next Mac Pro: Likelihood of new enclosure design?
Apple's pro desktop has had the same basic enclosure design since the G5's introduction in 2003 ? approaching 5 years. They must really like it. It's gotta be great for cooling since the whole front is vented... but the appearance (to me) is getting stale. Do you think they'll change it with the next update?
Comments
The next processors from Intel are roughly %20 more energy efficient and things improve again next year with Nehalem based product. The time is now to shrink the case. I'd love to see Apple give us the option to use four 3.5" drives or cram in Six 2.5" drives. There are times when you might want more spindles and platters.
Put handles on the unit that lock down when not needed.
I think we see a smaller case. Something that will fit in in a 19" rackmount case.
The next processors from Intel are roughly %20 more energy efficient and things improve again next year with Nehalem based product. The time is now to shrink the case. I'd love to see Apple give us the option to use four 3.5" drives or cram in Six 2.5" drives. There are times when you might want more spindles and platters.
Put handles on the unit that lock down when not needed.
It makes sense.
they've surely got to reduce the size and weight! those things are HUGE
That's because they are workstations. Apple has already shrunken the case to the size of a large desktop ATX case and that's a feat all to itself. The current Apple consumer clientele could really care less if the computer actually does the job as long as its thin and cool looking. If apple tries that with the Pros, they could find themselves out of a whole bunch of money.
That's because they are workstations. Apple has already shrunken the case to the size of a large desktop ATX case and that's a feat all to itself. The current Apple consumer clientele could really care less if the computer actually does the job as long as its thin and cool looking. If apple tries that with the Pros, they could find themselves out of a whole bunch of money.
Apple is now in the Intel world, where the answers are not as cut and dried. There are a number of flavors of workstations. I think there will be new enclosures and new variations on machines. The MacPro was a quick and dirty upgrade to make the Intel transition. Now the hard work comes.
For the biggest baddest dog, why not the 7300 chipset with 4 processors if you are arguing for the ultimate machine.
Next is the 5400 chipset with FB-Dimms and two quad core processors. A pretty big heat foot print because of the FB-Dimms but even the current case may be overkill with the lower power processors (no water cooling?)
Next is the 5100 chipset with the same processors and DDR, reducing the power requirement in both processor and memory and the current case is definitely overdesigned for this scenario.
Finally Intel has a 975 motherboard (or X38) with a Quad Core extreme and DDR memory. This may not fit your definition as it isn't the size of the current MacPro and this sounds a little too much like an xMac. However, for most people this is still a Workstation as it is well beyond what the average desktop user needs.
Five years for a case is pretty long in the tooth. I have an original and only recently when I was moving it did I realize again just how big it is. I appreciate the thermal design and the quiet case but it is time for a change.
Apple is now in the Intel world, where the answers are not as cut and dried. There are a number of flavors of workstations. I think there will be new enclosures and new variations on machines. The MacPro was a quick and dirty upgrade to make the Intel transition. Now the hard work comes.
For the biggest baddest dog, why not the 7300 chipset with 4 processors if you are arguing for the ultimate machine.
Next is the 5400 chipset with FB-Dimms and two quad core processors. A pretty big heat foot print because of the FB-Dimms but even the current case may be overkill with the lower power processors (no water cooling?)
Next is the 5100 chipset with the same processors and DDR, reducing the power requirement in both processor and memory and the current case is definitely overdesigned for this scenario.
Finally Intel has a 975 motherboard (or X38) with a Quad Core extreme and DDR memory. This may not fit your definition as it isn't the size of the current MacPro and this sounds a little too much like an xMac. However, for most people this is still a Workstation as it is well beyond what the average desktop user needs.
Five years for a case is pretty long in the tooth. I have an original and only recently when I was moving it did I realize again just how big it is. I appreciate the thermal design and the quiet case but it is time for a change.
5100 needs DDR2 ECC Register SDRAM
Desktop boards with 1 cpu use DDR2 and amd 4x4 dual cpu board also uses DDR2
It needs to be big to cool those awesome graphics cards you get in a Mac Pro.
Where's the sarcasm emoticon?
I voted "no" because I wish they wouldn't change. A little continuity wouldn't be a bad thing in the technology realm.
That said, I actually believe they will change the case design substantially... Apple / Jon would prolly think of it as a challenge!
The thing is, I don't know where they'll go. The old G4 case aged quickly, but the G5 case looks so cool. Same with the Titanium powerbook. The aluminum powerbooks and MBPs don't really look better than the old Titaniums. . . I bought my first Titanium almost 7 years ago! (my mom still uses it!) The MacBooks do look great, however. I give the MacBook the award for most effective design.
I think I paid $3200+ for the 1st gen TiBook. Shit. For that you can now get a very well-equipped MBP 17".
..ok, perhaps not!
same size, same design in overall but some new details... who cares for the workstation look, it is a workstation what i care about is video card compatibility...
which probably wont happen because of EFI.
If they could scale down the same device it would sell.