So, It's Finally Here
The Mac Pro:
Interestingly, only offered in one configuration: a $2499 machine, with numerous build-to-order options. It’s an all-dual processor option lineup, in 2.0 ($-300 option), 2.6 (standard) and, finally, 3.0 (+$800) — but, in this case, both of the “duals” are actually dual-processor. That means an all-quad processor lineup.
Wow.
Furthermore, the processors are Intel’s “Woodcrest,” aka “Xeon,” processors, which are the server chips — powerful stuff. Hopefully, that means running items in Rosetta (stuff not Intel-native — read: Photoshop) will be fast enough to be truly usable.
Intel-native applications will, for lack of a better term, scream. Ever driven a G5 Quad? It was the first machine I’d ever used that ran Photoshop in what amounts to real-time. These are faster.
Plus, because of an extensive redesign inside the (familiar) case, we’re allowed two optical drives, four hard drives, 16GB of RAM, and more and more and more. The case reminds me a little of Apple’s Mirrored Drive Door machines relative to the rest of the Blue and White and Graphite G3 and G4 towers — similar outside, but oh-so-much-better inside.
I was pretty disappointed in the lack of announcements from Adobe, and of course I’ll go on my biannual rant about Apple needing something between 23 and 30 inches when it comes to monitors — I want a 27!! — but at least they did lower the monitor prices. The 30” is $1999 ($1699 if you can handle a refurb), the 23” $999.
Never thought I would be eager to get Intel Inside. Heh.
P.S. Leopard, aka Mac OS 10.5, contains auto-backup and restoration software! Get the scoop here.
P.P.S. Apple’s posted the keynote. Check it out.
Comments:
Now, I’d like to see a Mac Tablet-style laptop with a pressure-sensitive pen interface…why aren’t they developing that, since they’re the industry standard for art applications? The mac tablet design I’ve heard they’re working on has a touch screen, but not a pen!
WOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
droool drooolllll
been reading your blog religiously past few weeks and it rocks man!!!!.…
and as for this post .…..droool drooooooooool lick lick.….…no comments :))
fida . . . . .
Man, two optical drives? Is that supposed to be good? If they’re just now getting around to that, Apple needs some help.
Next time you come to the house I’ll show you my machine. It has the dual-core AMD Athlon 64 FX chip (sorry, couldn’t afford true dual-processor), two 300 Gb RAID HDDs, two optical drives (my old DVD burner and my new LightScribe dual-layer dvd burner:), 4 Gb dual-channel RAM (up to 1 Tb), and a nVidia QuattroFX 4500. Aside from the graphics card ($2500), it cost $1000 less than this new Mac. What’s the big deal?
I wanna try Vista!