Apple's brand new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR are now available in Australia, and the pair could cost almost $100,000 if you add all the optional extras.
The cheese-grater-shaped computer tower starts at $9999, and comes with an 8-core Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of RAM, a Radeon Pro 580X for graphics and 256GB of solid state storage.
The 2019 MacBook Pro and Pro Display XDR.
But those looking for maximum power can configure the machine with a 28-core processor, two Radeon Pro Vegas and a 4TB (4000GB) SSD. There's also an option for up to 1.5TB of RAM, which is itself a $40,000 upgrade.
Then users can opt to add an Apple Afterburner card for enhanced video editing, pre-installed editing software or a set of $640 stainless steel wheels. All that brings the tower to an eye-watering $85,598.
Meanwhile the most expensive Pro Display XDR is $9999, plus $1700 for a stand or $349 for a VESA mount adapter, bringing the maximum combo price to more than $97,000.
Unlike many Macs, the Mac Pro is user configurable and comes with a range of PCI Express slots to connect additional hardware, which could potentially blow the cost out even further.
Given Apple's recent use of the "Pro" designation in everything from iPhones to AirPods, you could be forgiven for thinking this $85,000 computer was an obscenely overpriced rig for hobbyists or gamers, and in fact many Apple fans online were quick to compare it to the price of a car or home deposit.
But in truth the components here are completely unnecessary for anything but the most intensive creative professional tasks like video game and VR development or 3D animation. The most expensive Apple desktop computer without the "Pro" designation is a fully-specced 27-inch iMac, with 64GB of RAM and the same pre-installed software, for $8627.
Emphasising its design as a high-end enterprise machine, Apple plans to soon offer the new Mac Pro in a rack configuration for use in purpose built spaces or data centres, with slide mounts instead of feet or wheels.
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