AppleInsider podcast talks about the history of the professional Mac, and Apple's pro software

This week on a special live edition of the AppleInsider podcast, Dan and Victor talk about the history of the professional Mac hardware, the history of pro software, and what happens next, all recorded from a gathering of professional users at Adorama in New York City.

AppleInsider editors Daniel Eran Dilger and Victor Marks discuss the Apple pro user, followed by a Q&A session and discussion on the company's current pro-tier offerings.

Listen to the embedded SoundCloud feed below:

We offer insight into key Apple's existing professional product platforms, as well as a potential blurring of segment lines with upcoming products like the rumored "pro" iMac.

Also considered is Apple's forthcoming Mac Pro and accompanying "pro" display. In an uncharacteristic move, Apple in April announced plans to launch a modular Mac Pro sometime in 2018. Dubbed a complete "rethinking the Mac Pro," the upcoming desktop is being designed to meet the needs of the most demanding professional users.

The event concluded with a Q&A, with several of the attendees expressing concern over how little attention they think Apple gives to the professional Mac user. A video of the event is also available, embedded below:

The show is available on iTunes and your favorite podcast apps by searching for "AppleInsider." Click here to listen, subscribe, and don't forget to rate our show.

Follow our hosts on Twitter: @danieleran and @vmarks.

Feedback and comments are always appreciated. Please contact the AppleInsider podcast at [email protected] and follow us on Twitter @appleinsider, plus Facebook and Instagram.

Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at [email protected].

Follow AppleInsider on Google News

10 Comments

Spiffers74

said about 6 years ago

you should edit the podcast after recording, because this was bad. A so crappy recording should never have been released to the public.

jeffharris

said about 6 years ago

Do we really need to be told about the YEARS of neglect of the Mac "Pro" line?

vmarks

said about 6 years ago

Spiffers74 said:

you should edit the podcast after recording, because this was bad. A so crappy recording should never have been released to the public.

The audio was off the board at the event. It was then cleaned up in Izotope rx5 to de-noise it a bit. Would you have preferred we cut the question and answers?

v4film

said about 6 years ago

As usual, you guys don't understand the pro market! Our work on Hollywood film production used to be all Mac. In fact, we used our Macs everyday to do essential work. Not just for editing, but content creation and animation, writing, controlling lighting boards, interface with digital cameras, watching dailies as well as monitoring the video on set (video Assist), etc. The list is endless. Visual Effects Technicians on set used to use Mac Laptops, but today they used HP workstation type laptops (32GB Ram is a minimum). The new MacBook Pro is a joke, underpowered, lacking essential ram and expensive. Our 2013 MacBooks are better for our work!

My Macs are getting old. We have used ever product Apple has made. But the time is coming when we will be forced to leave the platform. Our creative teams prefer Mac OS. But we will have to make a transition to different hardware. Promises of a redesigned Pro Mac are not enough. We've seen Apple's past attempts! (the ashcan Mac Pro comes to mind) We've seen Apple destroy careers by dropping products. Over the last 15 years I've spent over $10-million on Mac hardware & software. And I had reliable hardware and software. The iPad & iPhone have made contributions as well. But I have to say there are reliable alternatives to all of Apple's current product line. And if we change platforms we will change them all. Apple's continued lack of listening to customers and responding to the customer's needs is appalling. Steve Jobs didn't listen to either, but could also deliver the next "big thing." He was the ultimate consumer and demanded the best. Apple can't replace that. I'm quickly buying my last Apple products before they change so that I'm not caught in a stupid transition to all USB C (not ready for prime time) or another loss of features and more dongle madness.

vmarks

said about 6 years ago

v4film said:

As usual, you guys don't understand the pro market! Our work on Hollywood film production used to be all Mac. In fact, we used our Macs everyday to do essential work. Not just for editing, but content creation and animation, writing, controlling lighting boards, interface with digital cameras, watching dailies as well as monitoring the video on set (video Assist), etc. The list is endless. Visual Effects Technicians on set used to use Mac Laptops, but today they used HP workstation type laptops (32GB Ram is a minimum). The new MacBook Pro is a joke, underpowered, lacking essential ram and expensive. Our 2013 MacBooks are better for our work!

My Macs are getting old. We have used ever product Apple has made. But the time is coming when we will be forced to leave the platform. Our creative teams prefer Mac OS. But we will have to make a transition to different hardware. Promises of a redesigned Pro Mac are not enough. We've seen Apple's past attempts! (the ashcan Mac Pro comes to mind) We've seen Apple destroy careers by dropping products. Over the last 15 years I've spent over $10-million on Mac hardware & software. And I had reliable hardware and software. The iPad & iPhone have made contributions as well. But I have to say there are reliable alternatives to all of Apple's current product line. And if we change platforms we will change them all. Apple's continued lack of listening to customers and responding to the customer's needs is appalling. Steve Jobs didn't listen to either, but could also deliver the next "big thing." He was the ultimate consumer and demanded the best. Apple can't replace that. I'm quickly buying my last Apple products before they change so that I'm not caught in a stupid transition to all USB C (not ready for prime time) or another loss of features and more dongle madness.

At the event, I said specifically that users like yourself would like more RAM, more cores, in the same enclosures. I was referring to the Mac Pro, but we've discussed at length in the past how that's what pro users wanted out of an updated MacBook Pro - no one asked for a TouchBar, you wanted more RAM.

And next years' MacBook Pro probably gets there for you. What we know is that the Kaby Lake processor used in MacBook Pro this last go 'round wasn't available in a mobile form that could address 32GB of RAM. HP gets around this by using the desktop version, which has tradeoffs of worse power conservation, more heat, and more weight overall. As you say, you traded out laptops for desktop replacements that aren't the same things.

As for the trashcan, we know that they're not going to make another one in that case. It's going to be modular, they promise. Whether that means it's a tower or something else, we'll see.

USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 is a dumpster fire, but for different reasons than you think. The dongle problem is a temporary problem, just as USB in 1998 went through a short period of transition with adapters (USB to serial, USB to parallel, etc.). The real issue here is some things work with USB, some with Thunderbolt 3, there are two cables that look identical, but one costs a lot more, and the consumer is bound to buy the affordable one - so things won't work and it won't be obvious why.