Slashdot Mirror
Apple To Discontinue Mac Pro In EU Over Safety Regulations
jones_supa writes "Apple has been forced to remove the Mac Pro from sale in the European Union after an amendment to a safety regulation left the machines non-compliant. The updated electronics safety standard IEC 60950-1 increases requirements around electrical port protection (PDF) and the fan guards in the system. Apple does not plan to modify their machines and will simply pull them from market in the EU. Apple wishes to warn customers and partners about the change so that they would have sufficient time to order Mac Pro units and meet any needs prior to 1 March, when the amendment comes into effect."
There's really no point to building all purpose computers except for programmers. There's just no money in building general purpose computers.
RS
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
No. I don't. I've owned a MacPro for years and neither myself nor any of my family have ever been maimed by it. Ah, Europe... the nanny continent.
There you have it - someone on slashdot actually saying Linux adherents are stupid.
So if I understand the reg. in question, hardware with an internal fan (like a Mac Pro) that is only accessible if you pull the housing must have an internal fan guard? WTF? This makes no sense. For that matter that thing about minimum and max cord length is pretty wacked. Is there really a computer, or transistor radio, manufacturer out there who wanted to deliver 7-meter power cords?
The EU has some of THE most bone-headed and patently unrealistic "Directives" on the planet. It is, in many ways, "Government run amok."
A few years ago, they basically turned the entire electronics industry on its ear, by banning lead-based solder (along with a bunch of other substances that make electronics much more reliable) with their so-called "RoHS" directives. THE ENTIRE PLANET HAD TO SHIFT GEARS TO SUIT THEM. Why? When was the last time you saw someone EAT a circuit board? I know that sounds silly; but it is pretty much on-par with requiring fan guards on INTERNAL fans. At some point, governments (world-wide) have to understand that not everything, nor everyone, needs "protected", just because one stupid person went to the E.R. because they stuck their hand in a moving fan.
And a 22 foot long power cord?!? Holy shit! That won't fit in the BOX with most consumer electronics gear. And what about the TRIP HAZARD that causes? Oh, I know: Pass a law to require a wire-loom device with each device. Yeah, that's the ticket!
FFS, people! STAND UP TO YOUR GOVERNMENT!!! Don't bitch at Apple.
Why would they be silent? Nothing else Dyson makes is.
We already have quiet fans with high-tech blades and fluid or maglev bearings, and we also have liquid cooling. So we already have quiet to silent cooling. There's also the option to have devices which consume so little power that they can run without active cooling.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Don't you need a Mac to program for iOS?
You do, but you can do it on a mini, or if that goes away, on an imac.
I don't think Apple laptops are going anywhere. They might add touch to them though. It would help them keep up with the PC, which is finally heading that direction. To the haters, there's no reason not to have touch, as long as you don't deprecate the touchpad. Of course, Apple has already demonstrated their disregard for touchpad users by reversing the scrolling direction in an update without prior notice... At least they actually gave you a config option for that.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Seriously? iHate much? Apple has already announced that they are coming out with a new Mac Pro soon. Why spend all the time/money/resources to retool and update the current Mac Pro, when they have the new one ready to go pretty soon?
If you really need one, buy it now. Else, wait for the new one.
Is that really a difficult concept around here?