What are likely dates in December for the Mac Pro to be released?

[mtmac]

I'm guessing and hoping it will be early December. I'm waiting for a new Thunderbolt display, and I'm guessing Mini's and non-retina MBP's will be available as well. Obviously there is not as many customers as last month's release, but I still believe to capture the Christmas market, they'll want to get them out as early as possible. Even if it's a silent refresh, I would think they will all come out on the same date? Is there a day of the week that Apple often makes silent refreshes? Do you think they will have an event, and how long ahead of time do they normally schedule for a smaller event? Is there common timing for Apple's prior December releases?

I know there has been many threads on this subject for the whole year ever since Tim Cook announced Power Users would get some love in 2013, but now that it is very close to the date of release, I thought, what better speculation might anyone have to target a specific date in December when a couple of very long overdue products will finally get an update? I thought the Pro crowd would likely know better? I want Christmas to come early!

 

[Rich.Cohen]

I'm also waiting for this release.

In this area, I'm nothing but a simple consumer, but I have some guesses:

1. Apple is having production/QC problems. I would imagine they wanted to release it in Nov. to catch the shopping season even though it is a high-end product. Now they are probably trying to get it out before the end of the year to allow companies to buy it with end-of-fiscal-year money.

2. I would guess that Apple has some target day-one inventory in mind and they will announce a date when they are reasonably sure of meeting that target. I have no idea of what that target might be.

 

[mtmac]

Even though it's a high-end product, it now also targets prosumers (even more so) than professionals. I agree it should be out early. I know I've read other posts where users seem to recall specific information on likely dates, but obviously it's more about getting the product to market than timing based on past performance, which may or may not help to identify this release. Besides being a new model, it's a new factory as well. I know if you ask most Professionals when they'd like to see an nMP, their answer would be 1st quarter of 2011! It's been a long time coming.

 

[mtmac]

I hope they do huge numbers of prosumer models, the Pro market is only so big. If the prosumers models do sell, it will mean a lot of good American jobs. It's great to see Macs being made back in the US again. My last Mac made in the US was a 128k later upgraded to a behemoth 512k fat mac with the whopping 20meg hyperdrive HDD and a Radius Full Page Display. A rare setup indeed. That was back when Macs had greyscale monitors the size of a iPad Mini but were the weight of an iMac, back when you could tell if a floppy or a hard drive was working by the noises it was emitting.

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Actually, I think it was B&W, not even greyscale at the time. David Lee Roth was lead singer for Van Halen and dinosaurs roamed the earth. Maybe my MacPlus was made in CA too?

 

[Ezlivin]

Made in the USA

I hope they do huge numbers of prosumer models, the Pro market is only so big. If the prosumers models do sell, it will mean a lot of good American jobs. It's great to see Macs being made back in the US again. My last Mac made in the US was a 128k later upgraded to a behemoth 512k fat mac with the whopping 20meg hyperdrive HDD and a Radius Full Page Display. A rare setup indeed. That was back when Macs had greyscale monitors the size of a iPad Mini but were the weight of an iMac, back when you could tell if a floppy or a hard drive was working by the noises it was emitting.

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Actually, I think it was B&W, not even greyscale at the time. David Lee Roth was lead singer for Van Halen and dinosaurs roamed the earth. Maybe my MacPlus was made in CA too?

When I bought my Macintosh Plus back in 1985 it was built in California and had signatures on the inside. I think my Macintosh SE was also built there. I don't know where my Quadra 840AV or my PowerPC was built, though. Everything lately has been built in China.

I'm eager to get the new Mac Pro. It's built just a few miles from where I live. As a 100% disabled veteran I try to support local and national companies. I raised my right hand and swore an oath to serve to protect this country; I have no problem lowering my right hand to my wallet and paying a bit more money to get an American-made product that protects this country's manufacturing base.

 

[Rich.Cohen]

When I bought my Macintosh Plus back in 1985 it was built in California and had signatures on the inside. I think my Macintosh SE was also built there. I don't know where my Quadra 840AV or my PowerPC was built, though. Everything lately has been built in China.

I'm eager to get the new Mac Pro. It's built just a few miles from where I live. As a 100% disabled veteran I try to support local and national companies. I raised my right hand and swore an oath to serve to protect this country; I have no problem lowering my right hand to my wallet and paying a bit more money to get an American-made product that protects this country's manufacturing base.

I also bought my first Mac in 1985. I've been buying Macs ever since. I bought that first Mac because I thought it was better than anything else on the market except the microVAX which I couldn't afford. I'm willing to pay more for an American product, but only if it is a quality product. I'm lucky, I came out of Vietnam in one piece.

 

[And]

I'm also waiting for this release.

In this area, I'm nothing but a simple consumer, but I have some guesses:

1. Apple is having production/QC problems. I would imagine they wanted to release it in Nov. to catch the shopping season even though it is a high-end product. Now they are probably trying to get it out before the end of the year to allow companies to buy it with end-of-fiscal-year money.

2. I would guess that Apple has some target day-one inventory in mind and they will announce a date when they are reasonably sure of meeting that target. I have no idea of what that target might be.

My guess was they were conquering heating problems. I hasten to say this is no more than idle speculation on my part, but it's so little with so many processors and graphics cards, it's gonna get hot in there!

 

[fastlanephil]

It probably won't be released on christmas eve or christmas day, new years eve and for sure not sundays and probably not saturdays either. That narrows it down to about nineteen days in december.

 

[brand]

It probably won't be released on christmas eve or christmas day, new years eve and for sure not sundays and probably not saturdays either. That narrows it down to about nineteen days in december.

I think its safe to say it would be released on either a Tuesday or Friday so that should narrow it down to 3 Tuesdays and 4 Fridays to choose from in December.

 

[JesterJJZ]

Order in December, deliver in Jan or Feb by guess.

 

[Lumpydog]

Tuesdays....
and the delay isn't because they were wrestling with heating problems or any other manufacturing issues.

It's because the new Intel Chip was delayed and in short supply. That's it.

 

[AidenShaw]

Tuesdays....
and the delay isn't because they were wrestling with heating problems or any other manufacturing issues.

It's because the new Intel Chip was delayed and in short supply. That's it.

Exactly - you can get reasonable lead times on the E5-v2 CPUs on server configs from HP, but not for workstations from any vendor. Funny that the businesses ready to pay list price get parts before the people wanting discounts.

My guess is that you'll be eating chocolate hearts or toasting with Shamrocks or looking for eggs laid by bunnies before it's "walk in and buy off the shelf".

Apple will certainly sell at least one "non Product (RED)" Mac Mini Pro before 1 January to technically meet the promised delivery window.

Apple was stupid to promise a specific date when in fact Apple has no control over the delivery date. Of course there was most likely a footnote or two about "forward thinking" or other fine print legalese to avoid lawsuits when Apple fails to deliver on their promise.

 

[Larry-K]

I'm thinking the 32nd.

 

[theSeb]

On the days when the stars align correctly and there is a low tide.

 

[mtmac]

I think they will begin shipping sometime in December, hopefully earlier. I think after promising 2013, then fall, then December; if it wasn't going to happen, they would have already issued a press release with an apology and a specific release date next year. I believe they are trying to help corporate purchasers to decide which fiscal year to buy the Pro, but in order for companies to purchase and depreciate the devise, it must physically be delivered and in use in 2013. There's also Christmas sales they want to obtain, with the Pro and the other products they will release at the same time, so the sooner, the better.

 

[Einz]

Technically, fall doesn't end until Dec 20. I say it will come out between Dec. 3rd and the 17th.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's out on the 3rd. The retina mini came out sooner than expected.

 

[deconstruct60]

I think they will begin shipping sometime in December, hopefully earlier. I think after promising 2013, then fall, then December;

2013 has both December and Fall parts. There is no conflict in any of those time descriptions. Fall ends on December 20. There is 3rd , 10th, and 17th of Tuesdays before then.

I suspect the limited supplies of both the E5 v2 and Thunderbolt 2 are a problem. If MBP with TB v2 controllers are selling briskly then the Mac Pro would slide later into Dec. If not going quite so fast then Apple might shift earlier if can get the E5 parts from Intel.

Intel has consistently said TB v2 was targeted for 2014 volume production. Sneaking the Mac Pro's out with pre-volume production parts would have gone more smoothly. Coupling in the higher volume MBP (and a few other vendors ) to that supply may be an issue.

I suspect mini and any possible "classic" MBP would be in 2014. Apple basically said their laptop line up was "complete" in the October roll-out. Complete for 2013 may be more accurate. If there is new "classic" MBP the mini is coupled to it in design/components so it too would probably slide.

I don't see Apple in a hurry to do new TB display either. If moving to TB v2 same limited controller constraint till 2014.

if it wasn't going to happen, they would have already issued a press release with an apology and a specific release date next year.

They don't have to backtrack on a date because they never gave one. The first target was all of 2013. Then it was Fall. Now it is Dec. All of those are ranges of dates. TB v2 wasn't suppose to come until end of 2013 and not show volume until early 2014. Likewise, Intel's now typically announce and then only limited ship Xeon E5 was going to roll into Q4 2013 also until that uncorked for volume shipments.

The only "planning" thrown at corporate here is aligning with the harps about how they need to see a roadmap before they buy anything because purchase approvals typically have long lead times.

June WWDC .... current Mac Pro going to get cancelled... if need one you have advance notice to buy one.
October ... new Mac Pro coming in 2 months... start lining up purchase approvals into the pipeline if want one "out of the gate".

There's also Christmas sales they want to obtain, with the Pro and the other products they will release at the same time, so the sooner, the better.

Holiday sales bubbles are overated as important for this class of product. It is far more an issue they:

1. Uncork Mac Pro sales in the EU... remember these folks have been on 'hold' since Feburary with nothing but refurbs/used. Apple needs to start selling something there sometime in 2013 pretty badly if this is going to be a viable product going forward.

2. Apple have stopped selling the current Mac Pro (3rd party channels still selling inventory) . Same hole that EU market went into in Feb is now worldwide.


3. Lots of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Mac Pro about to be retired. pre-2008 already aren't tracking newest OS X. 2008's ... on verge of hitting vintage mark.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1752

A sizable fraction of those folks are moving to something. They need something before that 6 year 2008 model anniversary date. (yes, the vintage is keyed on when the replacement hit the market, but for folks who skipped the replacements... this born date is more indicative of last time they moved. )

 

[Lesser Evets]

Tuesday 3rd.

They want it released soon enough before Christmas.

I'm more interested in a monitor and mini that might tag along with that release. No guarantee at either.

 

[AidenShaw]

The more interesting question is when will they be *available*

When they are "released" isn't as important as "when will they be shipping in quantity".

The late 2012 27" Imac had several months between the two dates.

 

[Larry-K]

When they are "released" isn't as important as "when will they be shipping in quantity".

The late 2012 27" Imac had several months between the two dates.

I think for that, you're looking at February 30th.

 

[50548]

I'm thinking the 32nd.

I would second that.

 

[deconstruct60]

When they are "released" isn't as important as "when will they be shipping in quantity".

The late 2012 27" Imac had several months between the two dates.

Available and shipping in quantity aren't necessarily the same thing.

The iPhone ships in the millions at launch, but the demand bubble is higher than that. Millions is in quantity.

There may be a bubble with the Mac Pro. Doubtful the factory is meant to run at rates that will handle the initial bubble. How much ramp time they have been given to build a backlog and how many folks will try to deplete that backlog is up in the air. It probably depends upon what people do (buy) about as much has what Apple and their manufacturer contractors have done at the release point.

It would not hurt Apple hype for them to not have a huge inventory at launch. Mac Pro sold out is going to quiet lots of critics who claim nobody is going to buy them. It also keeps Apple inventory down... which they don't like high.

iMac 27" had a very large demand bubble because Apple quit selling months earlier and was even "ovedue" when they didn't the soft launch/announce. Given the Mac Pro's similar, if not larger if include the EU market lock out, bubble and the Osborne Effect they have invoked for over a year it won't be surprising at all to see a bubble for the first weeks or so.
Factory probably has a 4-6k/mo run rate capability and that is all it will run at.

 

[Larry-K]

I would second that.

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, A New MacPro? Not so sure".

 

[AidenShaw]

Available and shipping in quantity aren't necessarily the same thing.

The iPhone ships in the millions at launch, but the demand bubble is higher than that. Millions is in quantity.

True. But, if they're "shipping in quantity" then "available" is simply getting in the queue and having a reasonable expectation of a delivery date.

It would not hurt Apple hype for them to not have a huge inventory at launch. Mac Pro sold out is going to quiet lots of critics who claim nobody is going to buy them. It also keeps Apple inventory down... which they don't like high.

By that metric ("long lines right after intro") the Cube was a raging success. Turns out that wasn't quite the case. (I'm cracking a joke here...)

The critics know not to base opinions on shortages right after intro. (They did know that the Iphone 5C was a turkey, though, when there was lots of inventory early on.)

 

[deconstruct60]

True. But, if they're "shipping in quantity" then "available" is simply getting in the queue and having a reasonable expectation of a delivery date.

Which the iMac 27" largely had a week or so after actually shipping. [ while there were hiccups in pre-order queues for esoteric BTO options the standard configs were flowing once Apple turned on the spigot. ]

By that metric ("long lines right after intro") the Cube was a raging success. Turns out that wasn't quite the case. (I'm cracking a joke here...)

You also doing misdirection since "raging success" isn't particularly neccessarily the same thing as tamping down on the critics.

The critics know not to base opinions on shortages right after intro. (They did know that the Iphone 5C was a turkey, though, when there was lots of inventory early on.)

LOL... and yet declaring a final label on 5c just two months into a 12 month cycle. That turkey is going to sell more models than most other vendors. The 5C customers are not going to be those who rush out and buy the "newest shiny" thing regardless of contract penalties or the current balance of their savings account. More likely this is going to be similar to the tortise vs. the hare. By May-June those looking for the latest shiny will stop buying the 5s and start waiting on the 6.

Remember that Apple generally rolls out to the most cost sensitive countries last in their worldwide global rollouts. The 5C is relatively very expensive in those countries but it is likely not going to get outsold by the 5s (which is even higher.)

The 5c has a bigger problem with price, not the actual phone. The price isn't going to crater in the first 2 months. Especially, given the high control Apple has over creating/preventing bloated inventories.