Apple Launched the Controversial 'Trashcan' Mac Pro 11 Years Ago Today

Apple's 2013 Mac Pro, nicknamed the "trashcan," marked a radical design shift with a cylindrical aluminum body and a unique internal cooling system. This design, unveiled at WWDC 2013, was a response to criticism of Apple neglecting professional users. The Mac Pro boasted impressive performance with Intel Xeon processors and AMD GPUs, but its limited expandability proved problematic. Users heavily criticized the lack of internal slots for graphics cards and memory, relying instead on external Thunderbolt 2 connections. This severely restricted upgradability and adaptability to evolving hardware. Apple acknowledged the Mac Pro's shortcomings in 2017, ultimately releasing a redesigned model in 2019. The 2013 Mac Pro's concept of a compact, powerful machine with external expansion, however, influenced the later Mac Studio. The "trashcan" Mac Pro remains a significant, albeit controversial, chapter in Apple's history. The device's failure prompted a significant redesign and a rare admission of error from Apple.