Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Surveys and Polls
If MacBook Pros are ready, why aren't the Pro apps?
In
Victor's post about sitting in
on a TWiT recording, he mentions a 10 year old kid who asked the TWiT gang a blatantly obvious question most of us
have so far missed: if the MacBook Pro books are truly ready, where are the pro apps? Quark has a beta available - for
all three of their customers. Where are the big dogs like Adobe? Heck, why isn't Apple's own Final Cut Studio
available?With questions about the general oddness of this year's keynote mounting, I think this is a huge one that needs to get added to the top of the pile. Some would say it's very un-Apple to release a new (pro) product like this without much of anything "pro" available to run on it. I would say at the least that it's just plain dumb to pull a stunt like this. So what gives?
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stephen said 11:24AM on 1-12-2006
I beg to differ that Quark has only 3 customers.
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Stephen Antonucci said 11:27AM on 1-12-2006
Maybe because Pro-Apps are usually introduced at NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) were the pros are. I suspect Apple with have the pro apps introduced as part of an upgrade like Final Cut Pro 6 or Studio 2, etc.
Traditionally this how and when Apple has introducted pro apps the last few years.
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Sean Flanagan said 11:28AM on 1-12-2006
I don't appreciate the low blow to Quark one bit. They of all companies should be the first to migrate their product to Intel after the debacle of them waiting 3 years to migrate to OS X. They have WAY more than 3 customers. How about the entire graphic design and printing industry? You know, the largest industry in the US? This industry has designers who rely on their PowerBooks and have been looking for an upgrade for quite a while. The MacBook Pro is that upgrade.
Yes, Adobe should be on Intel now. Yes, Macromedia (I know, same company) should be on Intel now. But the fact of the matter is, PowerBooks needed an upgrade and the only viable upgrade was to switch to Intel early. Remember when Jobs told the developers at the WWDC they had until June to migrate? Well, he pushed up the deadline without notice and Quark was the only company to bother to meet that deadline.
Quark XPress has been and will be the standard in print production and layout until something dramatic happens. And Adobe InDesign is not dramatic.
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Mackie said 11:29AM on 1-12-2006
Apple's Pro apps ARE available, and both the PB and iMac can run PPC programs such as Adobe's CS2 suite.
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Buthidae said 11:33AM on 1-12-2006
I think the general sentiment that they can't bring out flashy new iBooks and leave the PowerBooks as they are rings quite true. Myself, I'm selling my HD AluBook and getting one of the new iMacs (typing this on a Pismo :-) ), and waiting to see how the laptop front shapes up. I expect there are going to be some sweet Intel-based 'books coming out in the next few months. 30th Anniversary PowerBook (dual-core 2.0GHz 7448's, or 2.3GHz Core Duo's, and then all the fruit (NPI) piled on), anyone? If they bring out something like that, I _will_ sell body parts.
On another tack, I can't get used to the name MacBook Pro! I think Macintosh ProBook sounds much better - does anyone agree?
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nezromatron said 11:39AM on 1-12-2006
The Pro Apps are probably about ready for version upgrades anyway, there is word of FCP 6, etc.. So what would be the point in rushing them out the door? They are probably waiting for the video show or whatever in the spring. The MacBook Pro was needed because the PB had become the laughing stock of the lineup and in most need of more juice.
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gr33n said 11:41AM on 1-12-2006
so you haven't watched steve's keynote where he addresses this question? they are bringing hardware out earlier than expected ... expected = jun06 ...
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Fabio P said 11:46AM on 1-12-2006
hey well
maybe the "iBook is the MacBook Pro" and the PowerBook will be the "MacBook Superb" or someting like this.
you know, something even better.
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Geoff Green said 11:48AM on 1-12-2006
Why aren't the pro apps ready? Because they pushed and pushed to get the intel-based Macs out way ahead of schedule, and they couldn't push the pro apps quickly enough to get them finished. They'll be released when they're finished. Not to mention that the MacBook Pro won't be available until next month, meaning most people won't get their orders until early March, so there's not giong to be a whole horde of folks itching to use the pro apps on their new Macbooks before the intel version are released.
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Porchland said 11:55AM on 1-12-2006
From Apple Insider:
Apple will be updating many of its Pro applications to universal binaries in March, Jobs said. This includes Final Cut Pro and Aperture. Customers who have already purchased a current version of Apple Pro software will be able to trade in their disc for a universal binary disc for $49.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1449
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Leo said 11:56AM on 1-12-2006
The reason the Pro Apps aren't ready, is because these intel macs were SUPPOSED to be released in the middle of the year. But since everyone and their mother speculated and rumored and whispered about them being released early - Apple HAD TO succumb to the the stock market investment overlords and rush them out ASAP.
The post about how this switch to a completely different chip/architecture NOT bringing a significant design change is pretty insightful... In Apple's tradition, there should have been some radical new designs released along with the new intel macs... but there is nothing of the sort.
I think that these things were rushed out and by the time they SHOULD have been released, most of Apple's Pro apps will be available :-)
...or maybe i am wrong.
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Eric B. said 12:18PM on 1-12-2006
I keep getting this sneaking suspision that we're going to see something new/big from apple on the portable front. The more I look at everything it doesn't seem to add up just yet. I think they were looking for the splash at the keynote but are going to make the wave sometime later.. we'll see I guess. For now though I think I'm going to use my better judgement and cancel the MacBook order until the summer.
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Scott Houchin said 12:24PM on 1-12-2006
The release of the Intel Macs reminds me of the release of the first iMac with no floppy, and USB only. At that time, there weren't really any USB devices, not even for Windows. But as soon as Apple put out that box and forced the device makers to switch, the devices began arriving in droves.
By putting out these boxes, even if they aren't as groundbreaking and innovative as we may have expected, they are firing a shot across the bow of everyone that's not yet on the bandwagon; Apple is deadly serious about this transformation and is not going to tolerate developers switching to Intel "when they feel like it." And even bigger, if you believe the figures, Apple can prove that the performance boost they get from Intel is so significant that their pro customers are all going to rush out to buy them, and then demand that the software vendors put out Intel binaries.
I can imagine a conversation being held inside Adobe today. "Jobs told us mid to late 2006! I thought we could just update Creative Suite as part of the next major update for 2007 release. But now our customers are seeing how much faster these boxes are going to be that they're going to to be demanding CS2 for Intel as soon as Apple puts out a Pro Desktop!"
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James Keim said 12:30PM on 1-12-2006
There is also something to be said in having your Pro customers driving the demand for the new universal binaries. Apple can introduce the hardware and then let the customers and bloggers pressure Adobe into getting their applications updated sooner rather than later.
The precedent of Quark's loss of market share when they didn't update soon enough seems to have created a new understanding about who dictates the direction Apple is going -- it's Jobs.
Personally, I think it is a great marketing decision for Apple to come out with the hardware early and leave their customers wanting more. But it is a marketing decision that only Apple could make.
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John Laur said 12:37PM on 1-12-2006
Well you also have to remember that these computers are "shipping in feb" and the pro apps are "going intel in march" so really there is not as much time disparity as it might appear. The iMacs are not the market for the pro apps anyway, and it doesn't do Apple a lot of good to show off a beta of all the pro stuff at Macworld. As another commentor said, it would stand to reason that they are spending their money on making the NEXT versions of the pro apps work on intel instead of burning a bunch of money making the existing ones work. By the time the pro intel computers are in the hands of the pros the apps will be there too.
And I like to dig on Quark too, but it is nice to see them ahead of the game for once -- the last time they dropped the ball with OS X it cost them bigtime. Obviously they'd like to see Adobe make the mistake this time around.
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Sean Finn said 12:56PM on 1-12-2006
I see more people with PowerBook's than iBooks. While the numbers seem to be in iBook's favor in terms of sales, professional people who use a Mac (not necessarily people who professionaly use the Mac applications) want the top of the line notebook. I have a 15" powerbook, and don't use FinalCut or Adobe or any of the heavy lifting apps (well, i dabble but not really use). However, I do use Safari, Mail, Pages, Excel, iPhoto, iTunes, Quicktime, etc... every day. And I'm putting my order in for the next 3 grand notebook right now.
Having thousands upon thousands of pre-orders for an Intel Mac will certainly be incentive for all the third party people to move faster. There might have been worried speculation that a company would commit all of these resources to get out a new version of their software, only to see their investment falter because of Apple. Apple is leading the way and taking the first risk, allowing others to have a lesser risk.
Sean
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Brock said 1:04PM on 1-12-2006
More arrogance from the TUAW crowd with "all 3 of Quark's users." Will you guys ever learn that you are not an accurate sampling of Mac users and that such generalizations just demonstrate how little we readers should value your opinions? Seriously, that comment has me thinking that I'll be looking elsewhere for my Mac news in the future.
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Dominic Cordisco said 1:04PM on 1-12-2006
I think that, until the hype got out of hand, Stevie J wasn't planning on unveiling the intel macs at macworld at all. Then there was so much speculation (plasma tv, anyone), that Apple rushed to make an announcement that the intel macs are indeed coming. Of course, they're not dropping until February, mind.
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Eric said 1:17PM on 1-12-2006
If I buy Final Cut Studio today, can I get the Universal version when its available?
Yes. All owners of Final Cut Studio can purchase the Universal version for $49.
What products qualify for an upgrade to Final Cut Studio?
Apple will be offering affordable upgrades to Final Cut Studio from retail versions of the following products: from Final Cut Pro 5 for $99; from Final Cut Pro 4 or 4.5 (HD), DVD Studio Pro 4, Motion 2, Soundtrack Pro, or Production Suite for $199; from Final Cut Pro 1, 2, or 3 for $699. If you upgrade to Final Cut Studio through this program, you will receive the Universal version after it becomes available. Information about the upgrade process will be available on or before February 1, 2006.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/topquestions.html
and
"A Universal version of Aperture, which will run natively on both PowerPC- and Intel-based Mac computers, will be available before the end of March 2006. Buy Aperture today and get the Universal version for $49."
http://www.apple.com/aperture/
All straight from Apple.
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Zach Hale said 1:32PM on 1-12-2006
It's also important to note that even though the iMac is out and the intel MacBook Pro's are announced, they will not ship until mid-February so people won't start to have their hands on these things until the end of February. If Apple is releasing their universal versions in March there will most likely be a very small gap between when people get their hands on the MacBook Pro's and when a lot of new software will be released.
Developers still have 1.5-2 months until they really do need to start kicking these things out. I agree the MacBook Pro was pushed out early, but it needed to be done. I'm wondering if they will announce the iBooks in the next few months after they see people testing out these new intel notebooks.
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