iMac Pro No Longer Custom Configurable, Available 'While Supplies Last'

[az431]

The first part of your sentence is the key: at the time. If apple refuses to update their products in a timely manner, then they should adjust the price accordingly to current market value.

Based on your absurd rule, computer, cars, tablets, phones, and pretty much anything that improves over time, would have a constantly decreasing price from the day they are released, based on Manzanito-approved depreciation schedule, to account for the fact that technology is constantly evolving.

To say that's ridiculous on its face is an understatement.

 

[opeter]

Apple is not "obsoleting existing hardware." Non-M Macs will continue to function, and future versions of MacOS will continue to support them.

Yes, the hardware will work, until it dies. But how long it will be supported by Apple? Well... PPC was supported for about 3 to 4 years with new (mac) OSX releases after the change was announced (2005).

MacOS X 10.6 didn't have support for PPC Macs anymore (2009). And was also the last system, that could run PPC code (Rosetta 1).

But it is true, that in that time, you had to buy the new version of the operating system, and it wasn't a yearly release.

 

[az431]

This is how Apple treats Pro desktops: Make sure it costs astronomically more than your already astronomically expensive computers. Then just let it sit for 5+ years without ever updating or upgrading it, leading to the ironic situation in which new low end laptops are now more powerful. Then discontinue it and never talk about it again. Looking at the Trash Can Mac Pro, the current Mac Pro, the iMac Pro...

Yeah you are flat out lying.

The current iMac Pro is the fastest all-in-one machine, with the higher builds from 4 years ago being faster than the current entry level Mac Pro for 2/3 the price.

And low end laptops are not more powerful than a trash can Mac Pro.

Seriously, educate yourself, then form an opinion. In that order.

 

[jetjaguar]

I look forward its and the mac pros replacement probably some time next year

 

[az431]

Yes, the hardware will work, until it dies. But how long it will be supported by Apple? Well... PPC was supported for about 3 to 4 years with new (mac) OSX releases after the change was announced (2005).

MacOS X 10.6 didn't have support for PPC Macs anymore (2009). And was also the last system, that could run PPC code (Rosetta 1).

But it is true, that in that time, you had to buy the new version of the operating system, and it wasn't a yearly release.

What does "dies" mean? If you mean the hardware physically breaks, the yes there is a limit to how long any product is supported by a manufacturer. That includes all PCs, cars, etc, regardless who makes them.

Moreover, it is not necessary to use a new version of MacOS to continue using an older Mac. And even if it was possible to install Big Sur on a 2009 Mac, what's the point? Even a $200 ChromeBook will outperform that. The version of MacOS won't change that.

In any case, none of the above have anything to do with the original claim that releasing new M1 Macs is somehow "obsoleting" old Macs. To the extent an old Mac becomes unusable it is because it breaks or is simply so lacking in performance compared to newer machines that it makes no practical sense to continue using it, not because Apple released a new Mac.

 

[Manzanito]

Based on your absurd rule, computer, cars, tablets, phones, and pretty much anything that improves over time, would have a constantly decreasing price from the day they are released, based on Manzanito-approved depreciation schedule, to account for the fact that technology is constantly evolving.

To say that's ridiculous on its face is an understatement.

I didn’t say the products should decrease in price daily, you just made that up. I said selling four years old technology like it was cutting edge it’s not ok, apple adjusts prices accordingly to currency changes, it’s only fair they did the same when the cost of components drop. You can be fine with the current pricing method, I have no problem with thar, just so happens I am not.

Also, could you provide arguments instead of disqualifications, it’s also up to you. It’s not as cool, but it’s more polite.

 

[macintoshmac]

Their lineup has become unbelievably cluttered now. On top of that, they price these products out of a large number of pockets, and then they have to axe the product for lack of sales.

 

[vagos]

RIP in peace iMac Pro

 

[ridgero]

"While supplies last" doesn't sound like an update, it comes to an end.

 

[Abazigal]

The first part of your sentence is the key: at the time. If apple refuses to update their products in a timely manner, then they should adjust the price accordingly to current market value.

Apple only lowers a product's price when they release a newer update to it. Eg: the price of the iPhone 11 drops when the 12 is released, which makes sense, because nobody is going to buy the older model at current prices when a better alternative can be had for the same price.

There is no direct update to the iMac Pro. Yes, one can look at Apple's current lineup and argue that it offers less value compared to say, the 2020 iMac but as it stands, the 2017 iMac Pro is technically still the latest and the best iMac Pro that Apple offers.

And so the price stays.

 

[Dangermen]

Based on your absurd rule, computer, cars, tablets, phones, and pretty much anything that improves over time, would have a constantly decreasing price from the day they are released, based on Manzanito-approved depreciation schedule, to account for the fact that technology is constantly evolving.

To say that's ridiculous on its face is an understatement.

Well, one way to put it: you pay $5k for that machine, after 5 years, it’ll be unsupported and without patches. So $1k / year for just that configuration vs if you had bought it right away, we’d be talking 8 years or $625 a year. I’d call that significant. I would be great if Apple recognized depreciating costs of their systems.

Cars, computers, tablets and phones don’t improve over time. You can do maintenance to them to keep them working but short of collector cars, they wear, break down, take on more load(ever added software features) and do reach an end-of-life.

 

[litmag01]

This is good news. Apple silicon iMac here we go!

Yes! Push the pro grade chip!

(Edit)

Actually, I also want to say that a replacement which is not such a landfill magnet would be a step in the right direction. Anything even remotely more repairable or upgradable would be a huge deal. Recycling aluminum is great, but if Apple would just loosen up a bit on their vacuum sealed, glued down, soldered on product line we could all extend the lives of the gear more affordably.

 

[Manzanito]

Apple only lowers a product's price when they release a newer update to it. Eg: the price of the iPhone 11 drops when the 12 is released, which makes sense, because nobody is going to buy the older model at current prices when a better alternative can be had for the same price.

There is no direct update to the iMac Pro. Yes, one can look at Apple's current lineup and argue that it offers less value compared to say, the 2020 iMac but as it stands, the 2017 iMac Pro is technically still the latest and the best iMac Pro that Apple offers.

And so the price stays.

Yes, I know it’s how things work with apple. We get the (very) occasional equivalent of a price drop rising the base configuration, like they did with the trashcan, but it’s not very frequent. But would’t you agree it would be more sensible if apple adjusted prices for products that are really old?

Hopefully now that they control the chip production their computers will be updated frequently enough and this will no longer be up for debate.

 

[Chompineer]

Sad to see it go, it’s a fantastic machine. I just wish they carried over the cooling system to the regular 27” iMac.

It’s a fantastically overpriced machine.

My 10850k/RTX 3090 desktop was cheaper.

 

[Abazigal]

Yes, I know it’s how things work with apple. We get the (very) occasional equivalent of a price drop rising the base configuration, like they did with the trashcan, but it’s not very frequent. But would’t you agree it would be more sensible if apple adjusted prices for products that are really old?

Hopefully now that they control the chip production their computers will be updated frequently enough and this will no longer be up for debate.

I actually suspect that with the M1 (and subsequent generations), we may see less frequent updates, not more.

The whole point is for Apple to decouple themselves from Intel's increasingly erratic update schedule. Look at something like the iPad Pro, which has effectively gone 2.5 years without a new processor (I don't consider going from A12X to A12Z a boost). And when your 2-year old chip is still faster than anything else the competition has to offer, why?

Given the longer upgrade cycle for PCs, I wager that we may see a processor refresh every 2-3 years?

 

[rp2011]

Obviously they had a roadmap to keep pros satiated and not abandon the Mac while they worked to bring Apple Silicon to market. Yes these were all stopgaps.
The new Apple silicon iMacs must blow the Pro’s out of the water if they felt they needed to completely eliminate them. For the price and specs, these things were not selling and needed to be put out of their misery.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Have they done “While supplies last” before?
First I’ve seen Apple do that on a product

Even apple learns - in small portions - and only if pro consumers are affected. Because they can sue the **** out of you - if you sell obsolete products - without info!

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Obviously they had a roadmap to keep pros satiated and not abandon the Mac while they worked to bring Apple Silicon to market. Yes these were all stopgaps.
The new Apple silicon iMacs must blow the Pro’s out of the water if they felt they needed to completely eliminate them.

Yeah, no need to be excited - the new processors are quite cute - but nothing mind-blowing - in some years we will have mind-blowing processors from other companies like huawei - real innovative companies if you want so!

 

[opeter]

What does "dies" mean? If you mean the hardware physically breaks, the yes there is a limit to how long any product is supported by a manufacturer. That includes all PCs, cars, etc, regardless who makes them.

It means exactly that.

Moreover, it is not necessary to use a new version of MacOS to continue using an older Mac. And even if it was possible to install Big Sur on a 2009 Mac, what's the point? Even a $200 ChromeBook will outperform that. The version of MacOS won't change that.

You are right, but that is problem with old hardware and not software.

In any case, none of the above have anything to do with the original claim that releasing new M1 Macs is somehow "obsoleting" old Macs. To the extent an old Mac becomes unusable it is because it breaks or is simply so lacking in performance compared to newer machines that it makes no practical sense to continue using it, not because Apple released a new Mac.

Yes, that's true. I have no further comments.

 

[jonnysods]

One explanation of the massive performance increase of the M1 is the SOC - cpu, memory and gpu all on one chip.

What will Apple do for the Pro systems on ARM? Adding the cores (28?) may be feasible on the SOC, but

1. How will they support up to 1.5 TB of memory?

2. How will they support the performance equivalent of 2 graphics cards, 64 GB each?

It seems that these will have to be separate modules.

Now there is a gap between the iMac and the Mac Pro with the iMac Pro high end configurations gone. I hope it doesn't take a year to fill the gap.

There are a lot of us worried about this too - how do you add ram for a pro machine that doesn’t seem to have a processor that allows for more ram in another spot on the mobo. So curious how this will work. Just hoping iMacs don’t turn into unserviceable iPads!

 

[Manzanito]

I actually suspect that with the M1 (and subsequent generations), we may see less frequent updates, not more.

The whole point is for Apple to decouple themselves from Intel's increasingly erratic update schedule. Look at something like the iPad Pro, which has effectively gone 2.5 years without a new processor (I don't consider going from A12X to A12Z a boost). And when your 2-year old chip is still faster than anything else the competition has to offer, why?

Given the longer upgrade cycle for PCs, I wager that we may see a processor refresh every 2-3 years?

Maybe the iPad pro has been delayed because they were focused on the apple silicon.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

Death knell....

I remember the lust over this product four years ago.

Never updated, just like the 2012 Mac Pro.

Internally, I think it was a cancelled product the minute it was released, as Apple knew it was making a new Mac Pro and Apple Silicon was almost certainly in development for the Mac in 2017 when Ternis introduced this thing.

 

[chucker23n1]

Well, Intel doesn’t have a next gen good Xeon processor to be a proper replacement for the current Xeon in these iMac Pros, does it?

They kind of do.

The iMac Pro uses Xeon W-2100 from late 2017 (Skylake); the Mac Pro uses Xeon W-3200 from mid-2019 (Cascade Lake). By the time the Mac Pro shipped (late 2019), they could've upgraded the iMac Pro to use Xeon W-3100.

However,

• the iMac Pro uses special "B" Apple-specific versions of the Xeon W-2100, and there's a good chance Apple/Intel couldn't be bothered at that point to make another generation of those.
• the performance boost between Skylake and Cascade Lake isn't that big. For example, the W-2295 is just 6.5% faster than the W-2191B (the 18-core option in the iMac Pro)

 

[LeadingHeat]

Yeah, you can configure the "regular" iMac to be equal or better in every spec for $900 less - other than only having 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports instead of 4.

Also, the iMac Pro can't run the 6K display‽ While the iMac with Radeon 5700 can run *TWO* of them?!

Also the iMac Pro utilizes ECC memory, which is very useful for high end video editors.

 

[Shaggymax]

Lovely machine! Only gripe, no ram hatch... Been a rock solid performer!