iMac Pro 2017 release date, specs update: Latest workstation desktop out this week

Official image of the latest Apple workstation desktop, the 2017 iMac ProApple Website

Apple first introduced the first-ever iMac Pro 2017 all-in-one desktop six months ago, promising to the Mac fans that they could lay their hands on the latest computer this December. Before the year is all over, the Apple website finally revealed purchase details of the new workstation. The iMac Pro will be available starting this week, and due to its killer hardware specs and features, it will cost a whopping $4,999.

The Cupertino-based tech giant described the iMac Pro as the most powerful desktop PC ever created. The participants at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2017 back in June were thrilled by Apple's announcement, and since then, the public has been patiently waiting for the iMac Pro's arrival. Now, The Verge has reported that the desktop will go on sale on Thursday, Dec. 14. 

It appears that Apple has surpassed all the odds to push through with the iMac Pro's late 2017 launch. While the said PC is now included in the Apple website's catalog, the specific details about its configuration and features are not yet listed. 

The Verge noted that the iMac Pro can be viewed as Apple's answer to years-long of rants by the users demanding for more powerful Mac choices. Indeed, the past few years have seen the company focusing more on the iPhone and iPad series, leaving the iMac lineup behind. With this, Apple has promised to release the iMac Pro soon.

So far, the iMac Pro 2017 has been reported to boast high-powered Xeon processors and the new AMD Radeon Vega graphics card. The desktop PC is also expected to highlight a crystal-clear 5K resolution display. The iMac Pro will run the latest macOS High Sierra OS, including the support for virtual reality platform like the HTC Vive.

It is a good thing that Apple has been committed to delivering the iMac Pro straight to the shelves before the year ends. The company is known to declare a specific release date for their products, only to be met with delays. For one, the AirPod launch was delayed for a few weeks last year. Also announced at the WWDC 2017, Apple's first smart speaker, HomePod, was supposed to be released in the same timeframe as the iMac Pro. However, instead of the late 2017 launch, the HomePod will become available early next year.