>>>>>>>http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Some serious workstation muscle, in an interesting physical design.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Very interesting design - tho I'm not much into ascetics when it comes to computing :-}
>>>>>>Got the impression it was about two feet high until I got to the end. Only 6" diameter x 9" is certainly compact.....
>>>>>
>>>>>Design-wise, maybe a distant descendent of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cray-1 :)
>>>>
>>>>I'd imagine the design in both cases is driven by the need for good cooling. TBH, my previous reply was a bit of an understatement - I was thinking more in terms of a 40 gallon drum :-}
>>>
>>>At this point it's still vaporware - specs are subject to change :)
>>
>>True. But I'd guess most of the features will be present. Price will be the interesting one.....
>
>( Apple ) x ( hype-able new design ) = $$$$$
>
>One thing that interests me is whether Apple will patent the design. If so, and they don't license the design (they've never license any of their other physical designs) then I'm guessing a lot of its components will be unique. Power supply, mobo, interconnects, ...
>
>Unique = FIERCELY expensive. Computers these days are ridiculously cheap due to standardization and immense volumes.

I don't think this is going to be a problem for them though. The life span of computers per-say is short these days. Just take a look at the zillion tablets. Heck many of these units are actually no longer in production by the time they actually make it to the store! Immense volumes, whenever you're controlling the whole design-to-door process like Apple can really payoff.

>Not to mention - how likely are parts going to be available 2 years from now when you want to upgrade or pieces start to fail?

If they well a billion of them there will be plenty of parts.