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This isn't a snide remark. It's a genuine question …. Who will buy these?

I work in ArchiCAD a 3d Architectural modeling and drafting system. The base Mac Pro will probably be way more than what my software requires for at least 3 years. It is so powerful I would be surprised if it didn't last 5 years before I start wanting a faster option.

On top of that external expandability works fine for me. I can throw a 960gb ssd in a usb 3 enclosure for under $600 and get near Sata II speeds. Though I would just use what I have now for external storage.

Do we know for certain that these Graphics cards won't be upgradeable? Apple added a plethora of non-apple graphics drivers in Lion.

You are right about staying in the mac eco system though. The cost to get a comparable windows machine as well as replacing software and readjusting to windows would end up costing more.

Anecdotally I was working with an Architect who viewed PC's as a throw away commodity. Once one failed and he'd just through down a couple of hundred on a new machine. He figured on a new machine every 1 to 2 years. My 2008 Mac pro blew his brand new 2012 PC out of the water. Even though it had seemingly better specs including more ram and larger video card. To get a quality comparable PC that would last would cost so much that he, "...might as well buy a Mac" He never will though because of the hidden cost of changing over.
 
Reading these comments has provided some humor as I sit looking at my 2008 iMac chugging along, processing 4500 RAW images into a time-lapse video.

On top of that, I still need to process photographs from a recent shoot, then it's time to edit the 4k video on this creeping iMac.

For me, the Mac Pro will be a welcome breath of fresh air. I figured I was going to be upgrading to the mac pro back in July, but decided to hold off and get the Black Pro. Sure, it's a lot of money, but for the next three to five years, I'll be utilizing the speeds to get the jobs out faster and more efficient.

The only downside that I can see is that I'll no long have these three hour windows of down time as my computer renders these huge files.
 
I think a huge distinction between this new Pro is that it will sell to both Pros and the much larger group of Prosumers. The neglect that they have given the old MacPro is intolerable. With so many more potential users, they will be able keep this product current with new releases unlike the last platform. These will be less upgradeable, but with everything external and good resale value, the ability to buy new and sell the old one may not be anymore cost prohibitive than expensive upgrade cards anyway, especially considering all of the updates you will get.

Apple has been miniaturizing their computers and making them more proprietary since its inception. This really shouldn't come as too big a surprise. I think the idea of bringing mobility to a workstation was inevitable. There will always be people that prefer vinyl to iPods. Pros that need to bring their Pro on-location, will be able to decide what mission-critical peripherals they need to bring as well. For those pros, this will be a highly appreciated.

Either Apple or more likely third parties will be developing a TB2 expansion chassis. Apple sells the most of products that people bitch about the most. I believe they will sell many more of these than the old behemoth MacPros. Certainly it will not work out for all users, but Apple wants volume, and a smaller faster cheaper MacPro will achieve that. While Pro purists may for now prefer the old design, they will benefit from the many Prosumers that purchase the product, thus encouraging Apple to keep the product current.
 
I really hope it does sell well, it is an amazing machine and it has a lot to offer to pros and spec hunters. I also like the fact that it is build in the US, even though I live in Europe. It is good to see that a company invests some money at home
It would be great if the professional users can be encouraged to stick with a Mac, despite the fact that S.J. had no interest, or very little, in that market. I believe, that it is there where the Cook and Ive combination shines. I think they want that market back, and it would be good to see Apple mixing the market up a bit.
For my demands, this computer would be overkill, but one can dream, eh?
 
Typography

I'd be very surprised if that was actually a note from Apple, apart from the wording the typography is awful.
 
It's kinda like how you never see a black 2011 Honda Pilot until one of your neighbors get one, then all of a sudden you see them everywhere.

That's because, at the very moment you lay eyes on it, everyone starts copying what your neighbor did and all go out at once to buy that same car.

Now I have to go out and get a 2011 black Honda Pilot...
 
So simple, that it was never done before...

And? It also wasn't put in a triangle before, but that wouldn't make the computer "amazing" if it was. Or a trapezoid. Or a cone. Or any other geometric shape that you might stuff a computer into. Is the wedge shape what makes a MBA amazing to you?
 
Oh please, Apple. If this were the new headless mac and not the Mac Pro (without the workstation graphics of course), then yes, it'd be great. As it is, give it a rest. This is a joke.

This isn't a run of the mill desktop CPU.

They're also not much different. They support more than one socket, which is the main reason they matter in this case.... too bad apple couldn't include a non-xeon version for single-socket Mac Pros.. could drop the price quite a bit and allow for faster single-cpu versions of their MP..
 
The quad version doesn't have impressive CPU performance but the six core and up versions handily beat the fastest i7 Apple is using. Also the quad, six, and eight core xeons in these are ones that only support single socket similar to the i7 along with lower prices than the 26xx series.
 
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