Every Mac Pro in stock at either the Apple Store or various retailers i've gone to only stock it with a 256GB harddrive option. Everything else has to be ordered.
It just strikes me as strange that anyone would buy a system like this with only 256GB. Doesnt it seem very very low for such an expensive and "high end" desktop?
1. as another response said these configurations have to be viewed through a 2013-2014 lens. Those were decent sized SSD for the era.
2. B&H has a few 1TB models in stock.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Mac-Pro/ci/12517/N/4110474297?sts=cat
... but yes every 512GB configuration is "special order" at point.
The reason question that would get at the issue though is probably "who is ordering brand new Mac Pro 2013 models". If the answer to that is very few folks then that explains why there are no 'pre-deployed' BTO models at retailers at this point. The two fixed standard configurations that Apple sells are 256GB. I highly doubt Apple is trying to pre-build non standard configurations at this point. Personally, I'd wouldn't be surprised if there were really buiding any new Mac Pros at this point at all. Seems more likely they probably have some semi finished models somewhere warehoused and parts to snap them together of some very limited, low capacity line.
At that point they just basically only refill what folks buy whether that be a small set of pre-deployed standard config models or BTO orders that flow in. B&H is probably a big enough sales consolidator that they see a reasonable stream of folks ordering the 1TB models so happen to have a low stock of those.
You don't want to just pick "some retailer". You'll need to find retailer(s) who are probably selling more Mac Pro that most other retailers who aren't Apple. Folks moving product will/may have some. Folks not moving product won't.
At this point in the Mac Pro product cycle lifetime, it is like a game of music chairs for the retailers . (where the customers are disappear like the chairs do). They don't want to be caught with Mac Pro inventory on their books. If get to point most orders are done completely just-in-time on demand.... don't have any inventory.
Its frustrating because I want to get a medium spec machine at a store, but its impossible to find
1TB is probably more useful for working with larger media. 512GB is kind of in the "1 TB is too expensive" zone.
Are you guys just specing it up when you order, or are you getting the 256GB version and then upgrading the drive later?
There is some quirky things where the old original era SSDs are actually more expensive than some of the newer NVMe models ( presumably because the many years old SSD controllers can't handle the modern NAND types like TLC/QLC ).
https://store.mcetech.com/mm/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PCIESSD-MP13
the 1TB NVMe model is about $300 cheaper than the 2013 era 1TB model.
Throw on top Apple's outside SSD mark up ( even on current SSDss ) and it is worse. There are fewer upgrade hiccups though with the Apple labeled original equipment though.
