(Updated)WWDC 2012: With Latest Mac Pro “update” Did Apple Slap Professional Mac Users?

With the WWDC 2012, Apple had an impressive keynote presentation today that many computers and software are receiving amazing updates. Including a nice new Macbook Pro Retina display model. Really looks great, but quietly Apple “updated” its Mac Pro model. So, what did they update? Not much.

The new CPU’s are a slight bump of speed. Minimally updated, using a 1 1/2 year old existing set of Intel Xeon chips, that you guessed it… fits into the same motherboard being used for years in the Mac Pro.  Did Apple use the latest chipset that Intel just released? The new chipset which was delayed for over a year and only recently was released is not in the “new” Mac Pro.  No Apple didn’t do any other updates to the motherboard or case. It is literally the same computer with a minimally faster CPU.

It lacks virtually everything people have been looking for:

• Thunderbolt Ports
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Latest E-5 or E-7 series Intel XEON CPU chips and related chipset
• USB 3
• Upgraded SATA
• Updated Graphics Cards
• Blu-Ray Drive option (yes, i know …)

Mac Pro using professionals who have been awaiting a new model have been astonished. This is not a huge group of customers, but it is a sizable one which has been waiting about 2 years since the last “refresh” which itself was just a continuation of the same case and model.

Online in Mac websites here are some of the best comments found just after the news on the “update” and analysis broke:

• Don’t piss on our shoes and tell us it’s rain.
• This is a joke. A cruel joke.
• No way.. Just no way Apple is doing this!!
  Mac Pro is dead, they don’t care anymore
• As a dyed in the wool Mac user this has actually got me ready to fork over money for a new Windows box. Apple are now way behind. I guess in business there is NO loyalty. It was us pro users that propped up Apple for so long and now we are practically ignored.
• This is a huge disappointment. I’m not one for dramatics, but it really is a shame that this is all that they could do for the Mac Pro, considering what they just did for the MacBook Pros.
  They could have also upgraded the graphics options as well at the very least, the 5770′s are very old compared to the 6870 I’m running in a Hackintosh and 7000-series chips that AMD is shipping now.
• This feels like a slap in the face …
• Why even bother?? No recent CPUs, GPUs, USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt!
  Unless they’re sitting on a new re-design of the Mac Pro to come out soon, I don’t understand it. But if you had a new one on the slate, why update it at all?
• This means one of two things. Apple is going to discontinue them in the future. Or they are working on a major redesign that just wasn’t ready yet. Hopefully it’s the latter.
• Barely an update at all. What a joke.
• But… but… it’s got a 5770! That’s what everyone wanted, right?
• This destroys all the other great news items… what an insult.
• No Mac Pro, No 17 inch laptop, on the other hand, everything runs Angry Birds.
• WORST UPDATE EVER!!!!!
• they updated it to a Q1 2010 cpu, that’s not an upgrade, intel just stopped selling the one they were using before.

• All that happened here was a minor speed bump….So disappointed!

The community of Mac customers hoping for a real full update is seriously disappointed. Whether it is a Mac Pro, or a similar type machine to replace it, it just hasn’t happened. It appears that someone at Apple decided to do the barest update possible in order to do away with the embarrassing information sheet on MacRumors.com Buyer’s Guide:  which had it’s last update at about 2 years ago.  Now with this pathetic update, they clear the board and the uneducated will believe the update and “buy now.”

All consumers who are interested in a Mac Pro type machine, do NOT buy this model unless it is absolutely necessary.  Who knows, Apple could have something in the works, but they are woefully secretive towards their consumers here and it is getting worse.

One thing is certain, Apple is starting to lose many professionals to windows which is looking appealing with Windows 8 coming shortly and to those willing to build their own Mac’s. Yes, you can build a “Hackintosh” if you know what you are doing.

Tim Cook, do you want to be responsible for professionals abandoning Apple?  If the bean counters have their way here, with lack of respect and mistreatment of some of the best and most loyal Apple customers, it could be the start of an exodus from Apple.

Remember, technology is about fad’s.  Apple has been the cool kid since the iPod, iPhone and iPad have come along.  If Apple doesn’t start paying attention and care to customers better, it runs the risk of this rise to strengthen, thus becoming a spiral ride downwards.  Remember Windows 8 is coming, making with W8 a fully functional tablet computer,  add a cheap xbox and the rise of actually good windows phones… Apple could find itself peaked and on the downturn.

We encourage all those who want a genuine Mac Pro desktop level computer to head to this petition to continue the pressure on Apple to deliver a proper professional/power Level Macintosh computer.

Let’s appeal to Apple in a positive, yet forceful way.

https://www.facebook.com/MacProsPlease
UPDATE:

David Pogue has just printed online:   “Many Apple observers also wonder if Apple thinks that desktop computers are dead, since not a word was said about the iMac and Mac Pro. An executive did assure me, however, that new models and new designs are under way, probably for release in 2013.”

A rep from Apple said, “Our pro customers are really important to us…don’t worry as we’re working on something really great for later next year.”

Honestly… this approach from Apple is pathetic to most Apple high end people.  If Apple can’t rush a new form factor to market, they need to update this body to work for needs of professionals.  Do an simple update for a new  circuit board to include

• Thunderbolt
• USB 3
• Bluetooth 4.0
• SATA

Of course add in the proper CPU, Fast Memory… ASUS could update a proper board faster than apple is. Its pathetic to hold off Professionals from having a quality system. This is especially the case when Apple is awash in record profits.  Seems like Apple can’t do the right thing and do a proper stopgap measure for this line of Macs.

Tim Cook has also now popped up and stated that there is a new Mac Pro level computer in the works for 2013 and that the pro level customers are “important” to Apple.

If the wait is until 2013, it will have effectively been almost 3 years since the real last Mac Pro update.  Apple needs to spend the money for an interm solution NOW!!! Build a new motherboard, fast solution, use same body, license the rights for a couple of years to ProMAX to sell computers with OSX on them, hopefully at same price points as current Mac Pro Line.

Apple needs to get something better than this sham of an update.  If Apple doesn’t act fast, it looks like many professionals will be testing out Windows 8 platform and make the plan to switch… and this change will be in 2012… not 2013, why?   Because if Apple can stretch out an upgrade to professional Mac’s for about 3 years, what is to prevent it from being another 1+ year between updates?

It’s rough being a professional in the Mac Community these days,  lets hope this is a real wakeup call for Tim & Apple.  Apple is awash in mega profits, they need to indulge the professional market with solid options, multiple models and investing in this area.  Why? This market kept Apple afloat when it was likely headed into oblivion.

- Peace, Love & Apple Pie!

PS, here is a video which symbolizes how many Mac Professionals feel right now. (very sad)