Mac Pro in-store pickup inventory slips ahead of WWDC
Apple's aging tower computer is seeing a drought of in-store availability with many stores quoting new stock shipments on June 12, which could mean that a refresh of the long-in-the-tooth PC is imminent and may be announced at WWDC next week.
An inventory check of Apple's online store reveals that many locations across the U.S. don't even have the basic Quad-Core Mac Pro model available for in-store pickup let alone pricier 12-core models, meaning that the computer is either sold out across the board or the company is holding stock for as yet unannounced refresh.
The pushing back of availability, first discovered by MacRumors, adds fuel to a bonfire of rumors that say the tower will be receiving a long-overdue refresh at Apple's WWDC next week. Even flagship stores that regularly boast large on-hand inventories like Grand Central Station are supposedly out of stock of all Mac Pro models. The same location will have the Server version of the tower in stock by June 9 while all others will be ready for pickup on June 12.
It should be noted that while the majority of brick-and-mortar Apple Stores are quoting mid-June availability, a small number of outlets do have units in stock.
Apple retail stores from California to New York are reporting pick-up dates of June 12, which happens to be one day after WWDC kicks off with a keynote from CEO Tim Cook.
It was recently reported that a Facebook petition was created calling for information as to why the Mac Pro line hasn't seen an update for nearly two years. The page currently has over 17,500 likes. Further commentary from Jim Dalrymple of The Loop claims that there's no chance Apple will axe the venerable machine media professionals have relied on for years. Once the undisputed king of the Mac lineup and test bed for cutting edge technology, the Mac Pro has fallen to the wayside recently as the company refocused its attention to the popular all-in-one iMac. Whereas the iMac and even the Mac mini have Thunderbolt connectivity, the Mac Pro has yet to enjoy that feature out of the box.
If the Mac Pro is indeed refreshed, it remains unclear whether the update will include a case redesign or merely be a chance for Apple to upgrade the PC's internal components which haven't changed significantly since 2010. The last Mac Pro design revision was seen in 2006 when Apple switched from IBM's G5 processors to Intel's multi-core Xeon silicon, though the changes made were mostly internal and the machine carried over the aluminum case first used in the PowerMac G5.
An inventory check of Apple's online store reveals that many locations across the U.S. don't even have the basic Quad-Core Mac Pro model available for in-store pickup let alone pricier 12-core models, meaning that the computer is either sold out across the board or the company is holding stock for as yet unannounced refresh.
The pushing back of availability, first discovered by MacRumors, adds fuel to a bonfire of rumors that say the tower will be receiving a long-overdue refresh at Apple's WWDC next week. Even flagship stores that regularly boast large on-hand inventories like Grand Central Station are supposedly out of stock of all Mac Pro models. The same location will have the Server version of the tower in stock by June 9 while all others will be ready for pickup on June 12.
It should be noted that while the majority of brick-and-mortar Apple Stores are quoting mid-June availability, a small number of outlets do have units in stock.
Apple retail stores from California to New York are reporting pick-up dates of June 12, which happens to be one day after WWDC kicks off with a keynote from CEO Tim Cook.
It was recently reported that a Facebook petition was created calling for information as to why the Mac Pro line hasn't seen an update for nearly two years. The page currently has over 17,500 likes. Further commentary from Jim Dalrymple of The Loop claims that there's no chance Apple will axe the venerable machine media professionals have relied on for years. Once the undisputed king of the Mac lineup and test bed for cutting edge technology, the Mac Pro has fallen to the wayside recently as the company refocused its attention to the popular all-in-one iMac. Whereas the iMac and even the Mac mini have Thunderbolt connectivity, the Mac Pro has yet to enjoy that feature out of the box.
If the Mac Pro is indeed refreshed, it remains unclear whether the update will include a case redesign or merely be a chance for Apple to upgrade the PC's internal components which haven't changed significantly since 2010. The last Mac Pro design revision was seen in 2006 when Apple switched from IBM's G5 processors to Intel's multi-core Xeon silicon, though the changes made were mostly internal and the machine carried over the aluminum case first used in the PowerMac G5.
Comments
9to5 says a new case. "Experimenting with a rackable design" and such.
Who's to say.
This still doesn't mean the model is being refreshed. Apple could be removing in store stock as they shift to a online only order process ahead of announcing the EOL date. Similar to what happened with the Xserve.
But that's just me being Mr. Negative pants.
I don't follow the CPU specs near as much as I used to, but I keep reading of some Xeon E5 chips that are supposedly much better than the ones in the Pros now (mine is a 6 core "Westmere" chip). The question I have is whether or not the line is refreshed, is there any way one could do a CPU swap with a current machine? Or am I indulging in whimsical fantasy?
possibilties
1. Apple is killing the Mac Pro and this is just the result of them not restocking.
2. Apple is revamping the Mac Pro and this is just them result of them not restocking the old model cause it would piss off their business customers if someone bought a Pro now and in a week or even a month there's a new one. THey would demand to exchange it and strongly so Apple's trying to force everyone into holding off a bit longer
3. Apple has decide that stocking the Mac Pro in stocks is basically a waste of space due to lack of high sales and the pro will be an online only item. As is
4. Same as #3 but with some kind of change although it might be just a processor bump etc and not a total redesign of the case and such as well
They are going to discontinue them just like they did the iPod Classic last year at WWDC. Hurry up and buy one!!!!
http://************/2012/06/05/after-nearly-two-years-without-an-update-apple-to-finally-revamp-mac-pro-next-week/
kids, it's confirmed.
the baddest boys are back
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
kids, it's confirmed.
Not by a long shot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
9to5 says a new case. "Experimenting with a rackable design" and such.
Who's to say.
That would make more sense than anything at this point. Most pros use the iMac and get along just fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Not by a long shot.
what is the problem with the link i posted?
http://************/2012/06/05/after-nearly-two-years-without-an-update-apple-to-finally-revamp-mac-pro-next-week/
it looks nice now..
*again it changed! dafuq..
anyway they already have the model numbers, etc, so it is confirmed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
what is the problem with the link i posted?
Huddler censors links to 9to5Mac.
Quote:
anyway they already have the model numbers, etc, so it is confirmed.
No, nothing is confirmed. They have nothing.
DC112LL/A
There. Model number. That must mean a new Newton is coming.
Looking good for a refresh soon (yey!). Would like to replace my current MacPro 1,1.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
possibilties
1. Apple is killing the Mac Pro and this is just the result of them not restocking.
2. Apple is revamping the Mac Pro and this is just them result of them not restocking the old model cause it would piss off their business customers if someone bought a Pro now and in a week or even a month there's a new one. THey would demand to exchange it and strongly so Apple's trying to force everyone into holding off a bit longer
3. Apple has decide that stocking the Mac Pro in stocks is basically a waste of space due to lack of high sales and the pro will be an online only item. As is
4. Same as #3 but with some kind of change although it might be just a processor bump etc and not a total redesign of the case and such as well
Since most stores list in-store availability the day after the start of WWDC, the evidence is strongly for 2.
I have to believe that there will be some really fresh technology in theses machines. Possibly hardware from AMD or Intel we haven't seen yet. Maybe a little bit of Apples stuff thrown in there.
The reality is this, if they spent over two years to put generic hardware into the Pro it is going to look pretty ridiculous. Wrapping a box around standard chips is not and should not be a big deal for Apple, thus the delay implies to me that the next Pro will not be a box filled with generic Intel parts. The how's and what's are hard to define, but we have to look at how Apple would go about supporting it's core technologies. Next week will be very interesting to say the least.
I'm wondering if the Mini is on the chopping block with a low end variant of the Pro scheduled to replace it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard69
For something that has been more than two years in development it better be impressive!!!
Can't imagine it will be any different from the other Mac Pro models that took 500+ days to update.
Quote:
I have to believe that there will be some really fresh technology in theses machines. Possibly hardware from AMD or Intel we haven't seen yet. Maybe a little bit of Apples stuff thrown in there.
Why do you have to believe that? AMD? Apple?
Quote:
I'm wondering if the Mini is on the chopping block with a low end variant of the Pro scheduled to replace it?
That's crazy. Completely different machines for completely different users.
MD770LL/A – K5BPLUS,BETTER, BTR-USA
MD771LL/A – K5BPLUS,BEST,BTR-USA
MD772LL/A – K5BPLUS,ULTIMATE,BTR-USA
Anyone care to speculate on the configurations?
We yeah, anybody with a set of ping pong balls can come up with random model numbers. My bones have been talking to me and beyond telling me I'm getting old, they have been saying a new Mac Pro is coming. By new I mean completely redone and as far from a bump as you can get.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard69
Why would any forum do this. I doubt their is a rational explanation. Let's face it 9to5 is far from a porn site or anything political. They do have a terrible approach to forums / user commenting nut that is their lost.
We believe it's because 9to5Mac is owned by a firm that competes with the one that owns AppleInsider.
Quote:
By new I mean completely redone and as far from a bump as you can get.
Me, I want a brand new case, brand new design, brand new idea, baked-in distributed computer, Thunderbolt out the wazoo.
I just don't think it's going to happen, is all. Apple's not in the business of wowing.
Put an AMD Trinty into a base machine to serve the Mini market and leave the performance market to Intel hardware. Easily done. This gives users completely different machines even if they are in the same box with similar I/O. One shouldn't underestimate just how well AMDs fusion chips work when stacked against Intels choices.
Let's face sit the Mini has been in a downward spiral for some time. Sales are lagging and the hardware configuration really sucks for this decade. For a couple of days now there has been no association of a Mini refresh with WWDC. Apple could easily cover the Mins Market share with a smartly configured low end Mac Pro.
One word to keep in mind: stagnet! The entire desktop line up has been around to long, major refreshes are in order.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wizard69
AMD GPUs! Say what you will about drivers and the like the fact is AMD still outperforms anything NVidia has for OpenCL processing. They also remain very competiveness as a GPU when matched against NVIdias latest. They do all of that using less power (Watts).
Oh, of course! I consider that a given. I thought you meant CPUs.
Quote:
The entire desktop line up has been around to long, major refreshes are in order.
Mac Mini just got a case change, iMac has no reason for one, and the Mac Pro isn't something about which anyone should get their hopes up. Fantasize, sure, but don't assume.
Honestly I think you will get more of that then you are expecting. As stated elsewhere if another spin of standard Intel chips was the goal that could have happened last year. I just believe more is going on with the Mac Pro or whatever replaces it then is being acknowledged in general in this thread.
Maybe that is wishful thinking on my part. The thing is Apple needs to do something to stimulate its non iMac desktop lines. Bumps for the last two years have been less than impressive and have been nothing but responses to new chips from Imtel. Apple really does need to get bold and wow people as you say. The whole industry though is stuck in a trench, Apple is just about the oly company that can really innovate on the desktop. Further they are the only company right now that looks to the future.