Edible Apple

When Steve Jobs began asserting control at Apple following his return in 1997, one of his first orders of business was to simplify Apple’s product line into a 2×2 matrix. Whereas Apple pre-Jobs had an inordinate number of products, Jobs completely retooled Apple’s product lineup to consist solely of notebook and desktop computers targeted for either professionals or consumers.

That strategy worked for a while, and indeed, Apple’s simplified product strategy proved to be an integral reason behind Apple’s resurgance. But now it appears that Jobs’ 2×2 matrix may soon be outdated.

AppleInsider is reporting that Apple is contemplating whether or not it should completely discontinue its current Mac Pro line amid faltering sales.

Although the Mac maker has reportedly developed a revision to the existing Mac Pro that may or may not see the light of day, people familiar with the matter said management as far back as May of 2011 were in limbo over whether to pour any additional resources into the product line.

According to these people, the consensus among sales executives for the Cupertino-based company was that the Mac Pro’s days — at least in its current form — were inevitably numbered. In particular, internal discussions were said to focus around the fact that sales of the high-end workstations to both consumers and enterprises have dropped off so considerably that the Mac Pro is no longer a particularly profitable operation for Apple.

Indeed, as personal computers continue to house more and more power, the line between a consumer and professional PC is not nearly as stark as it once was. For most people, including many professionals, a high-end iMac is more than adequate for the heaviest of lifting. What’s more, the masses these days are clamoring for notebooks, not desktops.

In Apple’s Mac business, for example, notebooks comprise 74% of total sales. Apple’s Mac business is undeniably booming, with Apple setting a Mac sales record during its last full fiscal quarter. But with the bulk of those purchases being either notebooks or iMacs, Apple’s tried and true Mac Pro may not have much of a future.

via Apple Insider