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Apple previews radically redesigned Mac Pro: 'Can't innovate anymore, my ass'

Apple previews radically redesigned Mac Pro: 'Can't innovate anymore, my ass'

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Gallery Photo: Mac Pro Refresh Teaser Pictures
Gallery Photo: Mac Pro Refresh Teaser Pictures

Apple's long-neglected Mac Pro is finally getting some attention. The desktop has been completely redesigned and, like the company's refreshed laptops, the rebooted Mac Pro line makes use of new Intel processors. But it isn't shipping just yet. Apple teased the new Mac Pro at its Worldwide Developers Conference today. The "cheese grater" styling of the old Mac Pro, which made its debut with 2003's Power Mac G5, is out. Instead, Apple is going with a new look that is similar to the classic Braun KF 20 coffee maker.

"Can't innovate anymore, my ass," said Apple exec Phil Schiller when announcing the new workstation, which will be assembled in the US. "This is without a doubt the future of the pro desktop." The new Mac Pro will be one-eighth the size of the old 40-pound Mac Pro. The new desktop, which stands 9.9-inches tall and 6.6-inches wide, will ship this fall. When it does, it'll feature a blacked-out aluminum exterior and be small enough that it can sit on most desks. Inside, it will make use of Intel's next-generation Xeon E5 processors, which can be configured with up to 12 cores, as well as dual AMD GPUs, up to 60GB of RAM, one HDMI 1.4 port, six Thunderbolt 2 ports, two gigabit ethernet ports, four USB 3 ports, full flash storage, and support for 4K displays. In all, Apple said the new Mac Pro will be twice as fast as the previous generation, pushing a total of up to 7 teraflops of computing power. It appears the new machine has no built-in optical drive — though Apple does still sell its USB SuperDrive for those who want to play or burn a DVD or CD.

All of the ports on the new Mac Pro are located on the back, but as a user rotates the computer, it senses that it's being moved and automatically illuminates the I/O panel, making the ports easier to see. The new device will also have Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac connectivity. "Video editors, musicians, graphic designers count on Mac Pro to get their work done," Schiller said. "We didn't just want to make another version of the same old desktop idea that everyone had."

Like the old Mac Pro, the new computer will still have a handle built into the top of the machine. Schiller said that the new Mac Pro would ship sometime this fall, as will a new version of Final Cut Pro, though the video editing software not previewed on stage. Apple hasn't disclosed pricing as of yet.

Read More: New Mac Pro first look!

New Mac Pro Teaser Pictures

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