Cue the sad Mac face. Apple is discontinuing sales of its Mac Pro desktop tower in Europe on March 1. No, it’s not because the desktop line hasn’t been refreshed in years; it’s because the current Mac Pros do not meet new European Union regulations that go into effect on March 1, 2013. Luckily, the Mac Pro will still be sold around the rest of the world.
The specific regulation affecting the Mac Pro deals with internal components and electrical power flow. 9to5 Mac found a PDF that explains the regulations, which dictates everything from power cord length to the maximum size of screws used.
The last day that retailers may order Mac Pros is February 18, with the idea that the computers will be delivered by March 1. After that, retailers are able to sell their remaining supply, which makes us wonder how many sweet deals may pop up on the last ones in stock. If you’re travelling to Europe in the next couple of months and don’t mind hauling a 30-plus-pound desktop tower home, you’ll probably score a great deal – if you don’t mind a slightly outdated machine.
Once the big daddy of Apple’s computers, the Mac Pro was considered professionals’ Mac of choice thanks to its powerful processors, numerous inputs, and easily accessible hard drives and internal components. But it’s been a few years since the Mac Pro was last updated and it’s missing newer standards such as USB 3.0 and Apple’s own Thunderbolt port for powering large displays and fast data transfers.
Thankfully, in June 2012, Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned that the company would upgrade the Mac Pro line by late 2013. Presumably once the Mac Pro is refreshed, it’ll return to European shelves in addition to the rest of the world.
