I would like to highlight just how much Apple is focusing on their customers and use cases right now. It seems that they're targeting products to what their professional customers actually want. And in this case, it's a 3.7" little thing that can process 18 streams of 8k video (fully specced out). That's kinda crazy, and they're doing it at a price point that's competitive compared to all of the companies out there.
Bravo Apple. I'd love to see what they have in store for designers and programmers next.
More and more I see the M1 chips and I wish Mac worked seriously well for gaming. Would love too see something like Proton but for Mac (given up hopes for native support).
I hate that I have my gaming PC and then my Mac for everything else.
I have to wonder though what their plan is for the M2. Are they laying the groundwork for when the M2 comes out all of these variants will be ready at the same time? Or a gradual upgrade but the same series (Normal, Pro, Max, and then Ultra) for each.
Looks like all the people saying "just start fusing those M1 CPU's into bigger ones" were right, that's basically what they did for the top of the line new M1 CPU (fused two M1 Max'es together).
And since the presenter mentioned the Mac Pro would come on another day, I wonder if they'll just do 4x M1 Max for that.
This is actually really cheap. Maxed out at £7999 is less than half the price of an HP Z with similar numbers configured in which it probably can’t even get near the mac.
My workstation build with Epyc is ~$5,000 and has more cores (24 core), more memory (256 GB), faster GPU (3090), a 2TB pcie 4 SSD and I suspect will perform better on standard benchmarks. Definitely not as compact as the Studio though but lot more extendable.
$8100 for a 20-core, 128GB, 8TB, 2x10ge, 2xTB3 BTO config of a HP Z6 G4. You get more expandability but fewer and slower TB ports, random graphics, and a much slower CPU, also a different operating system. Z workstations won't be competitive for people who can choose macOS until they refresh them with a newer Xeon. On the other hand, Mac won't be competitive for people who require ECC or Windows or Linux.
This is such a random thing to complain about but I hate these Mac product pages with the animations as you scroll. I guess they are designed for mobile but I navigate them on a desktop using a mouse wheel and they always look super clunky.
It's like going to the library but someone has hired dancing cheerleaders to grab the book you're trying to read and wave it around so that you're more excited about reading it.
Apple does them FAR better than anyone else. I can’t remember if they did it first, or just popularized it, but it works well for what it is.
That said, while it looks cool, after the first time you’ve used it it’s just a pain to navigate. I kind of wish it was a separate “intro” page or something.
(They’re annoying on mobile too, but work better than desktop)
Yeah, I don't get it. They are such a UX nightmare. My company was trying to implement something like that in our latest redesign of our site and I put my foot down about it. We are in the financial B2B space and I had to explain to the marketing team that people come to our site for information... not to be shown cute animation. Also (I haven't tested Apples take on it), they are often ADA nightmares.
Mouse wheels mostly just don't have a good input resolution. It's one of the main reasons I stopped using a mouse and switched to an apple trackpad full time. I can't stand static pages that scroll in chunks either.
I don’t buy Apple products for philosophical reasons, but the Mac Mini, and now Mac Studio, are everything I wish Intel NUCs were. I have an Intel Skull Canyon system from 2016 as my gaming PC and it fits in my wife’s purse. Since then, the gaming NUC variants have gotten larger and larger so that they’re nearly mini-ATX form factor again.
You should get into the small form factor (SFF) Mini ITX gaming scene.
Brands like Velkase, Custom MOD (in Ukraine, cannot currently conduct business), Phanteks, DAN Case, NZXT H1 V2, and many others are really interesting options.
I've built systems that use either SFX PSUs or Flex ATX PSUs (the latter are usually modified with Noctua fans to quiet them down, so using a case that requires an SFX power supply is more noob-friendly and will have more generous power limits)
The Optimum Tech channel on YouTube is a great as a general small form factor resource. Here's a case roundup:
The amount of compute paired with the shared memory and fast bandwidth would make this an awesome fit for machine learning. But for PyTorch, the framework everybody is using now at least in computer vision, there seems to be no support at all for the GPU or the neural cores (which the presentation went on and on about).
I guess I’d better not hold my breath about support there, given Apples historical stance on support third party APIs/frameworks?
Apple said that Max's CPU is up to 2.5x faster and the Ultra's CPU is up to 3.8x faster than whatever intel CPU is in the iMac Pro, so you're getting about 52% more CPU performance with Ultra's doubling in CPU cores vs the Max, so definitely feeling some linear scaling limitations with the interconnect.
I am genuinely crestfallen that there was no update to Mac Mini. That thing has the right balance for most computer science folks who want a Mac. Not everyone needs/runs a silicon Godzilla on their desk after all.
As of the current lineup, Mini is still stuck with 16 GB RAM and a disappointing number of ports.
WWDC is a few months away. There might be a refresh of the Mini there? If we don't see a refresh of the mini this year, I can't see them not upgrading it for M2 next year.
I initially thought the Mac Studio was the "pro" version of the Mac Mini. But no -- they're still selling the i5/i7 mini. This makes me wonder whether they're going to update it at all. Maybe they'll just quietly drop it at some point down the road?
I'd buy one in a second if only it would support running vmware fusion - I still have to have one foot in Windows world, and not being able to spin-up and old windows vm is a deal breaker for me. (M1 chips won't support it).
Sure hope my latest macbookpro with intel chip lasts a while, I fear it may be one of the last ones they make.
The 2TB option is an extra $400. That's $200/TB.
The 4TB option is $250/TB.
The 8TB option is $275/TB.
That looks like planned obsolescence to me. A customer with 1TB will likely want to upgrade sooner than a customer with 8TB, so this pricing strategy discourages people from buying the more future-proof options. Other SSDs on the market tend to be cheaper per TB as you go up in size, but Apple's seem to be completely backwards (and obscenely overpriced, of course).
Or am I being too cynical here, and this is just that famous "luxury tax"?
I'm really happy they're not going with a iMac pro form factor for these. Having a separate display and computer is great for avoiding e-waste. There are a ton of iMacs out there that have obsolete hardware but a screen that still works great.
If anyone thinks Apple is not very serious about AR/VR consumer products, their renewed focus on creative professionals, intense workloads, and GPU performance seems to suggest otherwise.
Whatever the marketing out of Microsoft Surface, it's the Mac that has always enabled creative workflows. I'm genuinely more excited about the Mac than any other product, which I haven't felt or said for many years.
Apple finally releases a powerful affordable desktop computer. Now I am worried it's the start of WW3 or otherwise the end of the world. Going outside now to look for flying pigs
What? $2000 for the Studio plus $1600 for their 5K display means Apple's new entry level workstation now costs $3600. That's a LOT more expensive than the old iMac 27 i7 at about $2400.
To sum up, Apple just hiked their entry level workstation's price by $1200. AND they convinced you they performed magic.
No, I think that flying pig you saw was proof that Jobs' reality distortion field is still alive and well.
Great they avoided $1000 stand memes by offering a more reasonable $400 stand.
To be more serious looks like a pretty good product that fits well into offices. I stopped working in IT in 2018 but back then SFF was all the rage and a powerful workstation with a smaller form factor will probably be attractive to a lot of customers.
Perfect. Recently went to a 40" ultrawide display to share between work laptop (during work hours) and personal desktop (after hours) to simplify my desk, and felt the Mini was probably just a little too limiting/low-end.
[+] [-] areoform|4 years ago|reply
Bravo Apple. I'd love to see what they have in store for designers and programmers next.
[+] [-] nerdjon|4 years ago|reply
I hate that I have my gaming PC and then my Mac for everything else.
I have to wonder though what their plan is for the M2. Are they laying the groundwork for when the M2 comes out all of these variants will be ready at the same time? Or a gradual upgrade but the same series (Normal, Pro, Max, and then Ultra) for each.
[+] [-] cube2222|4 years ago|reply
And since the presenter mentioned the Mac Pro would come on another day, I wonder if they'll just do 4x M1 Max for that.
[+] [-] hughrr|4 years ago|reply
And it doesn’t need $1000 wheels.
[+] [-] forgotmyoldacc|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jeffbee|4 years ago|reply
https://zworkstations.com/configurations/2944242/
[+] [-] rovr138|4 years ago|reply
* 20 core cpu
* 64 core gpu
* 32 core neural engine
* 128GB of ram
* 1TB SSD
fully maxed out, 8TB SSD
[+] [-] tonguez|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] QuikAccount|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] adrianmonk|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MBCook|4 years ago|reply
That said, while it looks cool, after the first time you’ve used it it’s just a pain to navigate. I kind of wish it was a separate “intro” page or something.
(They’re annoying on mobile too, but work better than desktop)
[+] [-] cwdegidio|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fmos|4 years ago|reply
[1] https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/@media/pref...
[+] [-] scrumbledober|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dmitriid|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pcurve|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gowld|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kube-system|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] etaioinshrdlu|4 years ago|reply
Fans have been asking for such a thing for so many years.
[+] [-] monitron|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] GeekyBear|4 years ago|reply
>Chances are our kernel will Just work on M1 Ultra with just device tree changes, might not even need any m1n1 changes.
https://twitter.com/marcan42/status/1501271229763706882
[+] [-] georgeburdell|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dangus|4 years ago|reply
Brands like Velkase, Custom MOD (in Ukraine, cannot currently conduct business), Phanteks, DAN Case, NZXT H1 V2, and many others are really interesting options.
I've built systems that use either SFX PSUs or Flex ATX PSUs (the latter are usually modified with Noctua fans to quiet them down, so using a case that requires an SFX power supply is more noob-friendly and will have more generous power limits)
The Optimum Tech channel on YouTube is a great as a general small form factor resource. Here's a case roundup:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo8T81nuLFM
Gamers Nexus sometimes covers small form factor, but Optimum Tech has a lot more focus on SFF in particular.
[+] [-] Shadonototra|4 years ago|reply
philosophical? they are the most responsible company ever https://www.apple.com/environment/
they push performance limit while maintaining very low power consumption
What's philosophical into buying Intel or Microsoft Windows that constantly spy on you and forces bloat on your face year after year?
Apple reinvest into its OS and HW, i don't understand your logic
[+] [-] w-m|4 years ago|reply
I guess I’d better not hold my breath about support there, given Apples historical stance on support third party APIs/frameworks?
[+] [-] coder543|4 years ago|reply
https://blog.tensorflow.org/2020/11/accelerating-tensorflow-...
https://developer.apple.com/metal/tensorflow-plugin/
[+] [-] kccoder|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rovr138|4 years ago|reply
It's impressive
[+] [-] maronato|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] srvmshr|4 years ago|reply
As of the current lineup, Mini is still stuck with 16 GB RAM and a disappointing number of ports.
[+] [-] heartbreak|4 years ago|reply
Right, which is why the Mini exists.
> Mini is still stuck with 16 GB RAM and a disappointing number of ports.
Because people who need more are expected to buy the Studio.
[+] [-] thaw13579|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BonoboIO|4 years ago|reply
Apple Studio | 20-Core CPU, 48-Core GPU, 32-Core Neural Engine! 64GB RAM! 10Gbit LAN = 3999$
I think the M1 is a nice product for 95% of people including iOS Devs.
Silent, „cheap“, cost effective, nice build server. If you need more power … well get the small studio or buy another one.
Renting from hetzner is also cheap. 49€ with really unlimited bandwith. 20 TB traffic in a month? No problem, nobody cares.
https://www.hetzner.com/de/dedicated-rootserver/matrix-apple
[+] [-] yurishimo|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dopu|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] xienze|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ejb999|4 years ago|reply
Sure hope my latest macbookpro with intel chip lasts a while, I fear it may be one of the last ones they make.
[+] [-] AlphaSite|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bogwog|4 years ago|reply
That looks like planned obsolescence to me. A customer with 1TB will likely want to upgrade sooner than a customer with 8TB, so this pricing strategy discourages people from buying the more future-proof options. Other SSDs on the market tend to be cheaper per TB as you go up in size, but Apple's seem to be completely backwards (and obscenely overpriced, of course).
Or am I being too cynical here, and this is just that famous "luxury tax"?
[+] [-] andjd|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mrcwinn|4 years ago|reply
Whatever the marketing out of Microsoft Surface, it's the Mac that has always enabled creative workflows. I'm genuinely more excited about the Mac than any other product, which I haven't felt or said for many years.
Nice work, Apple silicon and hardware teams!
[+] [-] jsz0|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] randcraw|4 years ago|reply
To sum up, Apple just hiked their entry level workstation's price by $1200. AND they convinced you they performed magic.
No, I think that flying pig you saw was proof that Jobs' reality distortion field is still alive and well.
[+] [-] arvinsim|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BonoboIO|4 years ago|reply
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/29/17396818/huawei-matebook-...
[+] [-] lwkl|4 years ago|reply
To be more serious looks like a pretty good product that fits well into offices. I stopped working in IT in 2018 but back then SFF was all the rage and a powerful workstation with a smaller form factor will probably be attractive to a lot of customers.
[+] [-] hughrr|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ksec|4 years ago|reply
https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/tsmc/cowos
[+] [-] rconti|4 years ago|reply
Finally, the replacement to my 2015 iMac 5k.
[+] [-] arvinsim|4 years ago|reply