Apple files hint at re-engineered iMac and Mac Pro models, potentially without optical drives
Internal configuration files in Mountain Lion make apparent references to yet-unreleased new generations of Apple's iMac (iMac13,) and Mac Pro (MacPro6,), both in the context of USB booting options …
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple’s desktop roadmap has drawn recurring redesign reports, from rumored iMac feature changes in 2009 to anticipated iMac screen-size changes for 2011. The Mountain Lion references add a more concrete software artifact to that long-running product-refresh thread.
The reported model identifiers cover both Apple’s consumer all-in-one and its professional desktop, while the USB booting references point to setup and recovery workflows as part of the redesign rather than enclosure changes alone.
First-order effects
- If the configuration-file references prove accurate, Apple’s next iMac and Mac Pro generations would move booting and system installation toward USB-based workflows.
- An optical-drive omission would remove built-in disc access for iMac and Mac Pro buyers, making external drives the fallback for disc-based media or software.
Second-order effects
- External optical-drive makers and USB-storage vendors would become the immediate accessory alternatives for buyers who still need physical media.
- Software publishers serving Mac desktop users would face stronger pressure to make installation and recovery work cleanly without a bundled optical drive.
Third-order effects
- The pairing of redesigned desktop identifiers with USB boot options points toward Mac hardware treating optical media as an optional peripheral rather than a standard platform component.
The trend: Apple’s desktop refresh cycle is aligning system provisioning with USB-based distribution while reducing reliance on built-in optical hardware.