Comments on: Apple’s ‘Made in USA’ computer likely to be Mac Pro

By: skytouch09

skytouch09 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:05:59 +0000

I’m betting on the Mac Pro. As ken1w noted, the Mini and Mac Pro are unique in being Apple’s remaining computers without a monitor. Perhaps these two lines will merge, as evolving standards (e.g. Thunderbolt, SSD) are lessening the need for large chassis and elaborate cooling systems. Tim Cooke has alluded to a completely rethought professional machine; I anticipate something like a taller mini with improved cooling, a few more internal expansion options, and easier user servicing.

By: Raymond in DC

Raymond in DC — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:39:55 +0000

I too would love to see a Mac Pro/Server product. Some ten years ago, at my suggestion the Research section of a major Federal office procured an Apple Xserve (dual-G4) and Xraid. Both were manufactured in the US, and both were great boxes. In several years of use we experienced only one software and one hardware issue. The first involved the inability to NFS-mount a multi-terrabyte file system. That was fixed with the next OS update. The second involved a failed power supply, which was replaced on-site under warranty.

By: Grrrrilla

Grrrrilla — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:25:31 +0000

I heard that to keep costs down and quality high they’ll be importing Chinese laborers for 6-month shifts on a rotating work visa plan to staff the plant. They wanted to have longer cycles, but research suggested that the workers start eating more than they earn and their health begins to fail.

jk?

By: Crabapple

Crabapple — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:31:38 +0000

It came back so fast, I kicked myself!

By: hannahjs

hannahjs — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:15:08 +0000

I expect it was “returned to sender” as most countries prohibit the shipment of body parts

By: Crabapple

Crabapple — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:49:57 +0000

hannajs, Last time I stamped my foot, it got posted!!! Ha! Ha! Haaa!!!

By: PatchyThePirate

PatchyThePirate — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:35:07 +0000

My prediction:
Announce made in America Mac Pros in early 2013. Then at WWDC announce a line of touch enabled macs (iTouch), along with the next OSX version, that are a hybrid between iPad and iMac, with a flexible hinge (made possible by liquid metal’s elasticity), that would allow for an easy vertical to horizontal transition. With the same computing power as the MBA to keep costs down, it would not only be a great consumer device, but it would also be a perfect thin client for small business, education, kiosks, payment register, art, drafting.. etc.

By: Clasqm

Clasqm — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 09:29:43 +0000

200 workers? In the packing and distribution department, maybe. 200 robots sounds more likely.

By: Ballmer's left nut

Ballmer's left nut — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 07:35:01 +0000

What a laugh. What’s the selling rate of a Mac Pro these days? 1 a day? That’ll be 30 a month. 200 workers to assemble 1 product a day. Greatest joke on earth.

By: iSundanceTaos

iSundanceTaos — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 06:20:27 +0000

I assume the new Mac Pro’s price will go upward slightly given the relative high labor cost here in the USA.

By: payshunz

payshunz — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:40:20 +0000

Egads, YES! I just tried their website on my new iPhone and was SHOCKED at the ads! Won’t make that mistake again.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:27:51 +0000

Amen!

By: Gerry Attrick

Gerry Attrick — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:08:34 +0000

One of the reasons the Mac Pro is more popular in the US is that it is a ripoff in other countries. In Australia we pay an absolute premium for a Mac Pro despite being closer to China and our dollar higher than the greenback.
Sure, volume may have something to do with it but when you order on-line from the Apple Store, they are all coming from the same place.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:32:52 +0000

The only reason I could see for dropping the Mac Pro is if the Mini actually got so pumped up that it filled that niche. It’s getting fairly close now.

That said, I’d love to see some kind of a Mac Pro/Server product. I doubt that will happen with Apple trying to push us all (kicking and screaming) toward the cloud. Still, I’d dearly love to see a replacement for the defunct server line. We’re currently using two old G5′s on our home network as file/media/backup servers. High capacity HDs are now cheap and easily installed.

By: Agent Provocateur

Agent Provocateur — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:02:59 +0000

The last Macs produced in the US were the BTO Mac Pros. My bet is a return to form.
My Quad Core Mac Pro is ready to find a new home as soon as Apple pulls the trigger.

By: Ralph M

Ralph M — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:29:17 +0000

This has the potential of being a gigantic public relations win for Apple, especially if it involves more than mere assembly. Savings from the reduced costs of shipping a large, heavy computer may mostly offset any additional labor costs. In my mind, this is a brilliant move for Apple.

By: muddygun

muddygun — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:21:48 +0000

I remember Tim Cook in that NBC interview says that all products are made here and just assembled in China because they have a workforce that can mentally comprehend it. If we go by that quote, then I would say its a Mac pro that gets built in the US because I know tons of people who love to build their own computers and its the easier of the macs to build. So, my bet is on the mac pro.

By: hannahjs

hannahjs — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:16:17 +0000

It had better be, Zeke. Last year I threatened to stamp my foot in frustration if Tim Cook didn’t come through with a refresh of the Mac Pro. Nobody wants that. (Stamped foot, I mean)

With Apple’s new management team rolling now, I don’t see Ive, Mansfield, or any of the others shunning the Mac Pro or kicking it to the curb. The overall integrity of Apple is at stake, much more than just retaining fan loyalty.

The article’s evidence for a “made in USA” Mac Pro is persuasive. Even more compelling, Apple’s capital expenditures have expanded to mammoth proportions since 2010, showing a long-term strategic interest in controlling more of the production process*. Owning domestic factories would add to its high vertical integration, an architecture so successful that the other tech titans, even Microsoft, are trying to emulate it.

“Those jobs are never coming back.” Maybe not, but Apple is preparing new profit centers, perhaps absorbing higher domestic labor costs for a time until the plants are fully automated. The key is to attract enough brilliant engineers to build them.

*
http://www.asymco.com/2012/11/07/recapex-the-curious-case-of-apples-2012-and-2013-capital-expenditures/

By: Danox

Danox — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:44:38 +0000

Moron again Apple will sell 200,000-500,000 Mac Pro’s world wide at profit.

By: Zeke

Zeke — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:28:27 +0000

I said it would be the Mac PRo several days ago.

By: ken1w

ken1w — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:20:50 +0000

I think Mac Pro AND, later, Mac mini. Yes, both have lower volume than other Mac models. But they also lack a key component. A built-in LCD display.

The display component is manufactured in Asia, and it is physically the largest (and probably most fragile) simple component of any Mac with a built-in display. So it makes more sense to keep the manufacturing and assembly locations relatively close geographically, instead of having to ship the LCD to some location in the U.S. first, then ship the completed Mac to world-wide markets (including back to Asia).

Tim Cook is all about efficiency…

By: mredofcourse

mredofcourse — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:06:15 +0000

I don’t know, it seems like the fact that we’ve already seen some iMacs with the Made In USA stamp, makes it likely that it’s the iMac.

On the other hand…

It seems like a Mac Pro would be *easier* to produce in America, and be much higher margin. Anyone who’s ever worked on a Mac Pro versus an iMac, MacBook, or iOS device would definitely agree that the current Mac Pros are very easy to disassemble and put back together.

Additionally, I’d wonder if the Mac Pro was a higher volume in America than elsewhere, and if the shipping costs of bring them here count in the equation.

Also favoring the Mac Pro might be a build-to-order issue where orders are sent directly to the plant where the Mac Pros are assembled based on the order and shipped immediately (and more locally without customs).

Relatively smaller volume makes this better suited for a trial.

By: Wrong Again

Wrong Again — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:56:43 +0000

It’ll be MacPro because the potential downside will be tiny. If EVERYONE in the world that wanted one and bought one (all 70 of them) and found a problem, that’s only a few of 70 computers that need to be replaced.

Maybe later on to do serious volume builds on their more popular lines, but for now, only the low volume MacPro would be the only reasonable choice for American production.

By: I love Apple

I love Apple — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:37:20 +0000

Good idea. Hope labor in the US is affordable so we can get some of those in Europe at affordable costs. To me the MacPro still is the best Mac at all (besides my 15″ Retina MacBook Pro). Last week I bought three of them for my company, some resellers still have the 2010 model at some discount so I could not resist.

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:35:59 +0000

You didn’t read the bit that says that smaller, high-price unit runs make it easier to absorb the higher labour costs, then?

By: Currentinterest

Currentinterest — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:26:11 +0000

I tend to agree. It will be one of the iMac lines.

By: derss

derss — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:08:48 +0000

The lesser quantity, the more pricey the local assembly is going to be.

So Cook most probably meant iMacs, some of which already have “Assembled in USA” label.

By: Hint

Hint — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:51:12 +0000

@MDN: Stop sending video ads to my iOS devices – you bandwidth clogging hit whores!!