Apple Mac Pro Orders to Begin Thursday

Apple will start taking orders for its high-end Mac Pro desktop computer on Thursday.

The black, cylinder-shaped machine is assembled in Austin, Texas, consistent with Apple’s pledge to move manufacturing of an existing Mac line to the U.S.

The Mac Pro, long considered a workhorse among graphics and film professionals, is now one-eighth the volume of the previous, boxy model, and is about 10 inches tall. With a starting price of $2,999, the computer can be configured with a faster processor, more memory and other attributes.

Apple isn’t making the Pro available for immediate pickup at a retail store. Customers must order online or at a store for delivery or store pickup. Initial orders will be shipped right away, but backups of days or weeks are possible.