Apple Mac Pro: Expensive, sleek and definitely not for grating cheese

Apple has debuted the new Mac Pro -- a dramatically retooled version of its flagship desktop computer that had not been significantly updated since 2013 -- on Monday at WWDC. It will be available starting in the fall.

The new $5,999 entry-level configuration features an eight-core Xeon processor, 32GB of RAM, a Radeon Pro 580X graphics card and a 256GB SSD, and will start shipping in the fall.

However, higher-end configurations of the 2019 Mac Pro feature some new and very heavy duty components. They include a new Radeon Pro Vega II graphics processor and a specialized graphics card, Apple Afterburner, that can process more than 6 billion pixels per second.

The device has a stainless steel frame that offers 360-degree interior access.

There's up to 28-core Intel Xeon with 300 watts of power, up to 1.5TB of system memory and eight PCIe expansion slots.

In addition to the new computer, Apple also announced a new 6K Retina display.

The new model looks more like the company's previous "cheese grater" design, which offers far greater customizability than the "trash can" aesthetic of the 2013 Mac Pro.

The 2019 version features a stainless steel frame and aluminum case that, when removed, provides unfettered access to the Mac Pro's interior.  

That makes the new Mac Pro distinct from most modern Apple devices, which are designed to be upgraded rather than easily modified (or repaired).   

A few more looks at the "cheese grater" design of the Mac Pro.  

The new Mac Pro is easily the most powerful computer Apple has ever sold, and will compete with high-end Windows-based PCs optimized for handling hardcore video editing and multimedia applications.  

For more information, check out the Mac Pro's full specs here.