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According to the product page, it sure doesn't look like those are standard GPUs, as well as it looks like they go from dual socket Xeons to single socket, mounted centrally so the entire system would need to be disassembled to replace the CPU, if it is even replaceable.
From the imagery posted on Apple's website, it looks like a Mac Mini++.
Apple: Mac Pro

it looks like a joke. seriously.
nothing pro about it.

anyhow.. still waiting on the buyable tb outside of the box practical gpu's. maybe intel promised them that their next gen integrated gpu would "kick ass". they make that promise every year though.

Looking at the site - this thing is modular as all hell. Looks like a backplane at the bottom that everything plugs into... upgrade bits and pieces as required or tech progresses. It's kind of a bold thing to do.

They're also banking on PCIe3 being overkill for (current) workstation applications... TB2 being plenty for most use cases. Speaking of cases, expect lots and lots of cylindrical PCI expansion chassis and RAID arrays from third party soon. The old Unix workstation days are back, baby! Daisy-Chain 4 Lyfe! This actually makes sense, as few videographers will want to pop open the case on their editing workstation to add more storage, and special PCI card applications would probably be more at home in its own case with a robust power supply and cooling, anyhow. Sharing a small metal box with a pair of GPUs, high end CPU and some seriously serious RAM can be a little heated.

On the other hand, the gigabit ethernet is unforgivable. It really needs to be dual 10Gbase-T ports in this day and age.

If Apple's (rather painfully self-satisfied) slideshow thing is anything to go by, there isn't a single standardized part in the entire computer, with the exception of the RAM, and possibly the CPU, depending on whether they went socketed or BGA.

The two GPU cards are probably PCIe electrically; but the shape certainly isn't compatible, the CPU card is its own animal(one that packs a whole four RAM slots, that's Serious Workstation material right there...), and PCIe-attached SSDs in the mini-PCIe form factor are relatively odd ducks(most that are that size and shape are mSATA, and PCIe direct-attached cards are usually rectangular PCIe 8x cards.

According to the product page, it sure doesn't look like those are standard GPUs, as well as it looks like they go from dual socket Xeons to single socket, mounted centrally so the entire system would need to be disassembled to replace the CPU, if it is even replaceable.

From the imagery posted on Apple's website, it looks like a Mac Mini++.
Apple: Mac Pro

* I have to sign up for iTunes to keep my computer updated!? * I HAVE TO GIVE ITUNES MY CC# TO KEEP MY COMPUTER UPDATED!? * I have to restart my computer to keep it updated? I thought this was Unix?

As of Lion, you sign in with an Apple ID. That is not iTunes, but iTunes also uses this ID. You do not need a credit card number to update your OS. That is only required for purchases in the App Store. If the update involves a kernel, kernel extension, Aqua/Quartz or other core component modification then yes, you will need to reboot. You probably have to reboot for updates more often than in a modern Unix due to the GUI integration, but generally less so than in Windows.

Keyboard (external mac? keyboard) * Why is the keyboard all fucked up? Two keys labeled delete? Is there some aversion to calling a backspace key a backspace key? * Where the fuck did insert go!? You know some people actually use insert! * For that matter where is num lock and scroll lock? Again, I use those keys! * Why redesign the num pad into a Apple(TM) num pad and move all the keys around? * The behavior of the home and end key is stupid! They jump to the end and beginging of the document instead of the end and begining of the line! What gives them the right?! * They remove essential keys like insert but I have F1-F19!? And an eject key on a system that doesn't even have an optical drive? (not that they knew that about my system, so a small pass there.) * Seriously? No Alt key? WTF, I thought this was UNIX! How the fuck am I supposed to use EMACS!?

It sounds like you are using the mini bluetooth wireless keyboard. You would probably prefer the full-size keyboard which has many of the keys you are concerned about. The behavior of the home and end keys is the way they have historically always worked in computing. It was Microsoft that changed the behavior in Windows and got people used to the different behavior. It was also Microsoft that changed the behavior of the Control key from its original usage of sending actual control codes. Apple retains the original behavior and introduced the Command key which works like the Microsoft Control Key. To move to the Beginning / End of a line, use Command+Left or Right Arrow. As for Alt, this is actually more correctly referred to as the Meta key. The Option key on the Apple keyboard provides this functionality, and it's is conveniently in the exact same location as the Alt key on PC keyboards. Of course, if you hate the Apple keyboard so much, there's nothing stopping you from using any USB or Bluetooth keyboard with the Mac, they're all supported and OS X understands how to map PC-specific keys to their OS X equivalents.

OSX Windows * WIndows present resize mouse cursors on some windows edges that cannot be resized! Inexcusable! I should be able to resize the window from any edge. And for god sakes, if I can't resize it from that edge don't show me a fucking resize cursor and make me think I'm losing my mind.

As of Mountain Lion you can resize any resizable windows from any corner. If you're getting a resize cursor than you should be able to resize it. I'm not sure why you're having this experience but if you are indeed experiencing a bug related to this it might be worth bringing up to Apple Support so that they can be made aware of it.

* What the hell is up with this full screen arrow. Useless shit. It removes all the windows from my other screens and throws up a lame gray background. Lame.

When you full screen an application, a virtual desktop for that application window is created on the fly. Your other windows are still there on their original desktop. You can still Opt-Tab back to them or use Mission Control/Expose. I don't understand

* I have to sign up for iTunes to keep my computer updated!? * I HAVE TO GIVE ITUNES MY CC# TO KEEP MY COMPUTER UPDATED!? * I have to restart my computer to keep it updated? I thought this was Unix?

As of Lion, you sign in with an Apple ID. That is not iTunes, but iTunes also uses this ID. You do not need a credit card number to update your OS. That is only required for purchases in the App Store. If the update involves a kernel, kernel extension, Aqua/Quartz or other core component modification then yes, you will need to reboot. You probably have to reboot for updates more often than in a modern Unix due to the GUI integration, but generally less so than in Windows.

Keyboard (external mac? keyboard) * Why is the keyboard all fucked up? Two keys labeled delete? Is there some aversion to calling a backspace key a backspace key? * Where the fuck did insert go!? You know some people actually use insert! * For that matter where is num lock and scroll lock? Again, I use those keys! * Why redesign the num pad into a Apple(TM) num pad and move all the keys around? * The behavior of the home and end key is stupid! They jump to the end and beginging of the document instead of the end and begining of the line! What gives them the right?! * They remove essential keys like insert but I have F1-F19!? And an eject key on a system that doesn't even have an optical drive? (not that they knew that about my system, so a small pass there.) * Seriously? No Alt key? WTF, I thought this was UNIX! How the fuck am I supposed to use EMACS!?

It sounds like you are using the mini bluetooth wireless keyboard. You would probably prefer the full-size keyboard which has many of the keys you are concerned about. The behavior of the home and end keys is the way they have historically always worked in computing. It was Microsoft that changed the behavior in Windows and got people used to the different behavior. It was also Microsoft that changed the behavior of the Control key from its original usage of sending actual control codes. Apple retains the original behavior and introduced the Command key which works like the Microsoft Control Key. To move to the Beginning / End of a line, use Command+Left or Right Arrow. As for Alt, this is actually more correctly referred to as the Meta key. The Option key on the Apple keyboard provides this functionality, and it's is conveniently in the exact same location as the Alt key on PC keyboards. Of course, if you hate the Apple keyboard so much, there's nothing stopping you from using any USB or Bluetooth keyboard with the Mac, they're all supported and OS X understands how to map PC-specific keys to their OS X equivalents.

OSX Windows * WIndows present resize mouse cursors on some windows edges that cannot be resized! Inexcusable! I should be able to resize the window from any edge. And for god sakes, if I can't resize it from that edge don't show me a fucking resize cursor and make me think I'm losing my mind.

As of Mountain Lion you can resize any resizable windows from any corner. If you're getting a resize cursor than you should be able to resize it. I'm not sure why you're having this experience but if you are indeed experiencing a bug related to this it might be worth bringing up to Apple Support so that they can be made aware of it.

* What the hell is up with this full screen arrow. Useless shit. It removes all the windows from my other screens and throws up a lame gray background. Lame.

When you full screen an application, a virtual desktop for that application window is created on the fly. Your other windows are still there on their original desktop. You can still Opt-Tab back to them or use Mission Control/Expose. I don't understand

Apple couldn't make money off the iPhones if people were able to install just anything from anywhere, without the App Store taking a cut.

Apple makes as much or more revenue off iPhone hardware sales ($22B) alone than all of MS according to their quarterly financials. While Apple makes money off of apps and content ($4B before they take their cut), it not as much as what they make on iOS hardware ($30B).

I know for sure Google, Fedora and Microsoft (I know... but it has perks for the club) have ambassador programs and will provide funding and raffle prizes that can be used for fundraising to keep the club going.

It may be my lack of Google skills, but I can't find any evidence of a Red Hat corporate presence in Ghana. (and both surprised and slightly disappointed to find very few pictures of Ghaneans wearing fedoras instead but I digress...)

I will bite on this.

Something I found in the past is, if there is no presence where you live, contact the company and create the presence there. They will often work with you for loads of promotion that will cost them almost nothing.

Ambassador Programs
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors
http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/students/proscho/programs/uscanada/ambassador/ (find your region)
http://www.microsoft.com/de-ch/students/en/getInTouch/MicrosoftOnCampus/Ambassadors/default.aspx#fbid=6Weg8o4CBmr
http://www.apple.com/education/campusreps/

Don't forget to contact other major distros and see if they have anything similar or would donate some shirts, dvds, usbs, keychains or ANYTHING to your group to help promote Linux.

Sign your team up for Dreamspark and get Microsoft OSs running as VMs on top of linux so you can know about the issues involved with running MS services in VMs. They also have something like "Microsoft Services for Unix." It's always good to know your "enemy."

There is actually a 17" MBP with the hi-res 1920x1200 display in the Apple refurb store right now link.

The WWDC is only 9 days away.

Just to let you know the IPod Touch being discussed here is the 6th gen, dumbdown version. The 5th gen is much different than you described http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipod/family/ipod_touch .

It doesn't.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/tv-season/game-of-thrones-season-1/id441216387
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/call-me-maybe-single/id465744617

Know how I found those? I used bing and searched for "itunes call me maybe" and "itunes game of thrones". I imagine google could do the same.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/tv-season/game-of-thrones-season-1/id441216387
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/call-me-maybe-single/id465744617

Know how I found those? I used bing and searched for "itunes call me maybe" and "itunes game of thrones". I imagine google could do the same.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/carly-rae-jepsen/id284363062 Granted, this is iTunes so you'll never get an HTTP download, but if you're OK with buying something on iTunes it's probably a safe bet that you have it installed.

In the Apple case, a simple checkbox burried in an advanced settings area that enabled other software sources would work fine.

What kind of software do you use that is as easy as checkbox? If we just look at Linux, there is the push to hide more things from users not the other way around as more people use it. That's why people dislike Ubuntu and power developers use Arch Linux.

They could even treat them like apt sources - others could dsitribute their public signing keys in the apple store, and you'd have to enable that option to see those packages, and could then enable other stores. Anything installed from other stores would be unsupported.

And how many support cases would they get saying: "Well you let me install from another site other than the Apple store, what do you mean you don't support your product?" Try explaining to an end user the difference.

Apple didn't do the walled garden to make it easy for users or support; they did it for control, money, power, etc.

You can believe whatever you want about Apple's intentions: As for money, they for the last quarter, Apple made $4.1B from iTunes media, books, and apps combined. That's before the cut so Apple only pocketed $1.2B in revenue before they had to pay for all infrastructure costs associated with that revenue. They sold $31B worth of iPad, iPhone, iPod hardware. They are in it for the money but not the money you think.

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

Because there is absolutely no documentation or support for development on Mac from Apple? They sure don't have a whole section of documentation specifically for OpenGL. Or driver development. Apple also doesn't put hundreds of their engineers in a convention center for a week specifically to answer developer questions every year, or stream any of those sessions for free over the Internet. And they definitely don't have a track at that event specifically for graphics and games. Oh, and no one has ever seen the source code for the kernel inside of Mac OS X either.

Besides, do you really think that if Intel called up Apple and said "Hey, we'd really like to bump up the performance of the integrated GPUs that you're buying on your systems by helping you with some driver optimization for OpenGL" that Apple would reply "Go fuck yourself in your own face, we want slow, inefficient drivers!" ??

No it won't and porting from Mac OS X to Linux isn't as easy as you think it is.

Port this to Linux

Or possibly many of the shareholders are smart enough (or can pay someone smart enough) to find their own tax loopholes. The is the real problem as you pointed out. The tax system is too complicated. Making things too complicated allows for loopholes. Also Apple employs more than 50,000 Americans. Mind you those are Apple's numbers, so take them as you will, but I'm sure there's no denying that Apple is a doing a lot of good for the US economy.

Why not link to their answer as well?

http://images.apple.com/pr/pdf/Apple_Testimony_to_PSI.pdf

“Apple does not move its intellectual property into offshore tax havens and use it to sell products back into the US in order to avoid US tax; it does not use revolving loans from foreign subsidiaries to fund its domestic operations; it does not hold money on a Caribbean island; and it does not have a bank account in the Cayman Islands. Apple has substantial foreign cash because it sells the majority of its products outside the US. International operations accounted for 61% of Apple’s revenue last year and two-thirds of its revenue last quarter. These foreign earnings are taxed in the jurisdiction where they are earned (“foreign, post-tax income”).”

So now, they will spend millions and more of tax payer money, to create a special store with iOS applications, presumably a special store with Android applications, while still maintaining all of their Blackberry infrastructure.

Um, what? A Enterprise license will cover this scenario and costs $299/yr. It has been place for years.

Someone please mod this "overrated", but not "troll" or "flamebait". I honestly think he doesn't realize that Apple is tracking and storing his demographic info just like G and MS, when in fact they certainly are. Not making a judgment call or attacking, just pointing out that his post is 100% wrong and I suspect most people are equally misinformed.

See http://advertising.apple.com/brands/ as a starting point.

You are being tracked when you use iOS, unless you opt out.

According to Apple:

"Each ad is shown only to the audience you want to reach, in the apps they love and use the most. Our highly-effective targeting can leverage demographic data, as well as unique interest and preference data that taps into user passions that are relevant for your brand."

That is pretty much the same as Google. Personal data is not given to advertisers, but they can make use of it by asking for ads to be targeted at specific groups. It is a lot better than Facebook that lets advertisers identify users.

about a problem they never bothered to fully investigate and resolve. Guess what, there's a support article on Apple's website which details this exact issue and gives a resolution. http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4123?viewlocale=en_US Next?

You can only download matched media, or purchased media. Anyone who rips a significant portion of their library would require match to do this (pay account), and upload it before they could leverage cloud playback on demand.

As to your CPU issue it appears to be related to winsock.

Close your iTunes,
Go to command Prompt -

(Win 7/Vista) - START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES, right mouse click "Command Prompt", choose "Run as Administrator".

(Win XP SP2 n above) - START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>Command Prompt

In the "Command Prompt" screen, type in

netsh winsock reset

Hit "ENTER" key
Restart your computer.
If you do get a prompt after restart windows to remap LSP, just click NO.

Now launch your iTunes and see if it is working now.

If you are still having these type of problems after trying the winsock reset, refer to this article to identify which software in your system is inserting LSP:

Apple software on Windows: May see performance issues and blank iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4123?viewlocale=en_US

I'm pretty sure that it is real CPU load. It is caused by a conflict with some network filtering software (e.g. antivirus software, content filtering software, etc.). Try updating the relevant software.

It is quite amazing how many problems in Windows apps can be traced back to the anti malware suite.

A similar google service on my MacBook causes the keyboard to stutter every few hours and occasionally disables the camera until I reboot. There's a way to disable it, but I haven't bothered yet. However, the process is incredibly similar to this one for disabling applemobiledeviceservice on Windows.

Mac users don't complain because iTunes on Mac doesn't have this problem, or much of any problem that I've noticed. This is either because Apple doesn't know how or care to code for Windows, or because it's a conspiracy to get iPhone and iTunes users to buy Macs because "Windows is slow." In my opinion, it's probably a mixture. Apple just doesn't have as much incentive to provide a good Windows experience, so they don't bother, knowing that this will probably convert a few suckers to Mac.

Similarly, Google services don't seem to screw up Windows or Linux, and Google's MTP support for Mac (MTP is required for Nexus 4) is ridiculously minimal. It's an analogous situation. Vendors for system X don't care about system Y, news at 11.

The solution seems simple. Sell your iPhone to a Mac user, and buy an Android device. Why would you even buy an iPhone for Windows? I use a Mac and I still won't buy one.

Google employees mostly have Macs now. To use a Windows machine they need to write up a justification and they're rare enough to be envied. I don't think we can think of Windows as the native platform for Google.

However, Google services can cause a lot of problems in Windows, too, depending on what else you have running. As another user stated above, the best platform for either is to install in a VM and generally treat the Apple/Google software as malware.

I'm pretty sure that it is real CPU load. It is caused by a conflict with some network filtering software (e.g. antivirus software, content filtering software, etc.). Try updating the relevant software.

A similar google service on my MacBook causes the keyboard to stutter every few hours and occasionally disables the camera until I reboot. There's a way to disable it, but I haven't bothered yet. However, the process is incredibly similar to this one for disabling applemobiledeviceservice on Windows.

Mac users don't complain because iTunes on Mac doesn't have this problem, or much of any problem that I've noticed. This is either because Apple doesn't know how or care to code for Windows, or because it's a conspiracy to get iPhone and iTunes users to buy Macs because "Windows is slow." In my opinion, it's probably a mixture. Apple just doesn't have as much incentive to provide a good Windows experience, so they don't bother, knowing that this will probably convert a few suckers to Mac.

Similarly, Google services don't seem to screw up Windows or Linux, and Google's MTP support for Mac (MTP is required for Nexus 4) is ridiculously minimal. It's an analogous situation. Vendors for system X don't care about system Y, news at 11.

The solution seems simple. Sell your iPhone to a Mac user, and buy an Android device. Why would you even buy an iPhone for Windows? I use a Mac and I still won't buy one.

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AIDE works on Android.
Mr Lee's C/C++ compiler works on iDevices.

I wouldn't say it's easy to use those devices, but it can be done.

Right here: http://images.apple.com/iphone/business/docs/iOS_Security_Oct12.pdf - grep for the 'keybag' section.

No, the backlog is 4 months. Nobody knows how long actual decryption takes, but the nature of these things is that it will either be minutes or thousands of years with a supercomputer dedicated to the task. Apple claims that it uses AES with a 128 bit key, so if they can unlock it that quickly they MUST have a backdoor to the encryption key.

This is absolute proof that they have your encryption key on file somewhere. Others have already verified that they do indeed use AES 128.

To cover themselves legally Apple will have to evaluate every request that comes in, handle the evidence securely (maintaining the chain of custody) and then handle the potentially sensitive and illegal decrypted data in a way that doesn't expose its staff. It's no wonder there is a backlog.

Are you sure the keys are burned in during manufacturing? When you remote wipe an iPhone, it wipes the key and the contents become inaccessible. If the key itself is hard coded in hardware, that's not exactly possible to do directly.

And if they were hardware keys, Apple could extract those. They can't. See Apple's iOS Security Guide page 15 for reference.

I've been happy with Wickr. No ties to the company, just a happy user. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/wickr-self-destructing-secure/id528962154?mt=8

Application developer qualifications for the iPod touch are less strict than those for consoles but more strict than those for Android. You have to become an adult, move to a supported country, replace your current non-Apple PC with a Mac, and buy a developer license that self-destructs after 365 days, all to run programs you wrote on a iDevice that you own. Android, on the other hand, offers Android Debug Bridge at no additional charge on every device that ships with Google Play Store, and application development is possible not only with Eclipse on the PC you are more likely to already have but also with IDEs that run directly on the device. You have to be an adult in a supported country to get a Google Play Store publisher license, but that doesn't self-destruct, and almost all Android devices sold to the public support installing applications distributed outside Google Play Store.

To develop a peripheral for the iPod touch is even more expensive. Hobbyists are explicitly not welcome.

You mean like this? http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#mlb http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nba http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nhl

You mean like this? http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#mlb http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nba http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nhl

You mean like this? http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#mlb http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nba http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/#nhl

I'm glad for this egotism. I hope MS stays the course and tells the users to fuck right off, and that they're going to get used to Metro whether they like it or not.

I have a few proprietary apps that unfortunately don't run in Linux, and Windows 8 looks like a shit sandwich that I do not want to eat (even if you wrapped it in a VM, like I do w/ Windows 7).

Fortunately, I was able to find a handy workaround (albeit that Linux is now in a VM instead of being the foundation OS, but I'm used to the VM thing by now).

And if you think any of that stuff on the wiki list actually is as good as an Autodesk program [...]

Let me stop you right there and point out that I never said anything of the sort.

Re-read what I said. My very first sentence was, "With the exception of Solidworks, every single one of those is available for Mac". Sure enough, AutoCAD 2011, 2012, and 2013 are all available for the Mac, with 2014 coming soon (you can even buy AutoCAD LT 2013 through the Mac App Store, though you have to go to their site to get the full version). Stop assuming someone is an idiot before you check even the most basic of facts to see if they are right.

Now, I did suggest an alternative would be necessary for Solidworks, and I'll grant that I am ignorant when it comes to viable alternatives for it (it's been over a decade since the last time I had to do CAD work), but I never suggested that AutoCAD should be replaced with a less powerful tool, as you are alleging.

OK, did a quick look, and this is what I think they use:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA500VC/A/logitech-ultrathin-keyboard-cover-for-ipad?fnode=3e

This, because all I really want is an empty place to mount my iPad in the dash where some cars have their nav/climate control/etc. displays. I'd rather throw that expensive and utterly useless crap out and just plug in an iPad. In fact I'd actually buy an iPad if I could do that.

It sounds appealing but I'm not sure you've really thought it through. The interface on an iPad is not designed with driving in mind. Your attention needs to be mostly on the road and the iPad interface is not designed to accommodate that fact. Using an iPad while driving would take a rather significant redesign of the interface. I don't even want to think about all the idiots who would try to email or text on it while driving.

There also are driving conditions (glare, temperature, brightness, vibration, etc) to consider which are different in a car than on your couch. IPads are designed to operate between 0C and 35C (32F and 95F) and cars experience both hotter and colder temperatures than this regularly.

Bonus points if they would work with Apple and add some USB devices such that the iPad could monitor some aspects of the car (speed, fuel level, climate control, etc.)

You can already do this via the OBD-II ports.

Uncompressed? Why?

iPod classic gives you 160GB of storage capacity, good for up to 40,000 songs, ....

[fine print at the bottom of the page]
Song capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding;
http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/features.html

459 minutes of voice data equals 115 songs. 115 songs is 0.2875% of the storage capacity (that "0" is intentional, this is a fraction of a single percent), or about 0.46 marketing gigs. This all at a pretty decent bitrate which people want for music, but is entirely overkill for recording voice data that isn't going to be sold as entertainment.