Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, PowerMac G5
The Power Mac stands as the last PPC Mac
Oh, the poor Power Mac G5. Apple's "Big Kahuna" now looks downright elderly, being the only Mac that isn't sporting a rockin' Intel chip. I'm guessing that Apple's pro level machine won't make its Intel debut until January's Macworld Expo, but it's fun to speculate on what could be in store for that machine.Perhaps an all-new case design? Will the name "Power Mac" be replaced? Maybe an as-of-yet unreleased Intel processor(s) will power the beast. The mind boggles.
Have at it, TUAWers. Configure the successor to the Power Mac G5.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Hawk said 7:08AM on 5-18-2006
I hope whatever they do, they make it quiet. The fans on the G5 are *not* quiet! They're not *loud* but my new iMac is as powerful as my PM G5 2x1.8 but dead silent.
Also, the G5 XServe is still PPC. :)
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philip said 7:14AM on 5-18-2006
The "Mac Pro" will make its debut at this year's WWDC in August. What better place to launch the pro-level desktop than at the conference for pro-developers. I could be making this up, but I do think that Steve said the Intel conversion would be done this year. I can't see Apple waiting to put the pro-level Intel Mac out until January '07, it will most likely be late Summer or Early Fall of this year.
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mark said 7:15AM on 5-18-2006
I suspect it will be called 'mac pro'.
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple introduce a completely new lines of computers to fill the huge hole in their product line up. The Mac Pro caters for the professional who wants the ultimate workstation, there is nothing in the mac line up for people who want a desktop computer without a screen but with some expandability. The iMac is a lifestyle product, the mac mini is an entry level product with very limited appeal. Apple need a mid sized desktop system.
I'd say there's a nice little slot for a new machine simply called 'Mac' that sits below the 'Mac Pro' and above the 'iMac'.
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Andrew Davis said 7:21AM on 5-18-2006
I think that at the rate we're currently going in this switch, that we might see a new line of Mac Towers at WWDC this June. I agree that there will be a Pro level and a lower level.
They will probably use the new Conroe processors from Intel 2.3 and 2.6 GHz configurations, dual core of course. Low level features one of these processor and pro levels will be Quad core configurations.
That's my two cents.
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Metryq said 7:23AM on 5-18-2006
It will be a black monolith like the TMA-1 from 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and run on zero point energy. It will be so powerful that it warps the space around it, and will feature a multi-touch screen in its surface like Dillinger's desk in TRON.
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fra said 7:23AM on 5-18-2006
Mac Pro or iMac Pro :D
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starwxrwx said 7:32AM on 5-18-2006
I'd love to see a new enclosure, even though I love the current design :) More USB and firewire ports would be good!
Built-in iSight above the DVD tray? :) Might be a problem for those who keep it under the desk...
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Justin said 7:38AM on 5-18-2006
I think that the new Power mac may be announced in the press event. And for people who want isight with their pm I would think that Apple may put the isight on their cinema displays. Seriously who would want a camera on a computer that goes under your desk anyway.
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thomas Piper said 7:42AM on 5-18-2006
i think it will be in january us pro-music people can't use intel yet no major plug-ins yet. For those photoshop users g5 is still the way to go so i think they will hold off for a while at least till january. i think the new tower will be a hell of alot smaller for sure, i wonder what will be called the Promac maybe who knows
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CKA said 7:51AM on 5-18-2006
This makes some sense. First, as somebody above metioned, Intel will be releasing its most powerful Core CPUs in the near future. Second, the case design for the G5 is dictated by heat dissipation needs. Apple will likely radically alter the cases because the ber-cooling system is no longer necesary.
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Aaron Tait said 7:56AM on 5-18-2006
Umm... The Power Mac isn't the only PPC Mac that is left. What about Xserve?
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KSB said 7:57AM on 5-18-2006
Well when Intel releases a 64Bit dual dual CPU for the powermac, it will change it's name to "BigMac" with a new sleek yellow design with holes on top and love green, red, brown etc. colours on teh side
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Clay Hummer said 7:58AM on 5-18-2006
Bring back the Cube!!!
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chip said 8:01AM on 5-18-2006
pleeeeeeease don't let it be named "mac pro." people would confuse it with something from the mcdonald's value menu :/:/:/
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iFelix said 8:01AM on 5-18-2006
I also believe it will be the Mac Pro and will be released at the WWDC in August.
Steve "3GHz" Jobs promised that the entire Mac line would be Intel before the end of 2006, so to me Jan 07 is out of the question, and as Apple are moving forward faster than they thought a Mac Pro in August to me is more likely than a Jan 07 release.
I think in Jan 07 we may see the Mac Tablet, a 10" model.
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Shashwat Parhi said 8:03AM on 5-18-2006
Hey. What about the XServe? That still accompanies the PMac with a G5 processor. Your title to this blog isn't quite accurate. :-)
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twolf1 said 8:04AM on 5-18-2006
Does anyone think they are holding off until more pro apps (like Adobe cs) go universal?
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ChrismUSAF said 8:08AM on 5-18-2006
I wouldn't be so sure about the name "Mac Pro." The reason Apple changed iBook/PowerBook to the Macbook/MB Pro is because the wanted to integrate the Mac name into the product. I think iMac and PowerMac will remain. Also, as someone mentioned above, future Cinema Displays should have iSights built in. This is something that normal pros will not need in a PowerMac, but it will be something else Apple can do to set their displays apart from the rest to justify the extra cost. Front Row should be included with the PowerMac, to match the Mac mini.
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Ultim8Fury said 8:15AM on 5-18-2006
Dual motherboards with G5 chips on 1 and Intel on the other. To ease the transition for those using Adobe apps. Seamless non-emulated PPC and X86 compatibility. The TowerMac Pro will be awesome and require a dedicated national grid connection due to excessive power consumption.
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jason said 8:19AM on 5-18-2006
The notebook is called the 'macbook' so how about desktops named 'macdesk'? I hope not!
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