They'd almost have to, unless they'd be content with offering a single SP system (W3680 is the only hex SP part currently available).
But as those parts won't come down much, I'm not sure about a price drop, save to make sure they're positioned to sell, and they'd make sure it's more than the iMac to prevent cannibalization of those sales.
Keeping the quad would be so great, but wouldn't Apple be shooting themselves in the foot if they retained the current pricing? As far as I see, many of the folks here that are holding out on the imminent update just don't want to pay the price for 14 month old tech. For me, it just seems an absolute must to bring that price down.
And on the subject of product cannibalization, Apple has a wide gap of $500 to play with between the high end iMac and the low end Mac Pro. So even if the current processors don't have $500 of room to drop, let us humor ourselves for a moment on the notion of what if the quad Mac Pro were to drop to $1999, or even below that mark.
What I personally fail to grasp though, is the cannibalization effect. If the iMac is targeted more towards (but not entirely) the consumer crowd, then I think the average buyer would most likely be oblivious of the added benefit of expandability. I think he/she would see the immediate benefits, such as faster processors on the CTO page, and the most obvious one: an included, spankin' brand new, included 27" display. Getting, more or less, an equal type of display from Dell will set the consumer back around an extra $1000. Thus, I don't see a low priced Mac Pro
really interfering with iMac sales, at least on a substantial scale.
However, I will be quick to write off the latter of potential price drop scenarios for the Mac Pro, and that is, below the $1999 mark. This is because, without taking a look at any specs or processor models, or factoring in built in displays, or expandability options, the eco system of Mac pricing from Apple must always remain true, it seems.
I believe it is nigh impossible for Apple to cross that line, unless relatively speaking, they begin to price drop the iMac as well.
Ok, that's enough ranting about business of it. But my hopeful, wishful opinion, is that I think Apple should drop the quad to a safe $2199-$2299, at the very least. The pricing separation remains intact and people can rest a little easier knowing they won't be paying last year's price on last year's technology.
