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Operating System Specific Discussions => Other Operating Systems => Topic started by: Matt_H on January 01, 2014, 11:10:19 PM

Title: Color me suprised!
Post by: Matt_H on January 01, 2014, 11:10:19 PM
When the new Mac Pro was announced, I was ranting here about how it would be unexpandable and impossible to upgrade and Apple proprietary blah blah blah. Imagine my surprise when the teardown revealed mostly the opposite (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+Pro+Late+2013+Teardown/20778). I still think the lack of internal drive bays and slot(s) is ridiculous, but the value for money appears better than I expected.

Another element of interest is that the system uses megaray connectors, just like on the old PPC Macs and our own AmigaOne XEs. I can't imagine there's any electrical compatibility, but I thought the use of the same physical connector was noteworthy.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Wolfe on January 01, 2014, 11:39:03 PM
It sure is stylish, overpriced but cool!  I could think of better ways to spend the money though.  Still, its unique . . . :-)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: persia on January 02, 2014, 12:19:12 AM
It's magic.

(http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/12/RtFlKRIVD1AnbWMo1-610x457.jpg)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: mingle on January 02, 2014, 12:28:03 AM
Is it a coffee percolator or one of those mini waste-paper bins you put on you desk? :-)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Matt_H on January 02, 2014, 01:26:11 AM
Quote from: mingle;755960
Is it a coffee percolator or one of those mini waste-paper bins you put on you desk? :-)


Sure looks like it, doesn't it? In 10-15 years when these things are worthless as computing devices I bet we'll see some interesting art projects made out of the cases :)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Jeff on January 02, 2014, 01:40:53 AM
It would look good sitting next to a Walker :)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: commodorejohn on January 02, 2014, 04:44:11 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;755965
Sure looks like it, doesn't it? In 10-15 years when these things are worthless as computing devices I bet we'll see some interesting art projects made out of the cases :)
I think it's already an art project. It's supposed to be about transforming the narrative dynamic with regards to the zeitgeist and re-contextualizing the subtext vis-a-vis Jon Ive having finally disappeared completely up his own ass.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: B00tDisk on January 02, 2014, 06:29:44 AM
Quote from: commodorejohn;755982
I think it's already an art project. It's supposed to be about transforming the narrative dynamic with regards to the zeitgeist and re-contextualizing the subtext vis-a-vis Jon Ive having finally disappeared completely up his own ass.


Did Ive design this one?  I mean, it's not bright green, so...
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: takemehomegrandma on January 02, 2014, 11:42:40 AM
Quote from: Wolfe;755952
It sure is stylish, overpriced but cool!  I could think of better ways to spend the money though.  Still, its unique . . . :-)


It sure is unique, a true custom design that's actually quite innovative with its cooling solution and all that über performance fitted inside that rather small footprint and compact "box". Of course it has the "Apple brand tax" applied to it, but you actually get a lot for that money as well. IMHO, it stands out as a PC from all the rest, in any comparison.

Price wise, this is what the A-eon X1000 competes against. Which is mind boggling if you think about it! Because that's also where all similarities ends!

:nervous:
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: nicholas on January 02, 2014, 11:59:04 AM
The question is, does it run Amithlon? :)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 02, 2014, 01:25:20 PM
Quote from: takemehomegrandma;755996
Price wise, this is what the A-eon X1000 competes against.

I don't think these two products are marketed to the same people, so they're not really in direct competition. That's like saying my truck and your trash can both cost about the same, so they're competing. It's not "apples to apples".  Also I'm sure the Mac Pro is manufactured on a much larger scale than the X1000.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: persia on January 02, 2014, 01:46:39 PM
Apple’s new ‘overpriced’ $10,000 Mac Pro is $2,000 cheaper than the equivalent Windows PC (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/173695-apples-new-overpriced-10000-mac-pro-is-2000-cheaper-than-the-equivalent-windows-pc)

(http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/mac-pro-2012-vs-2013-spoof-640x353.jpg)

Apple is delivering computers at a competitive price, unlike the AmigaOS world....
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: motrucker on January 02, 2014, 04:22:39 PM
Quote from: persia;756006
Apple’s new ‘overpriced’ $10,000 Mac Pro is $2,000 cheaper than the equivalent Windows PC (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/173695-apples-new-overpriced-10000-mac-pro-is-2000-cheaper-than-the-equivalent-windows-pc)

(http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/mac-pro-2012-vs-2013-spoof-640x353.jpg)

Apple is delivering computers at a competitive price, unlike the AmigaOS world....

Bull%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@!. Of course the advertisers would have you believe that. But, that exactly why we ignore the ads....
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: commodorejohn on January 02, 2014, 06:21:08 PM
Quote from: B00tDisk;755987
Did Ive design this one?  I mean, it's not bright green, so...
You know, I'm not 100% sure. He's still the VP of design, and it looks like exactly the kind of wankery he produces, so I just figured...
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: nOw2 on January 02, 2014, 06:48:07 PM
Quote from: motrucker;756015
Bull%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@!%&$#?@!. Of course the advertisers would have you believe that. But, that exactly why we ignore the ads....


As someone who regularly specs PCs and servers to over £5000 ($8000?), the Mac Pro looks good value indeed.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Matt_H on January 02, 2014, 09:14:46 PM
@ persia

That picture illustrates my point about lack of internal expansion perfectly! Thanks for sharing :)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: nicholas on January 02, 2014, 09:32:47 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;756046
@ persia

That picture illustrates my point about lack of internal expansion perfectly! Thanks for sharing :)


To be fair to Apple, an external cage would solve that rats nest of wires and boxes problem.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Matt_H on January 02, 2014, 09:53:10 PM
Quote from: nicholas;756052
To be fair to Apple, an external cage would solve that rats nest of wires and boxes problem.


Unfortunately, I don't see anyone manufacturing any Thunderbolt-interface mini-towers with PCI-E slots and drive bays...
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: nicholas on January 02, 2014, 11:30:21 PM
Quote from: Matt_H;756058
Unfortunately, I don't see anyone manufacturing any Thunderbolt-interface mini-towers with PCI-E slots and drive bays...


Not yet but I'm sure someone will make them even if Apple don't.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: takemehomegrandma on January 03, 2014, 12:16:04 AM
Quote from: Matt_H;756046
@ persia

That picture illustrates my point about lack of internal expansion perfectly! Thanks for sharing :)


I'd make an "educated" guess (based on my own reflections from seeing my own computers throughout time as well as the workstations I work with, has worked with in the past, and those my colleges and friends work with in their respective companies and at home), that 90-99% of the internal slots and connectors in the general PC is completely unused. Even the need for internal hard drives has diminished, in favor of NAS devices, even in peoples homes. You have a very fast, 256GB SSD with operating system and all you applications, and the data on a NAS. A raided/mirrored 3TB NAS where everyone in the family (according to their respective account privileges) can reach everything (from desktops, laptops, smart TV's, smart phones, tablets and whatever), where all photos, videos and movies, music, and other bulk storage resides, is so much better.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: tone007 on January 03, 2014, 03:29:55 PM
This case is not compatible with Motorola (my fish.)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1484245_10152569216768849_923158952_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: trekiej on January 03, 2014, 07:37:30 PM
Does anyone have a picture of an A1200 and all its modular gadgets?
What is old is new again.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Nlandas on January 03, 2014, 08:36:13 PM
For that kind of money you can build one hell of an expandable DELL PowerEdge server with SAS RAID, higher end dual video cards, redundant power supplies,  etc. but it won't look like a little trashcan.

For $5000USD you can build one fast and expandable desktop PC.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on January 03, 2014, 08:59:02 PM
Quote from: Nlandas;756192
For that kind of money you can build one hell of an expandable DELL PowerEdge server with SAS RAID, higher end dual video cards, redundant power supplies, etc. but it won't look like a little trashcan.

That's exactly what I was thinking. For that kind of money you're going to have something with at least a half-dozen hard drives running in RAID, dual processors with at least 16 cores, and a heck of a lot more internal expansion options than that thing. It would be noisy, however, and not very compact. But I don't really care about that since I sit right next to the server room. ;)
 
Although previous poster was right, it would look good sitting next to a Walker! :banana:
 
PS - love the fish tank!  :)
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: Duce on January 03, 2014, 10:25:40 PM
Do a quick and dirty build up of the components and their prices and the new Mac Pro isn't actually all that overpriced, especially for an Apple product.
Title: Re: Color me suprised!
Post by: commodorejohn on January 04, 2014, 12:39:41 AM
Quote from: Duce;756205
Do a quick and dirty build up of the components and their prices and the new Mac Pro isn't actually all that overpriced, especially for an Apple product.
I seem to recall the same argument being made with regard to the CUSA C64x...