At least Apple build a tcMP prototype in 2016 loaded with dual RX480-family GPU and 6 TB3+4(10) USB3 ports, there where leaked evidence of that, and someone at NAB watched this prorotype and leaked it, for some reason Apple decided not to sell it, I dont buy the "blame the thermal corner" as reason for that, since there where N turnarrounds to raise the tcMP TDP to 600W enough for dual RX580(full clock) or dual Vera64(underclocked), and a typical Xeon E5v4
Without knowing whether or not that rumor is true (Apple does do private demos at NAB, but I've never heard anything about that specific config), any demo Apple would have done would very likely NOT have been thermally ready. If it was it would be shipping.
Likely they had the actual Mac Pro hidden someplace with the fans cranked up on full if such a thing existed. NAB demos are usually not in shippable condition. Remember NAB is in April, about 8 months before Apple usually ships a Mac Pro. The demos aren't shippable machines.
There's a reason why typically when Apple first unveils machines that aren't shipping for a bit, you never see an actual one running. When they unveiled the 2013 Mac Pro, they had them floating in those cases, but they never showed an actual one running or had a place where people could use one.
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Does anyone honestly, truly believe the fabled mMP actually exists? It's now been a year since the "we screwed up" talk from Schiller and co and since then...nothing.
They literally didn't start on it until after the roundtable, and they had to put together a new team, along with getting the iMac Pro out the door.
People here underestimate how long it takes to do a product when you're starting from scratch and the team already had another machine to get out the door.
We're probably just getting to the point where they might be doing DVT runs, but even then those aren't usually super leaky.
Apple really was caught with their pants down, and they had that roundtable as soon as they realized it. There is no master plan, no hidden conspiracy. They were starting with absolutely nothing, and they had absolutely nothing when Schiller was talking. The whole thing is a disaster.
That's also why Apple hasn't said much. There is nothing to say, and if we're lucky they might have something by WWDC. I wouldn't be surprised if that was their internal goal.
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I think that they 're also testing the market.
They were, they aren't now. I think they very quickly got feedback from MVP customers they privately demoed the iMac Pro to that it would NOT work was a Mac Pro replacement. THEN they had the fire drill roundtable once they realized the iMac Pro couldn't replace the Mac Pro.