> For a good and balanced review, please take time to read:

Ars Technica has another with a bit more detailed, critical look: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/06/a-critical-look-at-the-new-mac-pro/

However, the missing factor here is price. Even with the downgrade to a single socket system, I suspect pricing, especially because it was not announced even in vague terms e.g. “under $4000” is going to be the real unpleasant surprise.

Apple has become internally confused. If you are going to put it in your pocket, size and weight matters. For a workstation, it could not matter less. What nobody has mentioned is they have wasted all this time inventing a solution for a problem that did not exist. All the time while losing market share and potential buyers of the new system.

Last year, they could have easily released a sexy new tower and have it sold well. And for those few panicked about deskspace for a workstation, a micro or mini ATX sized system based on the same design which would have sold really well. All the tech in here – more bandwidth, dual GPU, PCI-E SSD, innovative cooling, Thunderbolt, is all tech that’s been around for a couple of years or more. This year should have marked the V2 release of that design.

Instead, they have the world’s most expensive coffee dispenser to sell to a shrinking market they hope is still around “later this year”. With no other option other than iMac. And this tube is an iMac refresh or two away from being outclassed price performance wise, not to mention Hackintosh or Windows box (or Linux for 3D stuff).

I could be wrong, but I don’t see this selling in the numbers of past Mac Pros unless I’m dead wrong about pricing. If there is a base model under $2000, that could help move a lot of units. But if it’s $2999 or so to get in the game, no chance.