pro market will see a much larger selling boost when Adobe CS3 will be intoduced.

    That's the best moment to upgrade for most pro-users and they will.

    imo.




    There's an error that's constantly being made that assumes that the large majority of PM purchasing depends on Adobe's suite.



    That's just not true. While that does account for a good part of it, the other users account for much more than most people seem to think.



    Video, tv, and film production are a good proportion. Scientific users are also a large portion. Music production as well. And even though MacCAD is not a big portion of the industry, it is a good size of PM sales. In Europe, architectural firms use them to a much greater extent that they do here. they are also used as servers in educational facilities, such as K-12, where XServes are rarely used.



    I think that we will see a decent boost shortly after they come out, with a rise after that. When CS3 comes out, hopefully, shortly after, I expect to see another boost, and a continued rise.
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  • Reply 146 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    I'd have to say the last two statements were both pretty accurate as far as those are two big selling areas for Macs. I think PS is the most popular Mac app though. Someone said that 80% of Adobe PS sales are to Mac users. That's a lot of sales, and a lot of Mac users if it's true.
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  • Reply 147 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by onlooker

    I'd have to say the last two statements were both pretty accurate as far as those are two big selling areas for Macs. I think PS is the most popular Mac app though. Someone said that 80% of Adobe PS sales are to Mac users. That's a lot of sales, and a lot of Mac users if it's true.



    I don't know who said that, but it's clearly wrong. Adobe themselves said several months ago that Mac users comprised 27% of PS users. That has risen a point or two since then.
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  • Reply 148 of 946
    programmerprogrammer Posts: 3,503member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by melgross

    I don't know who said that, but it's clearly wrong. Adobe themselves said several months ago that Mac users comprised 27% of PS users. That has risen a point or two since then.



    It used to be correct, but things change and statistics (unfortunately) don't come with a "best before" date attached.
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  • Reply 149 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Programmer

    It used to be correct, but things change and statistics (unfortunately) don't come with a "best before" date attached.



    Very sadly, it used to be true years ago. but then, it used to be 100% before that. If Apple's sales hadn't started to fall the way they did, perhaps Adobe, and others, would never have felt that it was necessary to protect their companies by moving their programs over to Windows as well.
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  • Reply 150 of 946
    programmerprogrammer Posts: 3,503member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by melgross

    Very sadly, it used to be true years ago. but then, it used to be 100% before that. If Apple's sales hadn't started to fall the way they did, perhaps Adobe, and others, would never have felt that it was necessary to protect their companies by moving their programs over to Windows as well.



    The Mac was never in a position to be a monopoly so Adobe supporting both platforms was inevitable eventually. The fall in Mac sales is primarily attributable to other things, but that's a topic for another day.
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  • Reply 151 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    Not to state the obvious or anything but. If Your getting 27% of your sales from a group of users that has only 2 to 4% market-share of total available sales; Your application has to be the dominant app for that group. (Mac buyers + Photoshop = Probably 80+% of us have it)

    Not only that. Alias said 25% of Maya licenses were to Mac users.



    I don't know the #'s for the Audio Professional, FCP-HD, or Final Cut Express HD, and the VIdeo Professional, (but I do know a few audio, and video pro's): this leads us right back to how important the Pro Machine is to Apple.

    Obviously there is a massive number of users that rely on the Apple Pro Workstation. I'm not saying all Photoshop users, or all Maya users (well maybe Maya users) absolutely need the workstation, but it stands to reason that there is a very high percentage of us that do.
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  • Reply 152 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by onlooker

    Not to state the obvious or anything but. If Your getting 27% of your sales from a group of users that has only 2 to 4% market-share of total available sales; Your application has to be the dominant app for that group. (Mac buyers + Photoshop = Probably 80+% of us have it)

    Not only that. Alias said 25% of Maya licenses were to Mac users.



    I don't know the #'s for the Audio Professional, FCP-HD, or Final Cut Express HD, and the VIdeo Professional, (but I do know a few audio, and video pro's): this leads us right back to how important the Pro Machine is to Apple.

    Obviously there is a massive number of users that rely on the Apple Pro Workstation. I'm not saying all Photoshop users, or all Maya users (well maybe Maya users) absolutely need the workstation, but it stands to reason that there is a very high percentage of us that do.




    It's very important. But, like all things Apple, they at times ignore it, and then push it. I truly believe that they should cater more than they do, to the people buying their highest area of profitability after software, which is the PowerMac.



    Not only do they not always make the machines we ask for, they even waste space in the ones they do make.



    From the beginning of the B/W tower, through the current G5 towers, there has been room atop the optical drive for another 5 1/4 unit. A number of third party companies have taken advantage of that space to place an additional HD there, to no discernible negative effect. I've placed drives there myself, in several machines.



    As all of the older towers had optical drives right at the top of the case, where this blank spot is, it makes no real sense. But Apple has refused to utilize it, at no increase in size for the machine.



    This is an example at engineering NOT at its finest.



    My hope is that Apple will be redesigning these machines from the very first model. We don't need to be reassured by the constancy of design they seemed to have felt was necessary with the first IMac's and MBP's.



    Now that Apple is going to Intel's chips, these machines will be compared to other workstations (because that's what they are) that do have six slots, and three to five external bays, with room for another three or even four HD's.



    While I don't expect that Apple will ever give us that amount of freedom, I do hope that we will get closer.
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  • Reply 153 of 946
    icfireballicfireball Posts: 2,594member
    With Boot Camp the new intel PM could be crazy delicious for gaming
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  • Reply 154 of 946
    Quote:

    Originally posted by melgross

    I don't know who said that, but it's clearly wrong. Adobe themselves said several months ago that Mac users comprised 27% of PS users. That has risen a point or two since then.



    just because 27% of the users who use photoshop use a mac does not mean that 80% of their sales don't come from mac users.



    Most people that buy photoshop are pros. Pros use macs. How many people do you know that have photoshop? I can think of about 20 off of the top of my head. How many of them have bought it? zero. How many use windows? all but one or two.
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  • Reply 155 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by icfireball

    With Boot Camp the new intel PM could be crazy delicious for gaming



    It sure would be, but then I don't see that alone as a huge sales factor of this particular machine. Not yet anyway.



    Quote:

    Originally posted by Melrose [edit] I mean melgross

    It's very important. But, like all things Apple, they at times ignore it, and then push it. I truly believe that they should cater more than they do, to the people buying their highest area of profitability after software, which is the PowerMac.



    Not only do they not always make the machines we ask for, they even waste space in the ones they do make.



    From the beginning of the B/W tower, through the current G5 towers, there has been room atop the optical drive for another 5 1/4 unit. A number of third party companies have taken advantage of that space to place an additional HD there, to no discernible negative effect. I've placed drives there myself, in several machines.



    As all of the older towers had optical drives right at the top of the case, where this blank spot is, it makes no real sense. But Apple has refused to utilize it, at no increase in size for the machine.



    This is an example at engineering NOT at its finest.



    My hope is that Apple will be redesigning these machines from the very first model. We don't need to be reassured by the constancy of design they seemed to have felt was necessary with the first IMac's and MBP's.



    Now that Apple is going to Intel's chips, these machines will be compared to other workstations (because that's what they are) that do have six slots, and three to five external bays, with room for another three or even four HD's.



    While I don't expect that Apple will ever give us that amount of freedom, I do hope that we will get closer.


    • It gets to a point where I don't even want to predict what the internals list will look like in an Apple workstation compared to an Alien-ware, or BOXX, or anything with a Tyan, or a new NForce Motherboard.

      There are a lot of things that I think they need more of even on small scale.

    • Like USB ports. I have printers, UPS systems, a flatbed scanner, My Wacom, Speakers, and Sub Woofer - I want to get that new Label-Writer Duo Stamp, and label Printer from Demo, but I'm already plugging, and unplugging things constantly to use USB ports, and I have an external 4 extra ports. I didn't even include my keyboard in that list.

    • 2 -FULL SPEED 16x PCI-E slots, and probably another 3, or 4 PCI-(any of kind) would suffice for audio, video, users.

    • HD bays is also a sore spot, and RAID options. Every good PC has Raid 0, and 1 available in the same box. I doubt Apple will make one that big, but more drive bays again would hopefully suffice.

    • Some of the better perks from the Alienware Workstation is the optional Hot Swappable SATA Drive Chassis for an added $77.

      That could be particularly useful with Boot-camp. Say I just remove my Mac Drives when I put my Windows install in to play a game, or vice verse. Just put the windows drive in when you want it. No need to have it there all the time. Now there is a sweet idea that Mac users would really appreciate. If your not using it you can take it out, and put in a spare, or one you do use. It's particularly good for backup purposes as well.

    I guess that list could about kill any nay sayers because it has everything including possible FULL speed 2x 16X PCI-E for SLI if you wanted it, but how far is Apple going to go for us this time? If the QuadroFX 4500 can be used as an indicator that they are serious about committing to the highend market I am definitely pleased at our chances for possibly the best spec'd workstation we have probably ever seen from Apple. What we'll get we'll have to wait, and see.
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  • Reply 156 of 946
    icfireballicfireball Posts: 2,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by onlooker

    It sure would be, but then I don't see that alone as a huge sales factor of this particular machine. Not yet anyway.





    Still consider through that many people pay thousands of more dollars than what a PowerMac costs on gaming PC's like Alienware. I think that if Apple takes this market seriously they could do really well. All they need is to get those fast fast graphics cards and fast fast CPUs in their Machines and viola they are set.
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  • Reply 157 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    Well yeah I guess they could, but not for the home builder, but then they would have to emphasize the windows factor, but again... Well yeah.. I guess they could. Just because you play games on a PC doesn't necessarily mean that hate the Mac OS itself. It meant more so that you chose the PC because it offered more to you in the way of games, and computing all around at the time you chose it. Now that Macs can also do windows, the Mac can now offer more than any other computer. Almost worth mentioning, and marketing, but it's a hard market with the PS3 on it's way. I guess it would be a good idea to start before the sony release if you were to try it. Still I'm not sure it would be all that hard of a sell to the mind of PC users that bought because of Games, but in a recession it would probably be harder to get their wallets this year. Once they have you in mind though you will have their sales in the future.



    [edit] But I hate to say it that I think there is a bigger market for this if Apple did what I said earlier to the MBP, and iMac, and just changed some of the features. Those who would want to play games would feel more comfortable on one of those systems. Probably beacuse they are more affordable, and the word would reach a larger audience.
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  • Reply 158 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by tensdanny38

    just because 27% of the users who use photoshop use a mac does not mean that 80% of their sales don't come from mac users.



    Most people that buy photoshop are pros. Pros use macs. How many people do you know that have photoshop? I can think of about 20 off of the top of my head. How many of them have bought it? zero. How many use windows? all but one or two.




    No. 27% of their sales are for the Mac version. It's a bit higher now.
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  • Reply 159 of 946
    melgrossmelgross Posts: 33,713member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by onlooker

    It sure would be, but then I don't see that alone as a huge sales factor of this particular machine. Not yet anyway.





    It gets to a point where I don't even want to predict what the internals list will look like in an Apple workstation compared to an Alien-ware, or BOXX, or anything with a Tyan, or a new NForce Motherboard.

    There are a lot of things that I think they need more of even on small scale.
    Like USB ports. I have printers, UPS systems, a flatbed scanner, My Wacom, Speakers, and Sub Woofer - I want to get that new Label-Writer Duo Stamp, and label Printer from Demo, but I'm already plugging, and unplugging things constantly to use USB ports, and I have an external 4 extra ports. I didn't even include my keyboard in that list.
    2 -FULL SPEED 16x PCI-E slots, and probably another 3, or 4 PCI-(any of kind) would suffice for audio, video, users.
    HD bays is also a sore spot, and RAID options. Every good PC has Raid 0, and 1 available in the same box. I doubt Apple will make one that big, but more drive bays again would hopefully suffice.
    Some of the better perks from the Alienware Workstation is the optional Hot Swappable SATA Drive Chassis for an added $77.

    That could be particularly useful with Boot-camp. Say I just remove my Mac Drives when I put my Windows install in to play a game, or vice verse. Just put the windows drive in when you want it. No need to have it there all the time. Now there is a sweet idea that Mac users would really appreciate. If your not using it you can take it out, and put in a spare, or one you do use. It's particularly good for backup purposes as well.
    I guess that list could about kill any nay sayers because it has everything including possible FULL speed 2x 16X PCI-E for SLI if you wanted it, but how far is Apple going to go for us this time? If the QuadroFX 4500 can be used as an indicator that they are serious about committing to the highend market I am definitely pleased at our chances for possibly the best spec'd workstation we have probably ever seen from Apple. What we'll get we'll have to wait, and see.




    Even though you got the name wrong, you are saying the same thing I said.



    I have USB/Firewire boards as well as various others. There always seems to be a situation when I'm short just one slot.



    It was nice to give us four, plus the AGP on the G4's, but they took memory away to do it. Then they took that slot away again with the G5.



    It's not as though Jobs doesn't know that we want these things. You might remember when he proudly made the announcement that we were getting two optical bays, and before that when he announced that we would have four slots.



    What bothers me about all of this, is that since he knows that we want them, and since he gives them, why does he then take them away again in the next model? And, at the very least, why not use the extra space, rather than just leaving it open?



    I would love to be in those meetings.
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  • Reply 160 of 946
    onlookeronlooker Posts: 5,252member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by tensdanny38

    just because 27% of the users who use photoshop use a mac does not mean that 80% of their sales don't come from mac users.



    Most people that buy photoshop are pros. Pros use macs. How many people do you know that have photoshop? I can think of about 20 off of the top of my head. How many of them have bought it? zero. How many use windows? all but one or two.




    Yes melgross is right. It's 27% of sales go to Mac users. I only know like 2 people that don't have it, and BTW. I bought mine.



    Damn spell checker will get you every time mel.
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