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Nice thread on the future of the Mac Pro on the Videoguy’s forum
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/346/13960#13960
Interesting thread, especially this post by Gary Bettan:
( As a note, in case you are unaware, the DIY designations are specs for do-it-yourself builds for PC video editing computers created by Videoguys and updated about once a year.)
“There have been many posts and discussions on the COW and all over the web about the future of Mac Pro and speculation about features. Here comes my rant, and many folks aren’t going to like it one bit.
Personally, I don’t see why Apple would waste any time or money investing in developing a new Mac Pro. The top of the line fully loaded 27″ iMac is a killer machine and more than adequate for 90% of editors.
Our now old DIY9 machine is almost as powerful as the latest iMacs and even more customizable. We’re waiting for an enthusiast level chipset with Thunderbolt for our DIY10. When we make the jump, I’m confident it will deliver performance beyond the current iMacs.
If you require more power than a single CPU iMac or DIY build then a dual Xeon CPU workstation is for you. The new HP z620/820 or Dell T5600/7600 workstations blow the current Mac Pro out of the water. They are more powerful and more cost effective. Plus you get a level of flexibility and configurations that Apple simply does not offer.
Getting back to the future and why I don’t think Apple will ever offer the Mac Pro that video editors are wishing for. FCPX is an app which you the end user download directly to your computer. There is no value add opportunity or requirement. It runs fantastic on an iMac or Mac Book Pro and that makes 90% of their user base very happy. From Apple’s perspective these FCPX users are far less demanding, do not require a middle man (ie Video VAR) and they are very happy with the results. Those that aren’t happy have moved on, and quite frankly, I think Apple is glad to see them go. High volume, high margin products is what Apple is all about now.
So the Apple VARs are moving on as well. They are integrating iPads and Mac Books and iMacs into all kinds of super cool solutions, but video editing ain’t one of them. These solutions do not require the huge overhead and cost of a Mac Pro. Instead they tap into the power of the cloud and mobility and delivering customized applications specifically for vertical markets and solutions. Apple innovations are changing the world, but they are doing it without the need for big bulky boxes (ie Mac Pros).
If you are going to FCPX, stick it on an iMac and have a ball.
If you have moved on to Adobe or Avid, run it on a new PC or an iMac. As I’ve said many times before, I love the new iMacs for video editing. That said, you will get great performance and a bigger bang for your buck on a PC, and most of all the flexibility to configure it as needed with optimized components for your workflow.
If you are sticking with FCP7, then you need to understand this. Hear it now, so you don’t end up crying about it later. If and when (and I doubt it will ever come) that Apple releases a new line of Mac Pros, FCP7 ain’t gonna run on it. Apple is not going to bog it down with any legacy support for old, antiquated products. Actually FCP7 may run, it may not, but it will definitely not take advantage of any of the new technology and performance a new Mac Pro would deliver.Think I’m wrong? Look back to what they did when they launched FCPX. They completely abandoned FCP. What would make anyone think they would reverse this direction with a new Mac Pro?
On the flip side, why would Apple give Adobe or Avid the technical support and collaboration they would need to optimize their software for this theoretical new Mac Pro? When was the last time anyone heard the words share and Apple used in the same sentence unless they were talking about their stock price?
Apple is about closed proprietary systems that allow Apple to take in revenue every step of the way. It’s a brilliant plan and I admire Apple more than any other company on earth. I just don’t see why they would alter this strategy to make a new Mac Pro.”
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
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nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf -
90 Replies
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Sounds like a rant from someone who isn’t getting much in the way of sales based on Apple’s decisions, more than any substantial analysis on the MacPro replacement. It sounds more like he refuses to acknowledge the direction of the market nor does he understand why someone would want the new MacPro replacement.
No it’s certainly NOT going to be specifically for the vast majority of editors. In fact if it were that targeted it would once again see minuscule sales. It will be for “power users” who will need Xeon processors and 16 lance GPUs and that certainly includes post production, not simply “editors.”
Flexibility? To me that’s being able to use any Video I/O device or RAID storage with computers that serve different purposes and that’s what Thunderbolt does. To me, flexibility is NOT locking in PCIe cards and drives to specific machines although I know others want that.
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Well stated, Herb.
I came to this conclusion almost two years ago!
mark
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[Craig Seeman] “Sounds like a rant from someone who isn’t getting much in the way of sales based on Apple’s decisions”
They don’t sell computers at all. The DIY spec is just something they post to help editors who want to do it, they don’t sell any of the parts that go into it. They sell software and video hardware, they are platform agnostic. You’ll have to go elsewhere when you try to trash their motivations.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
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nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf -
[Mark Raudonis] “Well stated, Herb.”
I wish I could take credit but I was just quoting Gary Bettan over at Videoguys. I agree with the both of you and while I’m riding out FCP7 for the moment, at this point the only active solution for my multicam workflow is Avid. So unless something changes, and doesn’t it always, I’ll be following in your footsteps soon.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
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nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf -
[Herb Sevush] “They don’t sell computers at all.”
I know that. They may not be selling much in the way of Mac software given the App store and the way the plugin market is working. They also sell peripherals though and apparently there may be a decline in PCIe cards used in Macs. Thunderbolt peripherals don’t require a MacPro of course.
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Herb,
however you slice it, Videoguys are good people who are supporting the industry (Mac or PC). They have a lot of lines that are Mac centric and a good portion of their sales are for Mac based customers. They’re in Long Island and attend a bunch of events. It would not be hard for you to get to know them a bit.
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[Dennis Radeke] ” It would not be hard for you to get to know them a bit.”
I’ve been buying from them for years and I agree with you but I think you meant to address this to Craig.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
—————————
nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf -
[Herb Sevush] “I’ve been buying from them for years and I agree with you but I think you meant to address this to Craig.”
indeed.
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[Craig Seeman] “They may not be selling much in the way of Mac software given the App store”
They sell both Avid and Premiere for OSX, neither of which is available form the App store, and in the opening paragraphs Gary called the 27″ Imac “a killer machine and more than adequate for 90% of editors.” OK, I see, they obviously hate Apple.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions
—————————
nothin’ attached to nothin’
“Deciding the spine is the process of editing” F. Bieberkopf
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