Spring for a new Mac Pro...now a good time?

[C.H.Haskell]

Ok mac people with the inside dirt...should I wait or do it now? I need one asap but I will wait if something is around the corner.

cheers.

[Bruce Allen]

Intel's i7 is around the corner. Approx 20% faster for given clock speed (depends on what you're doing).

I'm sure that will be in Mac Pros by Jan at the latest. It will be released sometime in Q4, Sept is the earliest rumor I've heard.

In anticipation of this, Intel chip prices have plummeted. Mac prices have not plummeted to match, so they are a really bad deal relative to PCs in general at the moment. Check dealnews.com if you want some examples.

However, since Red workflow still sucks on PC (no quicktime playback, difficult to import sound, etc), I say if you have the need... get the Mac now.

Maybe see if you can score a good deal on a 2nd-hand one or something? But then I am a cheapskate when it comes to buying things that devalue quickly (that's a good thing, right?).

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[GlennChan]

Something is always around the corner!!

I think the cheapest way to get a Mac that I saw would be to get a student developer discount (or maybe buy used). Next would be to buy refurbished (Apple is quite good here as they'll test the Mac and make sure the unit has all the cables and everything).

I bought my Macbook Pro refurbished. I'm happy with it.

[Noah Kadner]

Best time to buy is close to when you need it for a project. There will never be the *final* Mac or any other computer that will get you set forever. Changing out a computer every couple of years for a faster one is pretty much the cost of doing business.

Noah

[C.H.Haskell]

I am not concerned with the cheapest mac cause I have mac genius in the family, 25% off which is great but he does not know any rumors. I am upgrading business as usual but if one is to drop 5k, might as well get the latest offerings. Thanks for the feedback.

[Harva Raj]

sorry if its off topic.

is it a good idea to buy a refurbished xserver and use it as a editing workstation? what are the pitfalls anyway?

[Bruce Allen]

sorry if its off topic.

is it a good idea to buy a refurbished xserver and use it as a editing workstation? what are the pitfalls anyway?

Your hearing?

I dunno, maybe the new ones are quieter. The one in our server room makes a heckuva din.

Also not too sure what kind of graphics card you can fit in there... Or video IO card.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Ethan Cooper]

It's never a good time to buy technology. Do it if your old stuff doesn't make you money anymore, or if you can make more money faster with the new item.
________
BRAT (http://www.toyota-wiki.com/wiki/Subaru_BRAT)

[Harrison Diamond]

Intel's i7 is around the corner. Approx 20% faster for given clock speed (depends on what you're doing).

I'm sure that will be in Mac Pros by Jan at the latest. It will be released sometime in Q4, Sept is the earliest rumor I've heard.


Listen to Bruce here. Nehalem (i7) not only improves performance per clock, but will offer faster clock speeds, an eliminates the front side bus, and integrates the memory controller. Overall performance will be a noticeable improvement. I'd wait.

[Zack Birlew]

Well, the biggest rumors are that new iPods (don't know which) and new Macbook/Macbook Pros will be released soon (September is the rumored month). As far as Mac Pros go, you should be good to go as far as the rumor mill is concerned. But hey, even I've been surprised how quickly Apple updates their computers.

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Macbook Pro is around the corner

MacPro's will probably be awhile

[Jason Diamond]

I would wait til after IBC in sept at least. theres gonna be alot of new stuff released me thinks. i really need a macpro and macbookpro but im waiting casue i only like to spend money once :)

its a tough wait tho.

[Vigen Vartanov]

Yes IBC will show as something new.

[Chris Parker]

according to this guide, you should wait.....

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

[Raphael Varandas]

Im waiting so far...

[Paul Hazlett]

If you need to buy now, go for the lesser price while still staying dual quad core. the coming update will be significant, from all reports, as significant as the switch to G5 or the switch to intel. when the new one comes out, sell the old one or add it as a network render node

[C.H.Haskell]

If you need to buy now, go for the lesser price while still staying dual quad core. the coming update will be significant, from all reports, as significant as the switch to G5 or the switch to intel. when the new one comes out, sell the old one or add it as a network render node

Good Point Paul...I have not heard such rumors but I hope your right! I am leaving town for a couple of weeks on a shoot so I can wait. When is the IBC and does apple usually use this event for making announcements? Patience.

[C.H.Haskell]

Now I am starting to feel crippled without RED worthy mac...any news or updates on new mac pros?

[Sam Roberts]

I'm in the same boat. And MAC rumors isn't much help...they say don't buy but don't say why or when you should buy. I am waiting until the last minute (end of Sept) then I have to buy.

[David Rasberry]

The new Mac Pro 8 core is a great buy right now. Closest thing on the PC side is Intel Skulltrail. Haven't seen a Skulltrail workstation for less than twice the Mac.

[Paul Hazlett]

my MBP had to get a new motherboard after 1 year and 2 months....bastards.

I just got a refurb. 2.8 so i dont blow the MBP out again.

[Adam Glick]

our sources tell us that the dual socket intel "Nehalem" systems won't be ready to sell until mid-to-late Q1 '09.

It's pretty much a sure bet that you won't see a Nahalem-based Mac Pro offering until then.

[KETCH ROSSi]

Purchased the Mac Pro Station and sold the MBP, need one desperately, but not buying as the rumor, strong one, is that a MBP line of upgrades will give all the MBP line a serious face lift with caracteristics coming from the "AIR" the Mac Book Air, that is!

ciao

[Jason Diamond]

yeah i dont think any MACPRO towers are gonna be announced til at least macworld so now may be a good time to pick one up.
there are rumors of new macbooks/pros maybe getting a bump on oct 14th but you never know.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hmmm... I haven't seen anyone saying that Nehalem has been delayed. But who knows, could be. Intel has been pretty quiet lately.

New Mac Pros won't come until the new CPUs are shipping. And they will get here when they get here. I also won't be surprised if Apple pulls off an exclusive deal as they did with the 3GHz Xeon and the ultra-thin CPU packaging for the Macbook Air.

The current Mac Pro is still a good system to buy. If you need one, you need one and they are a very nice dual quad-core workstation. The only shortcomings are in the graphics card area, but they have a lot of attributes that make up in other places.

I'm personally more anxious for updated Macbook Pro systems. I'm really looking forward to quad core with 8GB in a new 17". Hopefully Apple is paying attention and we'll get Blu-Ray and eSATA on new models.

[Mark L. Pederson]

our sources tell us that the dual socket intel "Nehalem" systems won't be ready to sell until mid-to-late Q1 '09.

It's pretty much a sure bet that you won't see a Nahalem-based Mac Pro offering until then.

Adam -

Could you just yank the CPU's out of the current MacPro and put Nahalems in when they become available?

[Ivan G]

No Blu-Ray No upgrade

[David Birdy]

No Blu-Ray No upgrade

No good !

Dave

[Curran Giddens]

No Blu-Ray No upgrade

Why don't you just buy a Blu-ray drive if it is that important?

internal
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/SW5583BKMP/

external
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF8UE5583/

Blu-ray media
http://www.meritline.com/ritek-2x-blu-ray-white-inkjet-printable-bdr-252-iwcb25.html

[Paul Hazlett]

Adam -

Could you just yank the CPU's out of the current MacPro and put Nahalems in when they become available?

AFAIK nehelam is a new socket 1366 so new motherboards are needed as well

[Ivan G]

Why don't you just buy a Blu-ray drive if it is that important?

internal
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/SW5583BKMP/

external
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MRF8UE5583/

Blu-ray media
http://www.meritline.com/ritek-2x-blu-ray-white-inkjet-printable-bdr-252-iwcb25.html

I remember back when I upgraded one of my older macs with a DL burner when Apple was still not up to par. I went through hell with all kind of errors and trying to figure out if it's hardware or software issues. So I prefer apple releasing the hardware not saying it will be perfect but at least there will be support.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

No Blu-Ray No upgrade

For the Macbook Pro, I agree. For the Mac Pro, I'll just put the BD drive in myself. Oh, wait, I've already got Blu-Ray in my current Mac Pro.

[Curran Giddens]

I remember back when I upgraded one of my older macs with a DL burner when Apple was still not up to par. I went through hell with all kind of errors and trying to figure out if it's hardware or software issues. So I prefer apple releasing the hardware not saying it will be perfect but at least there will be support.

OK, but you really should be using Toast Titanium to burn discs. Not directly from the Finder or Disk Utility.

[Ivan G]

OK, but you really should be using Toast Titanium to burn discs. Not directly from the Finder or Disk Utility.

LOL I am! I'm not sure if you ever got into burning DL discs but it was a war zone including media being corrupted that I later found out was another issue. All I'm saying I'd rather not go 3rd party and wait for apple to recommend they're brand.

BTW How's it working for you Jeff? Are you burning data or movies and have you used DL Blu-Ray's?

[Adam Glick]

Adam -

Could you just yank the CPU's out of the current MacPro and put Nahalems in when they become available?

Hey Mark -

How's the show?

So, Nahalem is a completely new microarchitecture -with a new socket & package design and totally new chipset implementation.

There's no chance that existing systems will be compatible.

We are testing the single-socket Nehalem "i7" engineering platform here in my lab and getting some darn good performance. For certain apps, a single Nehalem quad-core CPU with hyper threading turned on is about as fast as a pair of current entry-level quad-core Xeons.

And that is on an early "0-stepping" samples. The final product will have optimizations which should make it even faster.

[Curran Giddens]

LOL I am! I'm not sure if you ever got into burning DL discs but it was a war zone including media being corrupted that I later found out was another issue. All I'm saying I'd rather not go 3rd party and wait for apple to recommend they're brand.


I burn DL DVD-R discs all the time. I've also burned Blu-ray discs including a 50GB DL disc, 25GB RW disc, and the also the regular Ritek discs I posted a link to previously.

Apple usually goes with Pioneer (they did with the Superdrive), but in my experience the Panasonic works just fine.

[C.H.Haskell]

Thanks folks, this feedback is much appreciated. I was this close to buying now but managed borrow one instead :D so I think I will hold out for "Nahalem"...09 is around the corner.

[C.H.Haskell]

Anyone crunching on the lower end Nahelem and happy? Making purchase tomorrow and curious how these rigs are holding up compared to one another. Cheers.