The new Mac Pro is out -- wait, that's a Samsung?

Samsung quietly reveals the "ArtPC Pulse Premium" -- a consumer-friendly desktop with a built-in Harmon Kardon speaker system, decent specs and a very Apple-esque shape.

Patrick Holland Managing Editor

Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.

Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials

Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.

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Patrick Holland

Oct. 11, 2016 4:21 p.m. PT

Recently, all the news about Samsung seems to revolve around the Note 7 and its problematic battery. Though, it should be noted that Samsung revealed a cool-looking cylindrical desktop computer: the "ArtPC Pulse Premium."

Despite its size, the ArtPC has decent consumer-friendly specs and yet should be able to handle some occasional gaming on its AMD Radeon RX 460 graphics chip. Of course, until we get our hands on it to test, we won't know for sure.

The most appealing part for me is the cylindrical design that features a built-in omnidirectional Harmon Kardon speaker. Combining a desktop computer with the body of a speaker isn't new -- check out the HP Pavilion Wave. The fit and finish of the Samsung seems premium -- which is probably why Samsung included that word in the name.

The ArtPC continues the trend of stout cylindrical computers: the MSI Vortex and let us not forget the 1,027-day-old Mac Pro.

The ArtPC Pulse Premium is available to preorder on Amazon in two configurations. It will be available starting October 28 in the US. At this time, Samsung doesn't have any more info to share.

Side and top view of the "Samsung ArtPC Pulse Premium."
Screenshot by Patrick Holland/CNET