**Apple's Desktop Lineup: A Mixed Bag of Hope and Disappointment**

As Apple unveiled its latest lineup of Macs, it became apparent that the company's desktop offerings are still stuck in a form factor that confuses me but gives me hope for the future. The current lineup consists of the Mac Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses.

**The Mac Mini: A Budget-Friendly Option**

The Mac Mini is not entirely user-serviceable, which can be a disappointment for those who want to upgrade their machine beyond the basic configuration. Despite this limitation, the Mac Mini remains one of the most affordable options in Apple's lineup, making it an attractive choice for those on a budget. With its mobile motherboard, mobile graphics card, and mobile CPU, the Mac Mini is essentially a MacBook Pro in a desktop body. This makes it a great option for those who need a reliable machine but don't want to break the bank. However, the lack of upgrade options beyond RAM means that users are stuck with the current configuration.

**The iMac: A Beautiful but Limited Desktop**

Apple's new iMacs are sleek and beautiful, but their design also raises questions about what it means to be a true desktop computer. The 21.5-inch and 27-inch models are both thin and efficient, making them perfect for everyday use. However, their lack of upgrade options is a major drawback. Users who want to upgrade the RAM on the 21.5-inch model have to take apart the entire machine, while the 27-inch model can only be upgraded by swapping out the RAM from within. This limits the iMac's potential as a true desktop computer.

**The Mac Pro: A True Desktop with Upgrade Options**

In contrast, the Mac Pro is the only Apple desktop that offers true upgrade options. With its desktop motherboard, desktop chip, desktop CPU, and desktop graphics card, users can swap out components at will. This makes it an attractive option for professionals who need high-end specs to run demanding applications like video editing software or 3D modeling tools. However, the current Mac Pro lineup is a bit outdated, with graphics cards from 2010 and Intel CPUs that may not be the most efficient options.

**A Potential Future Direction: Revamping the Mac Pro**

Apple could take the Mac Pro in a new direction next year, killing off the current model or revamping it to offer more upgrade options. One possible scenario is introducing a mid-range Tower with user-upgradeable components, priced around $1,800. This would cater to users who need a reliable machine but don't require the full range of high-end specs offered by the Mac Pro. The idea is also to create a super-high-end version of the Mac Pro that could retail at a price closer to $2,400, making it more accessible to professionals who need the absolute best.

**Conclusion**

Apple's desktop lineup may not be perfect, but there are some promising signs for the future. With the Mac Mini and iMac offering affordable options, while the Mac Pro provides true upgradeability and high-end specs, Apple has a chance to revamp its desktop offerings in 2013. Whether they choose to kill off the current Mac Pro or revamp it with new features and upgrades, one thing is certain – Apple's commitment to innovation will continue to drive the company forward.

**Additional Resources**

For those interested in learning more about Apple's latest lineup of Macs, check out the link below for a comprehensive overview of each device. In our next video, we'll be heading to New York to take a closer look at the United States version of the Galaxy Note 2 – stay tuned!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey what's up guys MKBHD here and as you probably already know there was an Apple event today and I did some tweeting throughout the entire event giving my impressions of what was announced this isn't a full recap video I'll leave the best ones that I can find uh down right below the like button on this video in the description so you can click to check those out sure you know where to find them people like TLD today Soldier knows best Etc but I just want to give a quick thought about something that actually struck me today that wouldn't have to do with the whole entire thing so went through their whole lineup as they usually do they introduced the new iPad 4 the iPad Mini the 13-in MacBook Pro the new iMac and the new Mac Mini and then I was actually struck by the fact that Apple's desktops still have this sort of a a form factor going on that confuses me but gives me hope for the future so basically Apple's desktop lineup right now is the Mac Mini the iMac and the Mac Pro we'll start with the Mac Mini the Mac Mini as you guys probably already know is not totally user serviceable I did the fastest Mac Min in the World Series where I did some user upgrades that aren't necessarily endorsed by Apple by putting an SSD in it on my own but basically the only thing that they want you to get at is the RAM and it's otherwise basically a MacBook Pro in a desktop body it has the same motherboard a mobile motherboard it has a mobile graphics card and it has a mobile CPU and all the components basically fit the same way a MacBook Pro does except it's in the body of a desktop and they call it the Mac Mini since it doesn't have to have a display it ends up costing less than the MacBook Pro and there you have the cheapest Mac you can get so that's a pretty good bargain and then there's the iMac with the new iMac there's a 21.5 in and a 27 in iMac and they're both really really thin and this again brings the notion of a glorified MacBook Pro it is very similar to a laptop and a desktop chassis not necessarily A Bad Thing This is easily the most efficient desktop you can get but it's still not very user upgradeable this new iMac is absurdly thin it is Beautiful by all accounts no one can disagree with that but it's uh it's so thin that the only thing you can upgrade still in the 27in only is the ram in fact you need to take apart the 21.5 in iMac just to upgrade the RAM so I can't really qualify these as true Thoroughbred desktops so that leaves the Mac Pro as the only true Apple desktop right now and I can explain basically it's the only one that has a desktop motherboard desktop chip desktop CPU desktop graphics card and desktop available upgraded components which means I can go in and swap out the ram I can go in and change out the graphics card at any time because of the way is designed now the Mac Pro that's currently being sold by Apple is currently rocking a graphics card from Route 2010 and is slightly outdated Intel CPUs so that gives me a lot of Hope for the next version of the Mac Pro which could be huge Apple could do two things with the Mac Pro next year in 2013 they could one kill it off but I don't want them to do that or they could do two to and totally revamp it just like they did with the new iMac and keep the full true desktop form factor with upgradeable components a neat idea they could do at least my idea would be having a mid-range Tower in the same form factor as a regular Mac Pro and a super high-end Tower so you could have the mid-range Tower be a little bit smaller have user upgradeable components new ibridge processor new high-end graphics cards and very very easy easy to use design you can swap in ssds and hard drives and everything like that and that could start at a price somewhere around $1,800 and then you could keep of course your pro name because the pros that are you know doing video editing in Hollywood and doing after effects and all kinds of crazy things really need the high-end specs you could sell a high-end version of the new Mac Pro and it would retail probably closer to the 2400 that you guys are starting it at right now so that's my idea for the new iMac you can give a thumbs up if you agree I said iMac I meant Mac Pro uh but that's the kind of idea I had for what they could do with the Mac Pro in 2013 other than that Apple did a great job today they introduced a lot of great new products that I'm sure a lot of you guys will be picking up let me know what was your favorite thing that was introduced today at the keynote uh my personal favorite was probably the new iMac it looks pretty awesome again I won't be getting one because it's not quite a true desktop but uh I have a Mac Pro down here and I'll be waiting for the next Mac Pro hopefully Apple gets on that get on that Apple either way thanks for watching guys just a quick overview video you guys can see all the stuff that Apple announced in the link below which will probably be someone's update video video about everything that happened and I'll talk to you guys in the very next video I'm off to New York to take a look at the United States version of the Galaxy Note 2 see you guys later peace ahey what's up guys MKBHD here and as you probably already know there was an Apple event today and I did some tweeting throughout the entire event giving my impressions of what was announced this isn't a full recap video I'll leave the best ones that I can find uh down right below the like button on this video in the description so you can click to check those out sure you know where to find them people like TLD today Soldier knows best Etc but I just want to give a quick thought about something that actually struck me today that wouldn't have to do with the whole entire thing so went through their whole lineup as they usually do they introduced the new iPad 4 the iPad Mini the 13-in MacBook Pro the new iMac and the new Mac Mini and then I was actually struck by the fact that Apple's desktops still have this sort of a a form factor going on that confuses me but gives me hope for the future so basically Apple's desktop lineup right now is the Mac Mini the iMac and the Mac Pro we'll start with the Mac Mini the Mac Mini as you guys probably already know is not totally user serviceable I did the fastest Mac Min in the World Series where I did some user upgrades that aren't necessarily endorsed by Apple by putting an SSD in it on my own but basically the only thing that they want you to get at is the RAM and it's otherwise basically a MacBook Pro in a desktop body it has the same motherboard a mobile motherboard it has a mobile graphics card and it has a mobile CPU and all the components basically fit the same way a MacBook Pro does except it's in the body of a desktop and they call it the Mac Mini since it doesn't have to have a display it ends up costing less than the MacBook Pro and there you have the cheapest Mac you can get so that's a pretty good bargain and then there's the iMac with the new iMac there's a 21.5 in and a 27 in iMac and they're both really really thin and this again brings the notion of a glorified MacBook Pro it is very similar to a laptop and a desktop chassis not necessarily A Bad Thing This is easily the most efficient desktop you can get but it's still not very user upgradeable this new iMac is absurdly thin it is Beautiful by all accounts no one can disagree with that but it's uh it's so thin that the only thing you can upgrade still in the 27in only is the ram in fact you need to take apart the 21.5 in iMac just to upgrade the RAM so I can't really qualify these as true Thoroughbred desktops so that leaves the Mac Pro as the only true Apple desktop right now and I can explain basically it's the only one that has a desktop motherboard desktop chip desktop CPU desktop graphics card and desktop available upgraded components which means I can go in and swap out the ram I can go in and change out the graphics card at any time because of the way is designed now the Mac Pro that's currently being sold by Apple is currently rocking a graphics card from Route 2010 and is slightly outdated Intel CPUs so that gives me a lot of Hope for the next version of the Mac Pro which could be huge Apple could do two things with the Mac Pro next year in 2013 they could one kill it off but I don't want them to do that or they could do two to and totally revamp it just like they did with the new iMac and keep the full true desktop form factor with upgradeable components a neat idea they could do at least my idea would be having a mid-range Tower in the same form factor as a regular Mac Pro and a super high-end Tower so you could have the mid-range Tower be a little bit smaller have user upgradeable components new ibridge processor new high-end graphics cards and very very easy easy to use design you can swap in ssds and hard drives and everything like that and that could start at a price somewhere around $1,800 and then you could keep of course your pro name because the pros that are you know doing video editing in Hollywood and doing after effects and all kinds of crazy things really need the high-end specs you could sell a high-end version of the new Mac Pro and it would retail probably closer to the 2400 that you guys are starting it at right now so that's my idea for the new iMac you can give a thumbs up if you agree I said iMac I meant Mac Pro uh but that's the kind of idea I had for what they could do with the Mac Pro in 2013 other than that Apple did a great job today they introduced a lot of great new products that I'm sure a lot of you guys will be picking up let me know what was your favorite thing that was introduced today at the keynote uh my personal favorite was probably the new iMac it looks pretty awesome again I won't be getting one because it's not quite a true desktop but uh I have a Mac Pro down here and I'll be waiting for the next Mac Pro hopefully Apple gets on that get on that Apple either way thanks for watching guys just a quick overview video you guys can see all the stuff that Apple announced in the link below which will probably be someone's update video video about everything that happened and I'll talk to you guys in the very next video I'm off to New York to take a look at the United States version of the Galaxy Note 2 see you guys later peace a\n"