“Contrary to published reports, Apple Computer does not plan to introduce new enclosures alongside its first Intel-based Mac Pro desktops and will instead employ only slightly modified Power Mac G5 casings,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“The current Power Mac G5 enclosure — first detailed by AppleInsider back in June of 2003 — is believed to be well suited for Apple’s first Intel-based professional desktops due to the similarities in size and shape between the new Mac Pro logic-board and the one presently shipping in the Power Mac G5,” Jade reports.
“People familiar with plans for the next-generation Apple desktops say there appear to be only a couple of cosmetic differences between the Mac Pro and Power Mac G5 casings, specifically the addition of a second optical disc drive slot on the face of the Mac Pro,” Jade reports. “An unauthenticated Mac Pro product specifications sheet has been making the rounds, indicating that Apple may forgo inclusion of Intel’s 3.0GHz Xeon 5160 chip in its three Mac Pro standard configurations.”
Full article, with an artist’s rendition of Apple’s forthcoming Mac Pro desktops and the aforementioned spec sheet, here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple chose well: Anandtech – Intel Core 2 Duo ‘the fastest desktop processor we’ve ever tested’ – July 14, 2006
RUMOR: Intel’s Woodcrest to power Apple’s next-gen high-performance Mac Pro desktops – July 11, 2006
RUMOR: Apple to unveil ‘Mac Pro’ with new enclosure design, Intel Core 2 Duo at WWDC next month – July 03, 2006
Obiously not true … I can’t imagine Apple making a design flaw as humungous as putting the power cable on top!!! just think about it, it would hang down and get in the way of all the other ports …
Apple is usually very conscious of its cable management, so I don’t believe this one.
Cheers
Java
MW: “States” as in “States the obvious”
The current PowerMacs are big and noisy. I hope the Mac Pro will be quiet and have more hard drive bays.
LOOK WHERE ALL THIS TALKING GOT US BABY!
“Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!”
-“1984”
As far as international crises go, what can anyone here really do about it? Stay glued to CNN?
At least giving feedback to Apple can do some good.
Totally unimaginative and redundant design, too reminiscent of the G5 enclosure. I do think that the new Mac Pros will incorporate a single metal or alloy case.
What do I hope for at WWDC 2006? A different grid design; more expansion bays on the higher end models for greater flexibility; easily removable handles on larger towers for rack mounting; a single smaller, more compact, and austere lower end model (like the Cube). I would also expect new and improved cinema displays.
NoMacForYou,
It’s not your father’s Xeon processor. This is one of the new Core microarchitecture Xeon processors.
It’s upside down like the fool who rendered it.
MW-old—that’s me!
Why should it be a surprise if Apple releases Intel tower Macs with an enclosure that is nearly identical to the current G5s?
They will most likely be transitional machines like the first Intel iMacs and laptops. So why should tower Macs be any different? Laptops have started getting a redesign, but iMacs look the same. It’s a good design, just like the tower.
If Apple does announce new Intel tower Macs at the WWDC, I doubt there will be a new enclosure for them until next year. Maybe at MacWorld, but maybe not until late next spring or summer.
As for the power supply at the top of the case, there’s nothing new there either. My Mac 8100s had the power supply at the top of the case.
The case is that shape and the power supply is in that location so it can fit the standard PC components inside.
Don’t worry, if you don’t like the Apple case you’ll be able to choose from hundreds of PC cases to transfer the components into.
For Perspective:
No more posting from you until you solve the world’s problems and usher in a new mellenium of uptopian ideals.
Who the hell cares about your “perspective” of the world situation anyway? Have you read history? Are you conscious of human behavior? It’s intuitively obvious that humans beings have not had a good run of things. But thank again for pointing out the obvious and attempting to make us all feel guilty about our insignificant rants and raves. Or were you just feeling morally superior?
Nice Live lyrics, For Perspective! That song rocks and so appropriate.
Now on topic, like others have said, I can’t imagine they WOULDN’T change the case design. Adding a Blu-ray drive would be SWEET but are there any on the market yet? Or is this going to be another “we’ll show it to you now but it’s not available until October?”
My first thought was that would make this thing incredibly top-heavy. The PS weighs more than any other components in the G5 – maybe more than all the other components combined!
My second thought is wondering what is the advantage? Would there be minimized heat dissipation affecting the other components? Or minimized electromagnetic interference?
My third thought is dashed hopes that Apple might return to an enclosure that supports rack-mounting. In hollywood our customers have their G4’s in racks, and some have switched to Windows PC’s because the G5 doesn’t fit (well it can barely fit if you saw off the handles and use an L-beam style rack kit like HP provides. But the last time I did that I got an aluminum shaving in my eye! Ouch!
“
My second thought is wondering what is the advantage? Would there be minimized heat dissipation affecting the other components? Or minimized electromagnetic interference?”
It’s a form factor thing. That’s where the power supply is on most Intel PCs, allows easiest use of standard motherboards.
“Apple might return to an enclosure that supports rack-mounting”
As noted just drop the components into any standard rack mount case that suits your purposes.
“As noted just drop the components into any standard rack mount case that suits your purposes.”
WHAT?
Have you ever pulled out the components of a G5? I have on many dozens of occasions. Are you really suggesting this? Have you heard about AppleCare? My clients have and your answer is even less salient than Apple’s tired “get an xServe” talking point.
And when has a Mac ever used a “standard” main logic board (btw, even HP doesn’t call them ‘motherboards’ anymore. Nobody would think of a PCI expansion card as a ‘daughter’ card – at least not in the traditional sense.
If it was real what happens when you hit the eject key on the keyboard? Do both drives eject? Does a dialog box ask which drive to eject? I don’t think Apple would design a box with 2 optical drive bays without a button or some way to eject the 2nd drive.
Not much Mac experience, huh? Option-Eject opens the second drive, just like now.
ItsaPC, if you want a rack mount Mac, check out this 4U G5 Quad:
http://www.gvs9000.com/gvs90004xcpug5.html
16 GB RAM, expandable to 32 GB, up to 4 TB internal storage! Guess they have an arrangement with Apple…OS X support claimed.
“Have you ever pulled out the components of a G5?”
This isn’t a G5, it’s an Intel based PC.
Standards exist for motherboard form factors, power supplies etc. It wouldn’t be sensible for Apple to re-enginner all that from the ground up.
Dude – you’re getting a Dell (Well a Dell clone in a pretty case).
“even HP doesn’t call them ‘motherboards’ anymore. “
Intel still calls them motherboards, as does ASUS, as does HP…