MACTEL speculation anyone?

[Zak Mussig]

I’d look for a low(er)-end model using the conroe (Core 2) processor, with the high end using multiple Woodcrest (Xeon) processors. Nothing beyond what everyone has guessed so far.
I think PCIe is around for a while… PCI-X was Apple’s hardware version of Windows ME. Something better (questionable on ME’s case, I know) in the interim while we wait for the next real advancement. Assuming the software and drivers are current (universal), I think any PCIe capture card will be able to work with the Mac Pro at release.
The real question here may be who wants to pay big to “beta test” Apple’s new hardware. These new machines are going to blow the PowerMac G5 out of the water, no doubt, but is everyone confident enough to put your work on a first-gen Mac Pro with some of the, albeit understandable, issues with the first round of intel macs? I guess most of the problems have been power and heat related problems in the notebooks that wouldn’t so much affect a desktop, but who knows. Unless initial reports are just amazing, I’m content to wait for rev 2. That said, I’d be spending my boss’s money and not my own… so I’d definitely like to avoid and problems and buyers remorse.

Zak

[Arnie Schlissel]

As long as they don’t use NuBus slots, I’m on board!

My personal suspicion is that a lot of 3rd party card makers have been holding off on making PCIe cards for the Mac. I’m guessing we should be seeing a new crop of HBAs for SATA, SAS, SCSI & fiber within a couple of months of the 1st Intel Mac tower (MacTelTower?). And I’d expect AJA to either announce some driver or firmware update that makes their Kona or Xena cards compatible, unless they announce a Kona 4. Same with Black Magic’s Decklink cards. And maybe Aurora will either update their existing cards, or come out with a couple of new cards to keep up.

I’m guessing 6 months for Avid/Digidesign to make new offerings.

Arnie
Now in preproduction: Peristroika (Cosmological Congress), a film by Slava Tsukerman
https://www.arniepix.com

[Walter Biscardi]

[David Roth Weiss] “Any of you care to speculate on whether the MACTEL towers will have PCIe slots or if there might be something new afoot?”

Why waste the time speculating? Answers are hopefully forthcoming Monday. Seems like a useless excersize when we’re only three days away from information direct from Apple.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Food Network’s “Good Eats”

“I reject your reality and substitute my own!” – Adam Savage, Mythbusters

[David Roth weiss]

Because , as I said in my initioal post, that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. Kick back Walter, live a little, its Friday…

[Chris Borjis]

Implemented PCIe is just about 1 year old isn’t it?

Is there even anything on the horizon to replace it?

It has so much more potential than any other bus architecture.
I think it will be around for many years to come.