Apple is trying to calm professionals who are concerned the company is abandoning them and macOS. The iPhone maker revealed its plans for a new Mac Pro with a pro display today, and it’s also announcing plans to release pro models of the iMac. “We have big plans for the iMac,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s SVP of worldwide marketing, in an interview with BuzzFeed News. “We’re going to begin making configurations of iMac specifically with the pro customer in mind.”
Apple isn’t revealing exactly what the new configurations will be, but touchscreens will not be part of the feature set. “Touch doesn’t even register on the list of things pro users are interested in talking about,” explained Schiller to BuzzFeed News. “They're interested in things like performance and storage and expandability.”
Apple says professionals aren't interested in touch
Schiller’s admission contradicts Apple’s odd decision to place a Touch Bar on its recent high-end MacBook Pro models. Professionals have been complaining of poor battery life and performance, and a lack of traditional USB expansion ports. While Schiller is discussing the iMac in his assessment of touch, it’s clear the need for performance, storage, and expandability is also apparent on the MacBook Pro side of Apple’s Mac lineup.
Apple isn’t saying exactly when the new pro models of iMac will debut, but the company has traditionally refreshed its desktop computers towards the end of the year. Apple also revealed to Daring Fireball that the iMac is its most popular desktop for its professional audience, placing it ahead of the Mac Pro but behind its range of MacBook Pro notebooks.