[timmerk]

I am waiting to buy a Mac Pro until new cases come out. By new, I mean a major change, not just some small changes. They are too big for me, so I'm hoping the next case will be smaller. How long does it usually take for Apple to intro new cases? 2-3 years? How long have the G5/Mac Pro cases been out now?

Thanks!

[Karpfish]

i wouldnt expect apple to release a new case until next the next major revision, bsically model change, so not for a loooong time

[MaxPower2k3]

the Mac Pro case is a pretty major change from the G5... on the inside. 2 more hard drives, an extra optical drive, more space for PCIe cards, a better system for installing RAM, etc. and it's pretty much all because they're not using processors that have to be liquid-cooled anymore. Sure, it looks almost the same on the outside as it has since June of 2003, but the design works. it's sturdy, practical, and has that industrial design appeal. I don't see a major design change for a while, until their design philosophy as a whole starts moving in a different direction.

[Lateralus]

I'd be surprised if it happened before early 2008, honestly.

As has been said, the Mac Pro case is enough of a departure from the G5 case to essentially call it something entirely different. And with Apple using riding desktop cases for years, I wouldn't use the size of the case as a reason not to purchase one because you'll be waiting a long time if you do.

[wr11]

I'll agree with that early 2008 prediction. Even then I think they'll be much the same. Seriously though they will continue to be aluminum, and they will still be a "tower". What kind of changes would you like to see? I know I want Apple to stay the hell away from the gimmicky crap that all the PC manufacturers seem to love. They should strive to keep the design a simple as possible.

[timmerk]

I don't mind the style, and I like the inside.. but the thing is just too big - width, height, and depth.

[Lateralus]

I don't see why anybody gives a crap about the size of a desktop tower. I mean, why should size be a concern with something you're going to set on the floor or on a desk and not take anywhere? Your TV is probably bigger than the Mac Pro and far less useful/attractive.

The closest thingt to a smaller desktop from Apple you'll probably ever get is the mini. Because decreasing the size of the Mac Pro case, as much as it sounds would be needed to fit your desires, would mean decreasing the expandability enough to put the thing a notch above the iMac, which would basically be like bringing the Cube back. And that aint happening.

[SierraDragon]

Originally Posted by timmerk

I don't mind the style, and I like the inside.. but the thing is just too big - width, height, and depth.

Pro tower hardware takes a certain amount of space. No doubt it could be engineered tighter but IMO it should remain reasonably large open and flexible. If one wants cutesy/cool/consumer grade buy an iMac or a Mini, but a pro tower is a solid large piece of hardware and needs to be big enough for all possible components and heat removal.

-Allen Wicks

[Cadaver]

Buy a low-end Mac mini and put a 2.33GHz Merom in it. Then do the external SATA hack to it, plop on a fast, full-sized SATA hard drive, and you'll have a reasonably zippy computer.