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Apple 'Questioning' the Future of its Mac Pro Line?

Monday October 31, 2011 1:20 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Late last week, we noted that with pricing information on Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge E Xeon processors surfacing, Apple's options for a potential "Early 2012" Mac Pro have begun to clear up. The Mac Pro has not been updated since mid-2010, and delays in Intel's new chips have pushed their availability out from late this year to early next year.

But despite the new processors now being in sight, AppleInsider reports that Apple is reportedly "questioning" the future of the Mac Pro line and whether it will even release updated models.
Although the Mac maker has reportedly developed a revision to the existing Mac Pro that may or may not see the light of day, people familiar with the matter said management as far back as May of 2011 were in limbo over whether to pour any additional resources into the product line.

According to these people, the consensus among sales executives for the Cupertino-based company was that the Mac Pro's days -- at least in its current form -- were inevitably numbered. In particular, internal discussions were said to focus around the fact that sales of the high-end workstations to both consumers and enterprises have dropped off so considerably that the Mac Pro is no longer a particularly profitable operation for Apple.
The report's source indicates that with Intel's new Thunderbolt connectivity standard making its way across all of Apple's Mac products, those products now have enhanced flexibility to assume some of the tasks that have historically been handled the Mac Pro. Combined with a continuing shift towards notebooks that has seen the desktop share of Apple's Mac business fall from 70% ten years ago to under 30% today, the increasing power of Apple's other Macs has resulted in the Mac Pro becoming only a minor portion of Apple's product lineup.


Speculation in the report suggests that Apple could elect to offer higher-end versions of its iMac or Mac mini models in an attempt to appease those buyers looking for the power of a Mac Pro. Those smaller form factor machines are, however, unable to match a number of the Mac Pro's other features, although Apple apparently believes that Thunderbolt could serve as a means to bring some of that expandability from the Mac Pro to other Macs.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Tag: appleinsider.com
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Don't Buy)
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wordoflife
92 months ago
Would hate to see them discontinue the Mac Pro.
Rating: 74 Votes
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ombrenelcielo
92 months ago
Possibly the worst news after Steve's death.
Rating: 70 Votes
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gglockner
92 months ago
This isn't a rumor. It's pure speculation that has been beaten to death and beyond on the Mac Pro forum.
Rating: 67 Votes
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Peace
92 months ago
It's gonna be expensive to add two thunderbolt graphics cards, 4 hard drives and 16 CPU's to a Mini.
Rating: 54 Votes
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no_name
92 months ago
Every drive bay in my MacPro is used, and I do not want to have to house them all externally.
Rating: 50 Votes
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AAPLaday
92 months ago
Hopefully Apple Insider are wrong
Rating: 49 Votes
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MacOCD
92 months ago
:(

No! Don't drop the Mac Pro line. I will be forced to buy a Windows Based machine if I want a tower that I can upgrade. For the sake of the small consumer base, upgrade parts, keep the design. Shouldn't cost you much.
Rating: 49 Votes
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blizaine
92 months ago
pssst... Apple, here's a hint. The reason the Mac Pro's are not selling well is because you need to update them.
Rating: 36 Votes
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a.gomez
92 months ago
not surprising - nothing "pro" about Apple anymore - just another part of the iOS dumbing down of apple
Rating: 32 Votes
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kromekat
92 months ago
Offs!

Your kidding me!?!???!?

If Apple is questioning why the sales have dropped that would be down to lack of frequent updates!!!!! ?

I'm currently using a 2008 8 core 3.2Ghz as my main desktop. and I am desperate to upgrade, as I suspect are MANY others out there that can ONLY use a MacPro because its the ONLY mac with enough power for their needs!! - an iMac for professional 3D!? - please!....

So will I have to settle for their currently 18 month old 12 core or are they going to stop ******** about and release a newer, up to date pro machine??

I mean if they want to make Pro iMacs with 12/16 core Xeons and room for multiple HDs and decent GFX cards and a LOT of RAM, then cool - means I get a decent LCD thrown in too instead of the overpriced standalones, but is that even realistic?

Why kill off the machine that ultimately made Apple a proper computer company in the first place? - do I really have to switch to a PC to get a proper computer now?

FFS...
Rating: 30 Votes

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