[greenamp]

http://blog.dealnews.com/?p=45

Apple
Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon "Woodcrest" processors
4MB shared L2 cache per processor
1.33GHz dual independent frontside buses
2GB memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
16x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

$2799

Dell
Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors
4MB shared L2 cache per processor
1.33GHz dual independent frontside buses
2GB memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro NVS 285, Dual VGA Capable
250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
16x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

$3607

[smacintush]

So, will this mean that the Apple pro line will get some real respect now?

[iREZ]

dont count on it...

[rickey939]

Nice!

[Rev-O]

Cheaper than a Dell, but still these are spendy beasts when it is Apples only non AIO desktop offering. I went out to Apple's site and priced out what I would consider purchasing as a Mac Pro: 3GHz, X1900, iWork, bluetooth & Airport, Applecare... $4056.
I guess it is time for me to join the teeming throngs clamouring for a midlevel desktop.

[Chuckit]

You want a mid-level desktop with a quad-core 3 GHz Woodcrest and an X1900? Because you could have configured that Mac Pro a lot more mid than that. The low-end Mac Pro is about $2000.

[Kerrigan]

Sweet.

[Rev-O]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

You want a mid-level desktop with a quad-core 3 GHz Woodcrest and an X1900? Because you could have configured that Mac Pro a lot more mid than that. The low-end Mac Pro is $2000.

No, I do not want a midlevel with quad core 3GHz woodcrests... that's kinda my whole point.
For a midlevel I could live without Quads, to be sure, as well as 16gb of ram and 4 hd bays and 2 optical bays. Fast Conroe instead of Dual Woodies, 1 optical bay not 2, 2 hd bays not 4, a nice amount of ram internal, FW 800. Yes it would have to have a x1900 as an option. The lowest end Mac Pro is still running 2 dual core Xeons. Give me something that is a step up from an iMac but not a Quad Processing pro rig, that's all.

(though if I wasn't planning on picking up a MacBook Pro with merom as soon as they are announced, I'd have already ordered the $4000 Mac Pro I'm bitching about )

[alex_kac]

Perhaps but then quantity discounts wouldn't apply and that Mac Pro would be $3k instead of $2k and the "mid level" would be $2k instead of non-existant. So you're getting a high end for the price of a mid level

[the macimum]

Heh Heh Heh, I hope more people will realize how confused dell is.

[exca1ibur]

Only problem is he forgot to add the Quatro for the Mac Pro and Applecare to really be comparable. Since Dell gives you more than a 1year warranty. No offense but if you, do that and its a different game.

[Chuckit]

Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Quadro option for the Mac Pro way better than the card in that Dell? My understanding is that the 128 MB Quadro 285 is a consumer-level card, whereas the Quadro FX 4500 is definitely pro gear. It seems a bit unfair to require him to give the Mac a better GPU.

[exca1ibur]

Yes it is. But you are comparing an entry level card to a workstation card, is mainly what I'm saying. Thats all

[Gossamer]

Want a mid-level desktop? Build your own.

[Chuckit]

Couldn't you say that about anything? "Want a compact, low-tier computer? Build your own." "Want a high-end, Woodcrest-based supercomputer? Build your own."

And in the end, you really can't build your own Mac anyway.

[Eriamjh]

This Mac Pro is quite the beast. Notice Apple calls it a "Workstation", which it is.
There is much performance to be had compared to the next best Mac, the iMac.
Will Apple ever offer something in between? I doubt it.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

And in the end, you really can't build your own Mac anyway.

Right.