iMac Pro Now Available to Order With 8 to 18 Cores and Prices Ranging From $4,999 to $13,199

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

13k for a “pro” machine that can never be upgraded. Ok, Apple.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

REAL Pros don't muck around like rank hobbyists, sifting through NewEgg's site, trolling for new Hard Drives.

They get their IT people to go out an purchase and configure a NEW SYSTEM and drop it on their desk the next day.
[doublepost=1513277354][/doublepost]

However, there has been a little bit of a resurgence with the Arduino & Raspberry Pi people.

Again, hobbyists and DIY-ers. ENTIRELY different market from what the iMac Pro is aimed-for.

And don't think I'm against hobbyists and DIY-ers. I spent over 40 years as an embedded hardware/software developer...

 

[DoctaSfink]

If you're willing to spend this much money on a desktop, I would like to assume that it will be used in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional, I would like to assume that you actually understand the tools you are using in your profession.

If you understand your tools, I would like to assume you understand how ludicrous this hardware is, considering it is not modular, there is no upgrade or maintenance path, and they are made with Xeon CPUs to avoid thermal restrictions caused by Apple's "aesthetic."

A guide to being an adult with $14,000:

1. Buy a specced-out MBP to help yourself sleep at night.
2. Buy a monitor better than anything Apple sells at a fraction of the price.
3. Do some actual research about DIY computer builds.
4. Create a Skylake X / Threadripper machine with far superior horsepower, maintenance options, modularity, thermal regulation, etc. (throw a Titan V in for funzies).
5. Install Windows/Linux/Hackintosh/Whatever.
6. Invest in Apple, because they have customers ignorant/lazy enough to throw money at something like this.

 

[MacsRgr8]

The iMac Pro is, duh, the fastest Mac ever etc (we hear that ever year).
And using all the cores this Mac will definitely bash any Mac up to date.

However, I would love to find out how this Mac will perform in "real world tests" and apps that don't utilise so many cores.

The comparison between these two Macs is interesting:

iMac 2017
4.2 GHz i7 (4 core)
32 GB RAM
Radeon 580 GB (8 GB)
1 TB SSD

$ 3699

iMac Pro
3.2 GHz Xeon W (8 core)
32 GB RAM
Radeon Vega 52 (8 GB)
1 TB SSD

$ 4999

Again, of course, in >4 core-operations the iMac Pro will win by a large margin, but what about the rest?

Keeping a close eye on http://barefeats.com

 

[PickUrPoison]

If you're willing to spend this much money on a desktop, I would like to assume that it will be used in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional, I would like to assume that you actually understand the tools you are using in your profession.

If you understand your tools, I would like to assume you understand how ludicrous this hardware is, considering it is not modular, there is no upgrade or maintenance path, and they are made with Xeon CPUs to avoid thermal restrictions caused by Apple's "aesthetic."

A guide to being an adult with $14,000:

1. Buy a specced-out MBP to help yourself sleep at night.
2. Buy a monitor better than anything Apple sells at a fraction of the price.
3. Do some actual research about DIY computer builds.
4. Create a Skylake X / Threadripper machine with far superior horsepower, maintenance options, modularity, thermal regulation, etc. (throw a Titan V in for funzies).
5. Install Windows/Linux/Hackintosh/Whatever.
6. Invest in Apple, because they have customers ignorant/lazy enough to throw money at something like this.

DIY builds are great for funzies. But freelancers/ consultants/ professionals/ corporate/ enterprise users—who use their machines as tools to get their work done—have more important things to do.

They’ll gladly pay a few hundred tax deductible dollars a month for an iMac Pro if that’s the best fit for their requirements. Putting together a PC from parts and then stealing the OS is not an option in their world.

 

[greenmeanie]

Real movie studios would be using data centers.

People complaining about the price need to realise that the iMac Pro isn't aimed at the average consumer, we are talking professional editors, content creators and so on. Movie studios will buy these, it is not very often you see a Windows machine in the editing labs (at least not here in the UK).

 

[Mal Blackadder]

I'm wondering how long you can run these machines flat out before thermal throttling kicks in, looking at the performance in teraflops that Apple is quoting for the vega graphics it looks like they are already underclocked. See https://gaming.radeon.com/en/product/vega/

 

[melendezest]

If you're willing to spend this much money on a desktop, I would like to assume that it will be used in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional, I would like to assume that you actually understand the tools you are using in your profession.

If you understand your tools, I would like to assume you understand how ludicrous this hardware is, considering it is not modular, there is no upgrade or maintenance path, and they are made with Xeon CPUs to avoid thermal restrictions caused by Apple's "aesthetic."

A guide to being an adult with $14,000:

1. Buy a specced-out MBP to help yourself sleep at night.
2. Buy a monitor better than anything Apple sells at a fraction of the price.
3. Do some actual research about DIY computer builds.
4. Create a Skylake X / Threadripper machine with far superior horsepower, maintenance options, modularity, thermal regulation, etc. (throw a Titan V in for funzies).
5. Install Windows/Linux/Hackintosh/Whatever.
6. Invest in Apple, because they have customers ignorant/lazy enough to throw money at something like this.

Perfect post.

Item #6 is brilliant.

This machine is the most non-sensical computer I have EVER heard of. But then again, I can't afford a Ferrari or a home in Beverly Hills.

Until now, computers were tools.

With this machine Apple has turned them into jewelry.

 

[cmaier]

You haven't seen the salaries of many full-professors, have you? ;-)

“When i was a boy” starting engineering school in the 80’s, I paid around $3000 for a PC with maxed out memory and disk. That’s around $6500 today. Lumped it into the rest of the expenses. And that was a serious piece of crap. Had a “boost” button on the front to raise the clock speed (can’t remember the specs, but was probably an 80386 that maybe went from 20 to 25 MHz or something.

 

[joiwomcow]

No emojibar? Seriously? How on earth will I be productive?

 

[David G.]

$11,979 maxed out with education discount (except not paying extra for the trackpad).

$12,406.99 education price for everything maxed and every option included (VESA mount adapter, trackpad and mouse, Pro Apps for Education, etc.).

I predict the number of students who take advantage of this offer legitimately who also don't come from old money will be two.

 

[PickUrPoison]

The iMac Pro is, duh, the fastest Mac ever etc (we hear that ever year).
And using all the cores this Mac will definitely bash any Mac up to date.

However, I would love to find out how this Mac will perform in "real world tests" and apps that don't utilise so many cores.

The comparison between these two Macs is interesting:

iMac 2017
4.2 GHz i7 (4 core)
32 GB RAM
Radeon 580 GB (8 GB)
1 TB SSD

$ 3699

iMac Pro
3.2 GHz Xeon W (8 core)
32 GB RAM
Radeon Vega 52 (8 GB)
1 TB SSD

$ 4999

Again, of course, in >4 core-operations the iMac Pro will win by a large margin, but what about the rest?

Keeping a close eye on http://barefeats.com

As always, it’s about the right tool for the job. There are definitely single-app workloads that can utilize 6-8 (or more) cores, including those that even scale linearly. Some applications can barely use two. If you’re running a bunch of VMs, 18-cores may not be enough.

But don’t forget about RAM. 128 GB may make a bigger difference than does max clock.

 

[cmaier]

If you're willing to spend this much money on a desktop, I would like to assume that it will be used in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional, I would like to assume that you actually understand the tools you are using in your profession.

If you understand your tools, I would like to assume you understand how ludicrous this hardware is, considering it is not modular, there is no upgrade or maintenance path, and they are made with Xeon CPUs to avoid thermal restrictions caused by Apple's "aesthetic."

A guide to being an adult with $14,000:

1. Buy a specced-out MBP to help yourself sleep at night.
2. Buy a monitor better than anything Apple sells at a fraction of the price.
3. Do some actual research about DIY computer builds.
4. Create a Skylake X / Threadripper machine with far superior horsepower, maintenance options, modularity, thermal regulation, etc. (throw a Titan V in for funzies).
5. Install Windows/Linux/Hackintosh/Whatever.
6. Invest in Apple, because they have customers ignorant/lazy enough to throw money at something like this.

Or pay the $14k for the specced-out MBP, save yourself countless hours building and babying some hack machine to keep it running right and instead spend that time using the machine to make money, depreciate it as a business expense over 7 years, and take the tax deduction as a business expense for the purchase.

 

[trifid]

Apple is out of touch big time.

If given similar specs/price would a “real pro” buy a noisy soldered glued-lcd all in one or a modular computer?

Apple knows it’s the in wrong hence their plans to bring back a real modular mac pro for real pros.

 

[cmaier]

Apple is out of touch big time.

If given similar specs/price would a “real pro” buy a noisy soldered glued-lcd all in one or a modular computer?

Apple knows it’s the in wrong hence their plans to bring back a real modular mac pro for real pros.

Out of touch all the way to the bank.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

It's funny that people scream for Apple to focus on the pro market yet when Apple actually does release a hardcore pro product with pro pricing those people suddenly don't understand why people would buy one.

 

[cmaier]

It's funny that people scream for Apple to focus on the pro market yet when Apple actually does release a hardcore pro product with pro pricing those people suddenly don't understand why people would buy one.

What would anyone buy one when it doesn’t have built-in LED glow lighting and water cooling? </sarcasm>

 

[PickUrPoison]

I'm wondering how long you can run these machines flat out before thermal throttling kicks in, looking at the performance in teraflops that Apple is quoting for the vega graphics it looks like they are already underclocked. See https://gaming.radeon.com/en/product/vega/

I assume they’re underclocked to prevent thermal throttling. The CPU is 140W iirc so with the graphics card being somewhat north of 200, it would seem that the 500W cooling capacity will be sufficient (depending on the ambient temperature). I’m sure benchmarks will be forthcoming though.

 

[iBungie]

But can you buy the space grey mouse and keyboard separately???

Listing in UK webstore suggests not - only available at time or iMac Pro order

 

[0837990]

Crazy prices. Really. I'm a Apple diehard, but I would never consider a computer that starts at a base price of $5000.
And if I did, I would need it to be in a completely different form-factor than an iMac.

 

[jwpoof]

If you're willing to spend this much money on a desktop, I would like to assume that it will be used in a professional capacity.

If you are a professional, I would like to assume that you actually understand the tools you are using in your profession.

If you understand your tools, I would like to assume you understand how ludicrous this hardware is, considering it is not modular, there is no upgrade or maintenance path, and they are made with Xeon CPUs to avoid thermal restrictions caused by Apple's "aesthetic."

A guide to being an adult with $14,000:

1. Buy a specced-out MBP to help yourself sleep at night.
2. Buy a monitor better than anything Apple sells at a fraction of the price.
3. Do some actual research about DIY computer builds.
4. Create a Skylake X / Threadripper machine with far superior horsepower, maintenance options, modularity, thermal regulation, etc. (throw a Titan V in for funzies).
5. Install Windows/Linux/Hackintosh/Whatever.
6. Invest in Apple, because they have customers ignorant/lazy enough to throw money at something like this.

Nobody who needs one of these and is already paid well for their time is going to suddenly consider building their own tools to save $5k and open themselves up to support or technical problems. They just want it to work well. People who get paid well for their work are professionals because they are good at something besides building the equivalent of a kit car in their garage.

 

[PickUrPoison]

It's funny that people scream for Apple to focus on the pro market yet when Apple actually does release a hardcore pro product with pro pricing those people suddenly don't understand why people would buy one.

Probably the same people that scream about Apple focusing too much on design, then bitch about the “huge, ugly bezels” on the new iMac Pro.

 

[MaxBlast]

this is nuts. i usually get a middle tier machine. but i dont see me shelling out 8K for that.
and the pro is going to be even more expensive? you lost it guys, and you sure lost me.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Crazy prices. Really. I'm a Apple diehard, but I would never consider a computer that starts at a base price of $5000.
And if I did, I would need it to be in a completely different form-factor than an iMac.

I have trouble recommending more than the $1,799 27” 5K iMac for most users.

But if you’re a professional where time=money, saving even 5 minutes a day can have this machine paying for itself. If it saves you an hour a day, you may make the entire purchase back in a few months.

In business, ROI is an extremely important concept; it drives the capital expenditure process.

 

[Zdigital2015]

I don't make money in my hobbies but when I shoot video all weekend and my top of the line 5K iMac takes 12 hours to transcode the video so I can actually edit it, I'm wishing I could afford one of these.

I have no plans to brag about having one of these but I would like to work on my videos in 4 hours instead of 12. I am jealous of people that can afford these that need them.

Maybe it would be a better use of your money to get a camera that can shoot a format that doesn't require transcoding or if you have the option to attach an external recorder (Atomos Ninja, Shogun, et al.) that you can record your video into native ProRes format. Just a thought.

 

[TheColtr]

Most of these will be bought by someone who is a professional, so it’s a business expense, or a business, so it’s a business expense.