New Apple Mac Pro

[mydarkroom]

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Hi Jan,

 

Thank you for your 1st impressions on the nMacPro! Sounds very exciting! I am expecting to order mine in June/July since I can write it off in my company. Hopefully by then the delivery time will have shorten.

 

Regarding the scanner, I also have a NikonCoolscan (the 5000ED however). It has always been a pain since Nikon stop supporting it a while back. I use VueScan, which is a great software (not as complex as SilverFast). I would recommend you to download a trial to see if it works on the nMP before considering buying a new scanner.

 

I will continue to use my 27'' Cinema Display (non-thunderbolt) but I see your point with the Sharp. Must look amazing. The new OSX 10.9.3 should make it even more amazing (OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 Beta Contains Native 'Retina' Resolution Option for 4K Displays - Mac Rumors). I will consider one eventually.

 

I don't have a lot of Firewire peripherals (one external HD only, used for backup), so it should not impact my transition). I will experience a very slow file transfer since my MacPro does not have USB3 or Thunderbolt. I am in the process of switching from a Managed Aperture library to a Referenced one, and keeping the library (and it's preview files) on the super fast SSD MacPro will improve the speed significantly. Keeping the master RAW files in a thunderbolt (even TB1) should not slow down it at all.

 

I understand your concern about the subscription model. I feel the same way. No matter how cheap it can get or what discount they may give me, I am not ready for a lifelong commitment to a program and having all my photos and edits locked into that. I am an Aperture user since version 1, so I definitely have a bias regarding the user interface and user experience. I tried LR 3 and 4 when they came with my cameras. The modular interface and complex/difficult file management was actually impairing my workflow so I gave up. Good thing is Lightroom is not cloud base only (yet). Obviously this is ME and I known a ton of very happy LR users (that may include you!). I would definitely give Aperture a go and don't let the numerous rumours of its demise impact your decision. Development is ongoing.

 

Have fun with your MacPro and keep posting your experience with it. Hopefully I will be joining the club shortly.

 

Raf

[stunsworth]

Then came a problem I still have not solved. My NIKON Super Coolscan 9000ED that worked fine with my old mac (all on Maverick) was not even recognized by the System Profiler. I am in contact with Silverfast (software) but until now no solution. I knew NIKON is not supporting the scanner (which is a shame!!). I am afraid I will have to invest in a "Plustek scanner OptikFilm 120" and that will cost another € 2.000,-.

 

Have you tried Vuescan?

 

VueScan Scanner Software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux

 

I'd have thought that would work. Of course there's a new interface to learn, but I'd try it for a while before spending 2000 Euros.

 

There's a 30 day trial, and after that the professional version ($80) is the obvious one to go for with it's unlimited updates.

[tobey bilek]

I think windows is fine id you do not attach it to the internet. Once there Microsoft is always ping you and leaving tracks in the system.

 

I spent half my time defraging the beast(s).

 

Good By and Good Nite Bill G.

except I recycled them.

 

A closed sealed box like a new mac pro does not interest me . I got a 2013 Mac pro, added ram and 3 more internal HD. NO WIRES. I can replace a HD in 60 sec no tools. It goes as fast as I can think.

[Jan W. Tromp]

Have you tried Vuescan?

 

VueScan Scanner Software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux

 

I'd have thought that would work. Of course there's a new interface to learn, but I'd try it for a while before spending 2000 Euros.

 

There's a 30 day trial, and after that the professional version ($80) is the obvious one to go for with it's unlimited updates.

 

I tried but the problem is that the MacPro does not see the scanner at all. (checked in the System Profiler, found in 'about this mac'.) The Nikon is FW400 from 2009. It seems Apple does not want us to use FW anymore) Some people thinks its Mavericks. I cannot ask Nikon as they do not support the scanner (It still is the best filmscanner of this type and if you want to buy them they charge you about € 6.000,-!!)

 

I'm now looking at the Braun FS120, a similar scanner with only a little lower quality....

 

Jan

[topoxforddoc]

Jan buy an older mac and use your scanner. Then transfer the images across on your network. That's what a fair number of people did with their high end scsi scanners a few years ago. Cheaper than a new scanner.

[k-hawinkler]

Jan buy an older mac and use your scanner. Then transfer the images across on your network. That's what a fair number of people did with their high end scsi scanners a few years ago. Cheaper than a new scanner.

 

How about using an fw400 to usb adapter: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=fw400+to+usb+adapter&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=fw400+to+usb+adapter&rls=en

and, if necessary, running an older version of Mac OS X in emulation?

[Jan W. Tromp]

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Jan buy an older mac and use your scanner. Then transfer the images across on your network. That's what a fair number of people did with their high end scsi scanners a few years ago. Cheaper than a new scanner.

 

Yes it is a thing I am considering. I the will actually have to find and buy one. and I'm now not sure the scanner is OK. I think the scanner is OK as I used it one week before switching the new MacPro.

 

Jan

[Jan W. Tromp]

How about using an fw400 to usb adapter: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=fw400+to+usb+adapter&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=fw400+to+usb+adapter&rls=en

and, if necessary, running an older version of Mac OS X in emulation?

 

I have to use an adapter, and did. The Mac Pro does recognize the adapter but not the scanner. I just tested the scanner with Windows 8 under bootcamp. Same result.

So, it could be a hardware failure of the scanner too. I'm now will try to test it with another mac

 

Jan

[Jan W. Tromp]

Check and double check and don't be lazy..... I know this but didn't. I now got my old MacPro back (which disks I cleaned). I installed 10.6 (of which I had a disk!) and installed the original Nikon driver/software with the use of Rosetta. This took me a couple of hours.

 

The result is that my old Mac also does not recognize the FireWire scanner. Now I can be sure it is a hardware failure of the scanner!!

 

So, mea culpa.Its my fault. The scanner worked a week earlier with my old mac and after installing to the new MacPro didn't anymore. It will be just bad luck, but. I should have tested as I did now.

 

As the scanner does accept the holders etc I assume its the Firewire connection. There is no Nikon repair anymore. I am now considering trying to find a repair shop or take no risk and by a Braun scanner.

 

Thx for the suggestion

and I'm sorry I have bordered you with this!!

 

Jan Tromp

[Jan W. Tromp]

My newest 'problem' with the MacPro is the Sharp Monitor. It seems the Monitor is OK but there is still a software problem with Mavericks.

 

To get the Sharp to 60Hz you have to manually change the software of the Monitor to Multistream (MST) The standard setting from the factory is Single Stream (SST) Doing that (and I have done it several times) results in problems from startup.

First you get a horizontally stretched screen (with the apple symbol)

Nesxt you get the login screen but without login window!

Blindly push enter and then enter the password does start the mac but you get an empty Finder. Nothing on the desktop and no dock.

 

I am in contact now with Apple Support (Netherlands) but they don't know this problem.

 

I know in OSX 10.9.3 (next update) there will be software to improve the quality but if it fixes my problem I don't know. On the different forums I saw the problem without solution. Apple told me that they will come back next week with an answer.

 

I must say that I think other buyers have not checked this as they think they can set the screen in the systemprefs but thats not true as it has to be done manually. So I guess other users do not realize this as the manual is one of the worst I've ever seen.

[k-hawinkler]

Hi Jan,

 

I think you are ahead of most everybody, at the cutting and therefore bleeding edge of technology.

Thanks for leading the way.

I will give it some time so that Apple can work out these kinds of issues.

 

I have a combination of up to 30 external drives and SSDs hooked up to my nMP with 6 cores, maxed out memory and SSD, D700s. I am only using my tried and true older FirmTek eSATA enclosures.

 

I have 3 new adapters/converters that each let 4 eSATA cables communicate with one Thunderbolt cable. So, I have 12 eSATA cables attached via 3 Thunderbolt cables to the nMP. The 3.5" format enclosures limit each drive/SSD to a maximum burst rate of 3 Gbit/s. Nevertheless, a 4-way software SSD RAID can sustain around 600 - 700 MByte/s bandwidth for write and read operations. Not too bad!

 

I also have 1 dual, 2.5" format eSATA enclosure that operates each of its 2 cables at a maximum bandwidth of 6 Gbit/s, ideal for attaching SSDs. Here 2 eSATA to USB3 cable converters attach the dual enclosure to a CalDigit Thunderbolt Station that itself is attached via a Thunderbolt cable to the nMP. For each SSD in the dual encloure I measure around 300 MByte/s sustained bandwidth separately.

 

One has to install one driver so that the Multiport enclosures with 5 devices but one eSATA cable function as intended. A really nice feature is that any of the attached drives, SSDs, or RAIDs can be used to boot the system.

 

This configuration appears to be rock solid as long as one disables any drive/SSD going to sleep. I hope this will get fixed in a future software update.

[Jan W. Tromp]

Hi Jan,

 

Hi K-H,

 

Thanks for your message!

 

You have your drives connected with eSata, I used FireWire and that was the reason for me to choose the Promise Pegasus. Extremely fast and takes less space, but is expensive. With eSata you get the speed you need for Photography. I have TimeMachine on the Pegasus now too and that is fine.

 

The Display is THE problem at the moment. The Sharp Monitor itself is very very nice but with 30hz you can hardly read your mail etc. I also have the 27" Thunderbolt display from Apple and that's not a screen for Photography. It reflects much too much sunlight etc. and it is too small.

 

I would, at the moment, NOT buy the new MP unless there are display solutions that work. I visited all corners of the web and only one test by Apple Insider suggested that they had their (USA model) of the Sharp working at 60Hz (I do not believe it) The European screen only has one display port and Not the two HDMI ports. But then de HDMI ports do also not give 60hz (yet)

 

As soon as my screen is functioning at 60hz I will give the solution here. The new MP is great but when you need a display too (4K) then my advise would be to wait.

 

Jan

[k-hawinkler]

Thanks Jan. For the reasons you stated I have been holding off getting a new monitor. I am interested in a 4k monitor at 60 Hz at a reasonable price. At the moment I am using my 30" Apple Cinema Display that I got close to 10 years ago. It's still working fine, knock on wood.

[Jan W. Tromp]

Today I finally got the answer from Apple.

 

They are aware of the problem that the Sharp cannot be set to Multiscreen (for 60Hz) without getting faulty fingers etc. They say they are working on a solution that will be included in a future system update.

 

This means that one better not buy such a display now as it will not function at 60Hz. At 30Hz there are problems reading mail as the text is too small. The mouse point acts weird etc.

 

The weirdest thing is that Apple has kept this quiet. It may be that they will present a monitor in June at the WWDC. My advice is wait.

 

Jan Tromp

[Jan W. Tromp]

The 10.9.3 update did solve the problem with the Sharp 4K display. You now can switch (on the display) to multi stream (MST) to gt the full 60Hz. This is a bit awkward as it should have been from the system preferences. I still expect a 4K Apple screen soon.