Chapter 1: The Enigmatic Mac Pro

The Mac Pro has always stood as a symbol of Apple's pinnacle engineering, but its relevance in today's market is increasingly questioned.

The Mac Pro has consistently been a unique offering from Apple, catering to a niche audience. It’s reminiscent of a luxury car manufacturer showcasing a prototype; it highlights Apple’s capabilities and aspirations. This product has always served as a flex for Apple, particularly for the tech giants who can afford such indulgences.

The words of John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, about the Mac Pro being reserved for “another day” resonate more deeply following the introduction of the Mac Studio. The timing of its release raises questions about whether Apple foresaw the implications for the Mac Pro.

Section 1.1: A Rebel Among Macs

The Mac Pro has maintained its own distinctive path, never conforming to standard designs. Its evolution—from the classic tower to the iconic cylinder, and now to its current robust form—has always attracted attention.

Subsection 1.1.1: Ternus' Predictions

Ternus' earlier remarks remind us of the lengthy wait before the launch of the current model. When tech journalists were informed about the new Mac Pro, they were unaware it would take two years for it to materialize. This history suggests that Ternus' comments might not signal any immediate changes, as the Mac Pro has never rushed its development.

Chapter 2: The Numbers Behind the Mac Pro

This video discusses the rationale behind the existence of the M2 Mac Pro, exploring its market position and future prospects.

Historically, the Mac Pro has served a small user base. It has always been a niche product, crucial to Apple's portfolio. Overall, Macs account for only about ten percent of Apple's sales, with laptops making up a significant portion. Consequently, the desktop segment—where the Mac Pro competes against the Mac Studio, iMac, and Mac mini—represents an even smaller share.

Apple's financial strength allows it to maintain the Mac Pro, despite its low sales figures. While it may not sell in large quantities, it symbolizes high-end performance, often envisioned in upscale design studios. Phil Schiller, an Apple Fellow, articulated this sentiment back in 2017, explaining that while the Mac Pro's market share is minimal, its ecosystem plays a vital role in supporting professional users.

Chapter 3: Design Challenges

The major issue facing the Mac Pro is its misalignment with modern design principles and architecture. Apple’s silicon emphasizes efficiency and compactness, while the Mac Pro has historically been about raw power and modularity.

This presents a dilemma for Apple's design team. They must decide whether to cater to the desires of a limited audience with a traditional Mac Pro or to align it with the innovative direction of their other machines. Even with tight resources due to other projects, Apple could still innovate the Mac Pro with a fresh design and a smaller footprint, but the question remains: is it worth the investment?

Chapter 4: Beyond Aesthetics

The Mac Pro’s current design remains striking, but it's clear that Apple silicon does not require the extensive space it occupies. Given that only a small number of users will ever utilize this machine, the rationale for its existence becomes questionable.

As previously mentioned, plans to further develop the M2 Extreme have been shelved, indicating Apple's shifting priorities. The Mac Studio has effectively filled the gap for former Mac Pro customers at a significantly lower price point. Even fully outfitted with software like Final Cut and Logic, a fully spec’d Mac Studio remains below $9,000.

The Mac Pro is expected to adopt Apple silicon this year, likely including options for expandable internal storage and possibly a GPU upgrade program. This would maintain its modular heritage while minimizing development costs, aligning with Apple's emphasis on return on investment.

Chapter 5: The Road Ahead

With all these developments, the future of the Mac Pro becomes clearer. Recently, Gurman indicated that the Mac Studio would not see immediate upgrades. It has served its purpose, demonstrating the potential of Apple silicon and meeting the demands of most users requiring such power.

By not updating the Mac Studio, Apple opens the door for the Mac Pro to reclaim its position at the top, now enhanced with Apple silicon. This would leverage the additional space for post-sale upgrades, allowing Apple to claim that this was their strategy all along while incurring minimal expenses.

Clever strategy, indeed.

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And finally…

This video explores the potential for more M2 Macs in 2022, addressing the market's evolving needs and Apple's strategic directions.