On Apple's New 2012 Desktops!

In this quick take, Marques Brownlee discusses Apple’s 2012 desktop lineup after the company’s event, focusing on how the Mac Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro fit into the era of desktop computing. He notes that the Mac Mini borrows many components from the MacBook Pro, including a mobile motherboard, graphics, and CPU, which helps keep the price lower since it does not require a display. He then shifts to the new iMacs, highlighting how incredibly thin they are and how the design emphasizes a laptop-like chassis, which makes them extremely space-efficient but also largely non-upgradable, except for RAM in the 27-inch model. The central argument he builds is that Apple’s current desktop ecosystem is still missing a fully upgradeable, traditional desktop tower, with the Mac Pro remaining the only true desktop option at the time. He envisions potential future directions for a revamped Mac Pro in 2013, proposing a mid-range tower and a high-end tower that would maintain the professional identity while offering easier upgrades and more flexible configurations. Throughout, he shares impressions of the design language and performance implications, and he signals excitement for what Apple could do next in the professional segment, while acknowledging that the iMac represents a strong, elegant consumer-oriented alternative. He closes by inviting viewer feedback on favorites from the keynote and hints at future content covering related devices, like the Galaxy Note 2, with a quick sign-off and transition to the next video. The overall takeaway is a cautious optimism about Apple’s direction for desktops, tempered by practical considerations around upgradability and future Mac Pro revisions.

Topics · technology · computers