Apple has a rich , if checker , history of free new Macs for hard-core computing professionals . Now that the Mac Pro has had a long - awaited revamp to Apple Silicon , rent ’s remember the day when pro Macs were towering beasts using more metallic element than the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and more plastic than a glasshouse full of Lego bricks .
Today some pro Mac users are well-chosen with a flimsy bit of aluminum like theMac mini . Wimps . We demand something that calculate like it contains a nuclear reactor . It needs to be bigger than a traveling bag with word of advice toughie all over it , hot than a barbecue and noisier than a drag car . Yes , something like the old Power Mac G5 . Here ’s a look at Apple ’s beefy , bodacious , and behemoth pro Macs over the years .
Apple I (1976-1977)
Apple ’s first computer was n’t technically a “ Mac , ” of row . The Apple I ’s users did n’t work in Final Cut , Aperture or Adobe Creative Suite . Indeed they would have conk at the very thought of MacPaint . And it ’s punishing to call them “ professional ” . Some of them look like they ’d lived tempestuous in a forest for the late half of their lives — and that was just the guy from Apple .
TheApple Iwas no slouch , but it was n’t pro by today ’s definition . It was invented by Homebrew Computer Club member Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs — and we all know that “ homebrew ” is by definition not professional . These computer hobbyists were n’t pioneering pro machines , they were turn pro machines into personal computer for the menage .
So we ’re including it here as an homage — and plus , the Apple I was certainly big enough to measure up for towboat status . It was so receptive to drug user monkey around you had to build the case yourself from bits of wood .
Apple III (1980-1983)
While the Apple I looked like a Victorian binding table , the Apple II appear like a smart electric typewriter . While used professionally , it does n’t quite lead the grade at looking knock-down enough for true Pro position . TheApple III , on the other hand , calculate much more telling and cost at least $ 4,000 . Rather than let exploiter to install upgrades within its showcase you could bribe extras that stacked on top of the computer increase its height to the extent that you had to put redundant cushions on your chair .
The Apple III Plus featured a built - in clock but even that innovative feature was not enough to save it from the scrapheap .
Lisa (1983-1985)
At $ 10,000 , the pre - MacLisawas Apple ’s most expensive computer and aimed at orotund businesses . So far , so pro . unhappily , that ’s where its pro credentials fade off as it was a closed all - in - one system that await like ET ’s head rather than an majestic Walker from Star Wars .
Just before it was driven off to the landfill , Apple rebranded the Lisa as Macintosh XL , which is certainly a more Pro name .
Apple IIgs (1986-1992)
1986’sApple IIgswas the first Apple computer to pinpoint the deep - box seat tone ( it had learn well from the Mac ) and let you to switch in and out various third - company expansions , including 8 MB of RAM and a central processor raise that pump Fe at 18MHz . With an M.
Mac II (1987-1990)
The original Mac looked way too friendly to be a professional machine . It had a goofy grinning and said “ Hello . ” We had to waitress three years before we got the super - expandableMac IIthat came in a case the size of a Christmas shackle .
It did n’t say Hello . It barged past you , knocking you to the level , and it did n’t look back to rationalise . It boasted six ( six ! ) NuBus time slot for spare bit and pieces , such as a new graphics card that could expose colors . If you wanted one with 1 M of RAM and a 40 MB hard disk it would set you back $ 5,500 .
The Mac II had many iteration before it was retire . TheMac IIxandMac IIcxwere in a small loge with just three NuBus one-armed bandit but still be a small fortune . 1989’sMac IIiciwas a boxwood so high that it was nearly a third power . If Steve Jobs had still been at Apple I ’m indisputable it would have been . It was the first Mac to have built in - color picture circuitry and despite costing $ 6,700 was one of the most popular Macs ever .
Finally , theMac IIfxwas the Daddy of the pro Macs , be a lower limit of $ 12,000 and accommodating two floppy drive and eight high - speed 64 - pin RAM time slot . It also had a kitchen range of nerveless codenames , include Stealth , BlackBird , F-16 , F-19 and Weed - Whacker . If that ’s not pro , we do n’t know what is .
Quadra (1991-1994)
Apple
Frank Casanova , who sported a curious Brian May - like capitulum of hair’s-breadth , was the brains behind the IIfx and his Quadra range continued the pro features . This fourth dimension around , the case expanded vertically in right tower fashion , starting with theQuadra 700 . The name Quadra was in part chosen from the major quadriceps muscular tissue group to show off its effectiveness . We ’ll ignore the wimpy - sounding Quadra 605/610 , but bow before the 700 , mini - towerQuadra 800 , and mighty $ 7,500Quadra 900/950machines , which had three intimate embayment and tolerate 18.6 inch eminent — a sequoia among computer sapling .
Mac clones (1995-1997)
Power Computing
Apple made the decision to let other maker make and sell Mac hardware too former to stop crappy Windows PCs from taking over the world . And it then made the mistake of lease the Mac clone makers produce pro computers — such as thePower Computing PowerTower Pro — more sinewy than Apple ’s own and with a proper Pro Power name . On his return to Apple Steve Jobs withdraw one feeling and quickly drink down off the ringer , and we were back with a not - so - brainy range of professional Macs to opt from . ( But not for long . )
Power Mac (1994-1998)
The first Power Macs looked much like the Quadras they supersede but pack new PowerPC processor . ThePower Mac 8500was bighearted but , at a simple 15 column inch in height , no compeer for the near-19 - inchQuadra 900 . Even thePower Mac 9500measured just 17 inch tall , but it was the most expandable Mac yet , with six PCI slots and seven internal drive bays . Seven ! Unlike today where Apple hates the sentiment of users tinkering under the bonnet , the 9500 did n’t even transport with a graphics card . Youhadto add your own .
The laterPower Mac 9600came in a new - look grammatical case , which at 9.7 inches was the widest Mac tower ever , and was the well-fixed to get deep down to add up to six drive , 12 memory cow dung , and six PCI cards .
Power Mac G3 (1998-1999)
TheBlue & White Power Mac G3came in easy - to - open iMac - like colored polycarbonate . The Apple logo was squeezed in between the giant “ G ” and “ 3 ” and cue many of a tike ’s toy . And it kind of was . The G3 had just four tup slots , no SCSI , and a very forgettable keyboard and mouse .
Power Mac G4 (1999-2004)
Predictably , Apple followed up the Power Mac G3 with thePower Mac G4 . ( We ’ll discount the very non - towerPower Mac G4 Cube . )
Apple went a bit kooky with the Power Mac G4 , launching several variations on its tower design , starting withGraphite , move toQuickSilver , and ending up withMirrored Drive Doorswith faux air yap . However , the Power Mac G4 looked more impressive and sport internal FireWire , two disjoined USB buses , and up to 1.5 GB of RAM . And some models were so noisy they realize the nickname “ Windtunnel ” , giving it special pro points . Finally , in 2000 , it became the first PC to feature Gigabit Ethernet as a standard lineament .
Power Mac G5 (2003-2005)
ThePower Mac G5really looked the part of a proper professional Mac . Its industrial aluminum case screamed Pro and it count as good with its door off as on .
Want more Pro cred ? The G5 ran so red-hot , that the case was part into four freestanding thermal zone , each with its own chilling system — in face it dissolve your desk . Its nine fans occasionally earmark you to dissemble that you wreak on the deck of an aircraft aircraft carrier in a state of emergency .
Mac Pro (2006-2013)
At last , a pro Mac actually namedMac Pro . Apple had already started calling its tight fitting laptop Pro or else of big businessman , so it was long overdue for the far - sturdier desktop behemoths .
The Mac Pro ’s aluminium - enclosure pattern was little changed from 2003 ’s Power Mac G5 and , at 20.1 column inch , was the tallest Mac tower yet . You could take the side off and use it as the cap for a lowly building . The Mac Pro dump the G5 CPU for Intel ’s more pro - sounding dual- and quadriceps - core Intel Xeon chips , with metropolis - sized names such as Woodcrest , Clovertown , and Harpertown .
But , aside from the quick chips and cheese grater design , it was barely updated and lacked then - current engineering science such as SATA III , USB 3 , and Thunderbolt , despite some of these being available in puny non - Pro Macs .
Pro Mac history: 17in MacBook Pro (2006-2012)
Apple had been call in its top - last MacBooks “ Pro ” since 2006 , but it was the frankly giant 17 - column inch model that sincerely merit the form of address . While all the other MacBook Pro models could be used by amateur who hog tables at Starbucks , the17 - in MacBook Prowas a creature fit only for the professional — specifically one with a big backpack and strong shoulders .
Its “ unibody ” natural enclosure was a individual slice of aluminum , more or less the size of a giant jet plane ’s pinch release doorway . It had an option for a matte anti - glare display , for pro designers who quail at the flock of a glossy screen that everyone else would have coo over . right .
Mac Pro (2013-2019)
Every now and again Apple innovation caption Jony I ve would tire of refine the same old Mac case and enclosures , and demand to be tolerate to show off with something so wacky that everyone would resume bowing at his Clarks Wallabees shoes .
In 2013 , Apple gave him a guess at relieve oneself theMac Prolook like nothing else ever designed by anyone on Earth , and he came up with something like a shiny trash can from distance . ready it just 9.9 in marvellous and just 6.6 inches in diameter — less than an 8th of the size of it of the old Mac Pro — Ive had outdone himself . Even the silly Power Mac G4 Cube looked sensible next to it .
Its very noncylindrical and monumental Mac Pro predecessor boasted four hard - drive bay laurel , two optical - drive bays , and four PCI Express slots , and you could even add a RAID placard to countersink up an interior RAID array . Its cylindric forerunner , on the other script , had none of these professional expansion muscles , just a handful of one-armed bandit at the back so the respite of your desk was ruined by a large number of ugly , non - Apple boxes ( that all , of course , be a whole bunch excess ) .
In ourMacworld reviewwe depict how the new Mac Pro “ may be exactly what you want ( a body politic - of - the - art , multi - core - C.P.U. , workstation - GPU information processing system that does n’t neutralize place and resource on expandability you may never use ) , or nothing like what you need ( a workhorse tower with tons of bays and slots for enlargement ) . ”
Even I ve walk forth from the design with nary a glance back at his wonder - child , with the unloved piston chamber holding the phonograph record for the least update Apple product of all prison term at a staggering 2,182 days — just short of the duration of World War 2 .
Pro Mac history: iMac Pro (2017-2021)
In April 2017 Apple held its deal up about how useless the cylinder Mac Pro design was and forebode us a totally redesigned Mac Pro . At the metre , Apple ’s aged frailty president of Software Engineer , Craig Federighi allow that “ we designed ourselves into a thermic corner . ”
In the lag , Apple wrap out theiMac Pro — which looked just like a 27 - column inch iMac but in a extremely attractive Space Gray color with appurtenance to match . Some ( very wealthy ) the great unwashed bought the iMac Pro just to get their hand on the shiny Space Gray mouse .
Sadly , it suffered the same non - expandability as the alien wastebasket . Its solid - state drive was non - drug user - replaceable as the SSD module were paired cryptographically with Apple ’s T2 chip . It never received an update before it was retire in 2021 . There are rumors , however , that anew iMac Promight be in the works .
The iMac Pro was certainly muscular , but despite its name , it was still really just a powerful iMac .
Mac Pro (2019)
Embarrassed by its piston chamber Mac Pro , Apple run back to the drawing gameboard — actually 2006 ’s original Mac Pro drafting plug-in , which itself was just the drawing off table used for the Power Mac G5 . Apple did n’t waste its drawing circuit board .
The newMac Prowas again a hulking metallic brute . Like 2006 ’s Mac Pro , it had hole at the front ; this clock time with the cheesegrater side for really concentrated cheese , unlike the 2006 soft - cheesegrater expression that could plow only crumbly American cheese . Fully loaded , the new Mac Pro be nearly $ 55,000 , an expense claim even a banker would go on , although that does include a band of $ 400 stainless sword wheels .
Mac Studio (2022)
It might not have the discussion Pro in its name , but with an Ultra processor and a ho-hum case , theMac Studiois every bit a pro equipment . In 2023 , the M1 Ultra was updated to an M2 Ultra .
If it succeed Apple ’s other escaped naming conventions it might be call a Mac mini Pro or a Fat Mini Pro .
It ’s the fastest central processing unit Apple do and performs even better than a maxed - out 2019 Mac Pro be 10 time as much . Until the Mac Pro got its Apple silicon makeover , the Mac Studio was Apple ’s fastest Mac and the dear pick for pros .
Mac Pro (2023)
Apple took age to update its 2019 Mac Pro with its Silicon C.P.U. technology — I pray that no one latterly forked out $ 55,000 for the honest-to-goodness one with ye olde Intel at bottom .
build up with a 24 - core CPU , 76 - core GPU M2 Ultra processor and 192 GB of RAM , Apple says that it is 3x faster than the Intel version that it still reckon like — but cost just $ 12,299 amply equipped as a rack climb or $ 100 trashy with stainless steel frame with wheel . determine out more about thenew Mac Prohere .
