Apple Mac Pro hands-on

Well, keynote's over, which means we got to go take a look at what Apple introduced today. We didn't see much going on in terms of the operating system, but they did have a couple of Mac Pros on display for us to handle and smudge. Guess all that talk about a radically redesigned tower system isn't going to be, but hey, if you're down with the cheese grater then this is the machine for you. Dual drives, quad processors, loads more ports, plenty of video options -- well, you know what it's got, you just came for the pr0n, and the pr0n you shall get. Click on for loads of pics!

[Jonathan Keim @ Aug 7th 2006 3:12PM]

What are the new ports?

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:13PM]

Nice! Too bad Apple's new "cable-free hard drive installation" will force people to buy the drives from Apple($400 for 500GB) or buy a proprietary HD case.

[Mack Swift @ Aug 7th 2006 3:16PM]

According to the Apple Store Configuration section for the Mac Pro, you can get a system with 2, 3, or 4 Geforce cards. Does some form of SLI work on OS X?

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:17PM]

Scratch that...It looks like it comes with the HD cages already.

[switchtoamac @ Aug 7th 2006 3:18PM]

Sweet, nice to see close up pictures.

[treetrunk @ Aug 7th 2006 3:21PM]

Has anyone else read the bumpf on the Apple site about this?

A wonderful example:

"...you’ll find it incredibly easy to add memory to your system.

That’s because every Mac Pro comes with two memory riser cards, each with four fully-buffered DIMM slots. With a total of eight DIMM slots available, you can install up to 16GB of memory"

So, in summary - it's INCREDIBLY easy to add memory to your Mac, because it features, wait for it.. MEMORY SLOTS. I mean, fancy that. I tried upgrading my laptop by snapping a SODIMM in half and forcing it in the USB port, and now I see the error of my ways!

Furthermore, it features a "unique heat sink [which] lets fans run slower — and quieter — yet keeps the memory cool enough to run at full speed.". Clearly, this is totally UNIQUE! I've never seen a RAM heatsink before, in fact - I've never seen a heatsink used for the unique purpose of REDUCING HEAT!

[Don Wilson @ Aug 7th 2006 3:22PM]

Amazing design for the Mac Pro.

"Transition Accomplished"...? What about the eMac.

[Jeff Foster @ Aug 7th 2006 3:22PM]

wait, you try an razz Apple for their "Reality Distortion Field" in respects to calling quad-cores "Quad Processors" exactly 1 post after you yourself mistakenly calling the towers "Quad Processors"?

huh.

[cubs-bears-bulls-rule-4life @ Aug 7th 2006 3:23PM]

i want a new ipod/iphone

[George @ Aug 7th 2006 3:25PM]

I would have liked to see a smaller case. Oh wellsies.

[bob @ Aug 7th 2006 3:25PM]

WOW WOW WOW, just configured mine, but i cant afford it yet lol, bye bye dual 2.7!, did i say WOW?

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:26PM]

They got rid of the eMac. Replaced it with a special version of the iMac that is available only through educational channels.

[Tim Kimberl @ Aug 7th 2006 3:30PM]

Anyone notice nothing about Frontrow or the Remote with the Mac Pros? I see no IR sensor either...

[Matt E. @ Aug 7th 2006 3:31PM]

time to start saving!

[Mike @ Aug 7th 2006 3:31PM]

"So, in summary - it's INCREDIBLY easy to add memory to your Mac, because it features, wait for it.. MEMORY SLOTS. I mean, fancy that. I tried upgrading my laptop by snapping a SODIMM in half and forcing it in the USB port, and now I see the error of my ways!
"

it has a removable card that the ram snaps into so you dont have to reach into the system you pull the card out put the memory in put the card back in. this is common on high end workstations and servers.

[Kim @ Aug 7th 2006 3:33PM]

Anyone know how loud these are? That is, if one maxed out the configuration, would it need its own sound-proofed room, or could you keep it by your desk?

[moog55 @ Aug 7th 2006 3:33PM]

so this is it?! this is all apple could deliver at WWDC? what a colossal letdown. after weeks of engadget and similar sites hyping the possibility of a "iPhone", apple proceeds to leave everyone with a severe case of blue balls.

i wonder if the new mac pros will explode like their laptop counterparts.

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:34PM]

I don't know where apple is getting the $3499 Dell that is similaly configured. I put together a precision 690 with the same specs(except with a Quadro instead of the Geforce, a three year warranty and a 19" Ultrasharp monitor) for $3300. Still more money than the MacPro, but when you add the warranty, monitor, and better graphics card to the MacPro, they're about the same price.

I also love the marketing spin on the speed of the PRO apps on the Mac Pro vs. the Quad. Last time I checked...1.2 times faster is sure sounds a lot better than saying a twenty percent performance increase (one year for a twenty percent difference???)

[DVDreams @ Aug 7th 2006 3:38PM]

Maybe the IR is hidden behind the grill mesh, Notice the 4rth picture from top to bottom there is a longstrip coming down the grill.

[John B. @ Aug 7th 2006 3:38PM]

Don,

The low end iMac replaced the eMac. The eMac has been EOLed.

[The Rev @ Aug 7th 2006 3:44PM]

I wish they would bring back the eMac...oh how I love mine.

[David @ Aug 7th 2006 3:44PM]

There will be many "special events" in Cupertino in the coming months, be sure of that: Meroms, iPods, iYaddaYadda...

WWDC is mostly pro and software stuff. On a positive note, Apple has finally reached that mythical 3Ghz mark, just 2 years late.

[Jeff Foster @ Aug 7th 2006 3:44PM]

@moog55: "i wonder if the new mac pros will explode like their laptop counterparts."

...er, is there a Lith-Ion batter in the Mac pro? ...moron. and isn't it Dell who seems to be having a larger PR problem with the explosions?

If you let yourself get hyped-up for silly-ass mockup products that obviously aren't really coming out, (read: iphone, etc.) well then that's your problem, not Apple's. :P

[Hernandito @ Aug 7th 2006 3:46PM]

Does this sound crazy, or haven't we been able to configure PCs from Dell (and others) like this for ages? Nvidia cards and upgradable memory have been around PCs for a long time too. Rather than worrying to much what the box looks like, PC owners have bought their computers in this fashion since the days before the web was a common thing.

I admire the Apple OS and their industrial designs set the bar, but I guess the configurability factor is great novelty to Mac users. Now we have Macs that run Windows natively, is it to much of a stretch for me to expect to order a Dell with OX X?

OK let the venom fly...

[javaflash @ Aug 7th 2006 3:47PM]

jimbohlar... Dell's warranty & customer service? !!!

[Tom Boucher @ Aug 7th 2006 3:54PM]

@moog55

This is the DEVELOPER conference, not the END USER conference.

The END USER conference is next month, I'd expect the cool stuff then, not the more business oriented/OS Development oriented stuff

[John @ Aug 7th 2006 3:54PM]

jimbohlar is reference to your apple drives only comment, SATA is a standard form factor as well as IDE if they are using a Standard SATA backplane which i assume they are for size constraints it will use any SATA drive as you can see below on the link 4 IDE drives power and IDC are in the same place on all.

http://www.mrtechguy.com

[k @ Aug 7th 2006 3:54PM]

: moog55 "so this is it?! this is all apple could deliver at WWDC? what a colossal letdown. after weeks of engadget and similar sites hyping the possibility of a "iPhone", apple proceeds to leave everyone with a severe case of blue balls."

umm. WWDC lasts for a full week. you think they're going to unveil everything they've got in the first two hours? Jeff Foster was right to call you a moron. Moron.

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:56PM]

To Javaflash,

I deal with dell as a corporate customer. Since Dell doesn't sell the precision to home users it would receive corporate support. I have yet to have a single problem getting anything replaced in over six years of dealing with them through corporate support.

All that said...I still want a MacPro because they're so stinkin sexy!

[bob @ Aug 7th 2006 3:57PM]

Hernandito, do you always post without a clue? powermacs have been around probably the longest of all the current mac lines, (upgradeable to - how about that?) if ya wanna bash apple there is only 1 thing that annoys me, and thats graphics card support, as is not enough, the options at point of sale are always top of the range but its damn expensive to pick any up afterwards, oh well, 1 small price to pay for the best hard / soft ware about

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 3:59PM]

John,
You would still need to use one of their cases to slide the drive into place (just like any hot swap enclosure). However, it looks like the MacPro comes with four cases.

[LH @ Aug 7th 2006 4:06PM]

One thing to note that got overlooked everywhere: monitor price drops! The 30" is now less than 2k, and the others dropped price as well.
As a developer's conference, I am amazed at how many non-developers and non-Apple users feel like taking a break from Solitaire to post. Yes, Macs have been configurable for ages - it's just a way to push their retail/online sales and crush any other Apple retailers in the process (they usually don't let other retailers do any configurations).

[Dan @ Aug 7th 2006 4:12PM]

Is there no front row ? it doesnt come with a remote, it doesn't seem to have an infa-red sensor. Didn't they talk about front row in leopard.....

[stainboy @ Aug 7th 2006 4:25PM]

wouldn't that be "Mac PROn?" :)

[Ryan @ Aug 7th 2006 4:34PM]

"Yes, Macs have been configurable for ages - it's just a way to push their retail/online sales and crush any other Apple retailers in the process (they usually don't let other retailers do any configurations)."

Apple's kinda funny like that, aren't they? Usually it's easier to buy a product of some sort from a dealer at an even better price than buying direct from the company--not so with Apple. Isn't it a rather mixed signal that they are sending when they allow other retailers to carry their product yet do nothing to help said retailers move their product? It's easier just to buy from Apple!

With that said, those Cinema Displays are looking better than ever ($999 for a 23"?!) I was at an Apple Store this weekend and almost threw down the money for one. Glad I didn't!

[SamC @ Aug 7th 2006 4:42PM]

wow! $2,124 for the lowest possible config?

This confirms my belief that only die-hard apple fans could be led into believing that's acceptable.

[hijakk @ Aug 7th 2006 4:45PM]

Transition accomplished? BAH! I see no xeon powered ipods on the horizon.

Thank you Steve for finally including two optical drive bays on this thing. The premier AV workstation offered by Apple coming with only one DVD burner made very little sense.

[jimbohlar @ Aug 7th 2006 4:54PM]

SamC,
$2,124 is actually an amazing price for a workstation class (server at the desktop) machine with two dual core Xeon processors. Compare this machine to its direct competition- like a Dell Precision 690 with two 51xx processors. The pricing is actually pretty good. Apple doesn't expect joe computer buyer to want a Mac pro (hence the Pro). That's why they have the iMac and macbook.

[artMonster @ Aug 7th 2006 5:05PM]

I don't see any mention of IR on Apple's spec page. Wireless is optional as well. I wonder if Apple will include IR on the display itself when they update their Studio Displays. Is such a thing feasible?

[Doctor Memory @ Aug 7th 2006 5:10PM]

Dear Apple: congratulations, seriously, on having the best deal going on a 4-core Xeon workstation. For everyone who makes their living with Xcode, Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, that's a hell of a machine at a great price...

...now how about throwing the other 98% of us a freakin bone already? 4 cpu cores is completely wasted on home users, the Mini's GPU is pathetic, and I'm not buying an iMac because I already HAVE a 20" LCD monitor and don't need to buy another one, thanks.

There had better damn well be a 2-core conroe version of this box coming down the pipeline, and soon.

[Schtum @ Aug 7th 2006 5:13PM]

SamC:

$599 for the lowest config. It's called the Mac Mini.

[Andy @ Aug 7th 2006 5:47PM]

Hey guys, do any of you know if it's going to be possible / the norm to just chuck in any PCI-X video card into this guy (assuming there are video drivers available for OS X)?

I'd assume the answer would be "yes", but I've seen some remarks about EFI possibly getting in the way. I just purchased one and will probably end up getting another card in there within a year or so.

[Fred @ Aug 7th 2006 5:48PM]

Whoever's complaining about the mac mini being under powered buy:
1) the Core Solo mac mini
2) The Merom Processor when it arrives

Then you can swap out the old processor for the new. They use the same socket and everything.

[rip @ Aug 7th 2006 5:49PM]

BTW,

I just configured a dual dual core xeon system from Alienware. And one from Dell.

Apple:

Dual 2.66 (2 cpus)
2GB RAM
250GB HD
Superdrive
Quadro FX 4500 512MB
Price: $4,449.00

Alienware:

Dual 2.66 (2 cpus)
2GB RAM
250GB drive
Superdrive
Quadro FX 3500 256MB
Price: $6,041.00

Dell:

2.66 dual core xeon (2 cpus)
2GB RAM
Quadro fx 4500
Superdrive
250GB drive
Price: $5300.00

Yeah, Apple hardware is overpriced... :P

[The Big O @ Aug 7th 2006 6:16PM]

I don't understand why people keep saying this is too much money for a home user. This is a Pro line, as in Professional. They have all the regular home user stuff out already. These are for professionals (i.e. video people, graphics people, etc.).

Slick looking system, but I have no need for one myself.

-Big O

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Aug 7th 2006 6:24PM]

People... this is the Worldwide Developers Conference.

What part of "Developers" and "Conference" don't you get?

Consumer computers and toys do not get revealed at WWDC - they never have been. You saw the high-end workstation and the servers that Apple wants people to develop on. You saw the OS Apple wants people to develop for.

There are sessions, all week long, that focus on that stuff.

WWDC is not for iPods or iMacs. I doubt we'll see any more new announcements this week. In fact, don't expect a new iPod until after the start of the school year, as Apple currently has a "buy a laptop, get a iPod nano free" campaign going on.

Now, mid-September... gearing up for Christmas? That's when the toys will arrive.

[micjohn @ Aug 7th 2006 6:29PM]

@ rip

Thanks! Glad to see someone's actually doing their homework before posting flamebait!

[tugboat @ Aug 7th 2006 6:31PM]

As an owner of the Original Dual 1.8ghz G5, I think that the Mac Pro is creating too much of a gap between the consumer and pro machines. When the G5s came out, there were offerings at $1,600, and at times $1,400, sure you didn't get dual processors, but you had expansion slots, and two HD bays. I really hope Apple will release a more watered down version of this machine, with expansion slots, a slower processor and at a significant price cut. For students who deal with digital content, these new Mac Pros are too expensive, and an iMac or Macbook Pro just won't cut it for non lab use. I know that this machine is great in comparison to the competition, but there needs to be something for those of us who need a little more power for our money.

[sputni @ Aug 7th 2006 6:32PM]

I can't believe they didn't make these huge behomoths any smaller. Their size is very un-Mac.

[MikeB @ Aug 7th 2006 6:34PM]

To those wondering about fron row (from Apple's website):

In the box

• Mac Pro
• Apple Keyboard
• Apple Mighty Mouse
• USB keyboard extension cable
• DVI to VGA adapter
• Power cord
• Install/restore DVDs
• Printed and electronic documentation


remember this is a professional machine, not for someone to buy to watch a movie on