No BD drive on Mac Pro

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by RAMPCHECK

I guess one could always add an after market BD drive

I've got one...just waiting for software support from apple for now it is only data

[RAMPCHECK]

Same here... I'm waiting for better PS3 support. But thats not Apples problem.

[CGYBLU]

Lame

[doctorD]

This was a minor upgrade.

[JadedRaverLA]

Hmmm... that is odd. A couple of things, though:

They are using the new "Harpertown" Xeons which have support for the SSE4 instruction set (great for media playback)
The graphics card options support the latest iterations of Nvidia and ATI's media decoders (also, great for media playback)

These systems are practically "screaming" for a Blu-ray option. I am starting to question what the hold-up is. I wonder if they're running into the same problems as Cyberlink with BD+ and other compatibility issues.

FWIW, I still think we'll see some BD options from Apple soon -- possibly as an add-on option (external or otherwise).

[BluStar88]

FYI it is availble through fast mac upgrades. www.fastmac.com

also bill hunt at the digital bits says its comming. www.thedigitalbits.com

[gavomatic57]

If a mac came with a blu-ray drive, customers will expect to be able to play blu-ray movies....

If the HDCP flag has been turned on, OSX can't handle it. You'll end up watching an expensive standard def movie on an over-priced computer. Only Vista (at the moment) can handle a protected video path.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by FilmmakingFiasco

I thought the cat was already out of the bag on this one and it was going to be full support of the Red Camera and it's 4k resolution through compression or something?

RED support was officially introduced months ago (I was at a Apple Show this summer where they showed it).

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Hmmm... that is odd. A couple of things, though:

They are using the new "Harpertown" Xeons which have support for the SSE4 instruction set (great for media playback)
The graphics card options support the latest iterations of Nvidia and ATI's media decoders (also, great for media playback)

These systems are practically "screaming" for a Blu-ray option. I am starting to question what the hold-up is. I wonder if they're running into the same problems as Cyberlink with BD+ and other compatibility issues.

FWIW, I still think we'll see some BD options from Apple soon -- possibly as an add-on option (external or otherwise).

compatibility issues could be happening, or they could be announcing it next week....

I read rumors of apple releasing an external optical drive to be used with the ultraportable laptop, maybe it will also have a blu-ray option.

Originally Posted by HDJK

RED support was officially introduced months ago (I was at a Apple Show this summer where they showed it).

sweeeeet. my prediction is still game on!

[bilbravo]

I think they could still announce a blu-ray drive at macworld. I dont' have a mac (nor have I ever), but I would jump on a macbook with a blu-ray drive. One of my wife's biggest grievances (actually the only one other than they cost $10 more than DVDs) is that she can't watch them on her laptop.

If Apple releases a macbook and I can build it out with blu-ray for less than $2000, I'll jump. Otherwise, Sony has a nice option for read/write blu-rays for about $1700.

[adonischarming]

Since April of 07 I've waited for October to come around because I thought with the new OS that Blu-ray would maybe come with the New Macbook Pro. Ofcourse that wasn't the case...

I am holding out as probably many others are for a new Macbook pro with BD-R BD-RE.

Who knows how much longer I'll be holding my breath....

From the other threads.... awhile; however with this merger who can tell?

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by gavomatic57

If a mac came with a blu-ray drive, customers will expect to be able to play blu-ray movies....

If the HDCP flag has been turned on, OSX can't handle it. You'll end up watching an expensive standard def movie on an over-priced computer. Only Vista (at the moment) can handle a protected video path.

umm.. I don't know where you get your info, but I highly doubt that MAC OS will not allow someone to play a BD. Perhaps an upgrade is all that is needed, and those are given out all the time, or perhaps there is a lack of support in software, which will also come.
If Apple were to announce a BD drive, it WOULD be able to play movies, they would NOT short change users like that.

[Jim L]

Once the iMac lineup offers an internal BD drive, I'm getting the 24" model.

If none this month, would the next opportunity be fall?

We'll see.

[bilbravo]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

umm.. I don't know where you get your info, but I highly doubt that MAC OS will not allow someone to play a BD. Perhaps an upgrade is all that is needed, and those are given out all the time, or perhaps there is a lack of support in software, which will also come.
If Apple were to announce a BD drive, it WOULD be able to play movies, they would NOT short change users like that.

I think that right now the Mac OS does not have the required HDCP/DRM requirements. Vista is obviously DRMed up, so it will work (and does). I don't think this guy is saying the Mac can't play them, just that it wouldn't play full resolution until that HDCP compliance is met. And as you said, that can probably be done with an update.

[RAMPCHECK]

Mac OS X can support full rez blu-ray play back. It does require a very minor software update but the frameworks are for the most part, there.

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

umm.. I don't know where you get your info, but I highly doubt that MAC OS will not allow someone to play a BD. Perhaps an upgrade is all that is needed, and those are given out all the time, or perhaps there is a lack of support in software, which will also come.
If Apple were to announce a BD drive, it WOULD be able to play movies, they would NOT short change users like that.

agreed. I would actually be surprised if authoring was not introduced at the same time. apple will not include a feature only to say they have it. they will wait until its perfected and practical, or "just works"

Originally Posted by RAMPCHECK

Mac OS X can support full rez blu-ray play back. It does require a very minor software update but the frameworks are for the most part, there.

good to know

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by monkeytap

Yes, I saw they announced the new mac pros without blu ray

BUT.... assuming they are announcing blu ray support soon....THIS IS NOT that surprising for the following reasons:

1) MacWorld is typically reserved for consumer electronics (mac pro announcement does not work)

2) with a whole slew of rumored/expected announcments next week, a measely speed bump in the mac pros is not keynote worthy, no matter how big the bump is. blu-ray support itself is also not keynote worthy, seeing it will probably be a BTO and geared more towards PRO consumers (point #1)

this brings me to my next point....

3) read this post I made earlier this month in another thread. I believe this event is where blu-ray support could be announced.

the facts: <> Apple will present a product it has yet to announce at a Final Cut Pro user group event just a day after the Macworld keynote.

<>The January 16th gathering, which follows a day after Apple chief Steve Jobs' Macworld keynote, will feature "something super secret" from the Mac maker, according to the announcement.

<>Historically, Apple has at times used professional audiovisual industry gatherings to discuss its high-end computers, including the MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, and Xserve.

<>Despite the nature of the group, the Apple unveiling is unlikely to include an update to the Final Cut Studio video production suite, which was updated in April and has rarely been updated during the San Francisco show in the past.


to me, this definitely seems like it could be blu-ray support/authoring...and if it is true, I am proud to say I called it first


edit: i kinda got carried away on the whole prediction thing, and forgot a part to my speculation:

4) the architechture in the new mac pros is neccessarry for blu ray support and they didn't want to draw attention away from blu-ray and other products by also being forced to announce new mac pros.

so, another realization to add to my list of why IT IS NOT surprising blu-rays were not introduced with the new mac pros:

<>a system software update would be neccesary for the blu-ray capabilites we speak of....they won't do the system software update until macworld AFTER the other new products referenced within the code are officially released.

[monkeytap]

peep this yo


Qoute from article:
AppleInsider has heard, but not yet confirmed, that the Cupertino-based company is actively courting Sony to obtain Blu-ray drives for its MacBook Pro line.

According to one tipster, Apple had hoped to offer a Blu-ray option alongside its just-released Penryn-based MacBook Pros, but Sony has faced some quality issues pertaining to the slot-loading mechanism and laser in the SuperDrives. Apple was reportedly offered Blu-ray Combo drives in the meantime, which it turned down.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by monkeytap

peep this yo


Qoute from article:
AppleInsider has heard, but not yet confirmed, that the Cupertino-based company is actively courting Sony to obtain Blu-ray drives for its MacBook Pro line.

According to one tipster, Apple had hoped to offer a Blu-ray option alongside its just-released Penryn-based MacBook Pros, but Sony has faced some quality issues pertaining to the slot-loading mechanism and laser in the SuperDrives. Apple was reportedly offered Blu-ray Combo drives in the meantime, which it turned down.

If this is true im a happy man.

[monkeytap]

Originally Posted by Aygie

If this is true im a happy man.

it also confirms the theory I, and several others, proposed that apple was just waiting for the war to settle so consumer adoption was eminent. also superdrive capability was a must.

im laughing at all those guys who were claiming apple is anti-blu-ray since it wasn't the main focus @ the MacWorld Keynote