Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode centers on the hosts’ reactions to the new Mac Pro and Casey’s newly arrived iMac Pro, including whether to update to Catalina, how much the Mac Pro configurator can inflate the price, and whether Apple’s pro hardware ecosystem is actually useful or just extravagantly expensive. John walks through his eventual Mac Pro order, while Marco and Casey debate its practicality, upgradeability, and the absurdity of the Pro Display XDR pricing.
Main Topics: Casey’s new iMac Pro and Catalina hesitation: Casey describes finally getting a working iMac Pro, appreciating the speed and stability, but resisting Catalina because the benefits don’t clearly outweigh the risk of upgrading a stable machine. Mac Pro configurator deep dive: John and the hosts methodically review CPU, RAM, GPU, storage, Afterburner, wheels, and accessories, debating which parts are worth upgrading and which are extravagant or unnecessary. Pro Display XDR cost and configuration: The conversation spends significant time on Apple’s new display, especially the standard vs. nanotexture glass decision, the price of the Pro Stand, and whether the monitor is justified for non-video professionals. Upgradeability and Apple’s pro strategy: The hosts discuss whether Apple will continue to support or expand the Mac Pro ecosystem, including future GPU modules, third-party parts, and what ‘coming soon’ really means. Value, discounts, and total system cost: They examine Apple Card cash back, AppleCare, tax, and possible discounts to reduce the final price, while acknowledging the absurdity of spending this much on a computer setup. Peripheral and accessory tradeoffs: They consider wheels vs. feet, Magic Mouse vs. trackpad, webcam options, AUX power cables, and the practical utility of various Mac Pro add-ons.
Key Arguments: A stable machine should not be updated to Catalina without a clear need; the risk of changing OS versions must be justified by a specific feature. The Mac Pro is compelling because it is genuinely modular and upgradable, unlike many other Apple machines, but its future depends on whether Apple keeps supporting the platform. The base GPU is acceptable for many users, especially since it preserves a slot, but more powerful GPU options are far too expensive for casual use. The 96GB RAM option makes sense because 64GB is unavailable and future-proofing matters more than small savings on a machine this expensive. The 4TB SSD is the sensible internal storage choice because storage is hard to change later and external storage is less convenient. The Pro Display XDR is a luxury purchase; nanotexture glass is not worth the extra money and creates anxiety about cleaning and damage. AppleCare is especially important for the display because a monitor failure is costly and difficult to service, even if the coverage window is limited. The Mac Pro’s total value is highly dependent on whether the buyer actually needs its edge-case capabilities; for most users, an iMac Pro remains enough. John’s eventual purchase is driven as much by desire and long-delayed satisfaction as by actual necessity. Apple’s pro ecosystem is attractive only when the hardware and software roadmap remains credible; otherwise buyers risk being stranded by future ARM transitions or neglected product lines.
Data Points: Casey’s iMac Pro setup time: Monday afternoon/evening - He said he spent that time setting up the new computer and now has a working machine. Casey’s iMac Pro CPU: 10-core - He says his iMac Pro is 10-core and compares it to John’s likely Mac Pro choice. Casey’s iMac Pro storage: 4 TB - He states his iMac Pro configuration includes 4 terabytes of storage. Casey’s iMac Pro RAM: 64 GB - He says his iMac Pro has 64 gigs of RAM. Mac Pro base price: $5,999 - Starting price for the Mac Pro tower in the configurator. Default Mac Pro CPU: 3.5 GHz 8-core Xeon - The stock processor listed on the configurator. CPU upgrade cost to 12-core: +$1,000 - John’s preferred CPU jump from 8-core to 12-core. CPU upgrade cost to 16-core: +$2,000 - The next step above the 12-core option. CPU upgrade cost to 24-core: +$6,000 - The expensive high-end CPU option discussed and dismissed. CPU upgrade cost to 28-core: +$7,000 - The most extreme processor upgrade discussed. RAM default: 32 GB - Base memory in the Mac Pro configuration. RAM upgrade to 48 GB: +$300 - Cheapest RAM upgrade option mentioned. RAM upgrade to 96 GB: +$1,000 - John and Marco both settle on 96 GB as the sensible choice. RAM upgrade to 192 GB: +$3,000 - Higher memory tier discussed in the configurator. RAM upgrade to 384 GB: +$6,000 - The configuration used by some review units/YouTubers. RAM upgrade to 768 GB: +$14,000 - One of the extreme memory tiers mentioned. Max RAM option: 1.5 TB - Requires the 24-core or 28-core CPU option and is priced around $25,000 over base. Base GPU: Radeon Pro 580X with 8 GB - Default graphics option in the Mac Pro. GPU upgrade to Vega 2: +$2,400 - First major GPU upgrade option. Dual Vega 2 option: +$5,200 - Two Vega 2 cards / higher-end dual configuration. Most expensive GPU setup: +$10,000 - Two highest-end GPU cards discussed as excessive for most users. Storage default: 256 GB SSD - Default storage in the Mac Pro and criticized as too small. Storage upgrade to 1 TB: +$400 - First storage upgrade option. Storage upgrade to 2 TB: +$800 - Next storage tier. Storage upgrade to 4 TB: +$1,400 - Recommended by the hosts as the sensible internal storage choice. Storage 8 TB: Coming soon - Not yet available at the time of the discussion. Afterburner card: $2,000 - Apple’s FPGA-based accelerator card for certain video workflows. Mac Pro wheels: $400 - Optional frame replacement with wheels; debated for mobility and aesthetics. Pro Display XDR standard glass: $5,000 - The display option John ultimately chooses. Pro Display XDR nanotexture glass: $6,000 - The anti-glare version that costs $1,000 more. Pro Stand: Included as a separate expensive option; chosen by John - The stand is part of the display setup and is treated as a major extra cost. AppleCare for Mac Pro: $300 - Coverage for the computer itself. AppleCare for Pro Display XDR: $500 - Coverage for the display; more expensive than Mac AppleCare. John’s configured Mac Pro subtotal: $9,399 - Computer-only subtotal after choosing 12-core, 96 GB RAM, base GPU, and 4 TB storage. John’s configured total with display and accessories: $17,207.19 - Final bag total including taxes and AppleCare-related items. Estimated tax mentioned: $858.34 - Casey’s approximate tax estimate for the configuration. John’s estimated delivery window: Dec 27 to Jan 6 - Delivery estimate after he orders the Mac Pro. Display delivery window: Dec 30 to Jan 7 - The monitor could arrive later than the computer. Monitor compatibility note: Any Mac with Thunderbolt 3 plus Blackmagic eGPU / Pro models, 2018+ Macs - Marco notes Apple’s compatibility list and the iMac Pro omission.
Pivotal Quotes: "I finally have a working computer, and the first thing I want to do on it is replace its pretty much fine, mature-ish OS with a less fine, less stable cutting-edge one for no benefits." — Casey: Casey jokes about wanting Catalina despite just getting a stable iMac Pro. "For the first time in history, the three of us are using Mac Pros." — Marco: A playful debate over whether the iMac Pro counts as a Mac Pro-class machine. "I would rather be really upset for a little while about how much money I spent on the right product than buy the wrong product and be kind of upset about it forever." — Marco: Explaining why he prefers the right expensive display over a cheaper compromise.
Implications: The episode reinforces that Apple’s pro gear is now aimed at a tiny, high-spending audience with real workflow needs. For everyone else, the iMac Pro remains the better value, while the Mac Pro/Display XDR combo is a luxury bet on Apple’s future commitment to modular pro hardware.