TwelveSouth, makers of various popular Mac and iOS device accessories, today announced a new BookArc product for the Mac Pro. Much like its BookArc products for MacBooks and iPads, the BookArc acts as a desktop stand that allows the Mac Pro to lay horizontally opposed to its usual upright orientation.
As pointed out by TwelveSouth, the horizontal mount cuts down the roughly 14-inches vertical height requirement to 7.5 inches, allowing Mac Pros to fit in rack mounts and other places the computer normally wouldn’t fit. In a rack mount, for instance, that means 5 rack spaces when using the BookArc opposed to approximately 8 spaces for the vertical Mac Pro.
The beautiful, arc-shaped stand holds a Mac Pro horizontally, cutting the vertical height requirement in half. A lower height increases the number of places you can park the most powerful Mac available, including inside professional gear racks and studio shelves…
What it looks like on a desk with several cables attached is another question (I opt to have my Mac Pro on a shelf mounted below my desk for that reason).
TwelveSouth says the BookArc is made from heavy gauge steel with a chrome-plated finish: To create this fiercely different look, Twelve South took heavy gauge steel and machined it into an elegant curve, then coated it with a gleaming chrome finish. Chrome was selected specifically because it perfectly reflects the lustrous black finish of the Mac Pro floating above it. Resting on BookArc, the mightiest of Macs is cradled by a soft silicone lined insert.
The new TwelveSouth BookArc for Mac Pro is available through the company’s website for $60. There are also a number of other BookArc desktop stand products for other Macs.
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I need that gorilla in my life, where can I get it?!
Fail. It should be slightly canted upwards to allow free convection to assist the fan. It will cause the fan to run at a higher RPM and make more noise.
Looks nice but doesn’t that screw up the thermals some? I think the vertical orientation allows for more heat to escape and not cluster around some specific component.
No it does not apple specifically says that the mac pro can be used on its side.
see here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6099?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
A quote from that page: The Mac Pro (2013) has a fan system capable of cooling the computer in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
They give you the guidelines on that page such as not putting the outlet from one mac pro to the intake on another for obvious reasons.
I’ve liked twelvesouth’s products, but this is just plain stupid.
Why on Earth would you want to lay your Mac Pro on it’s side? In addition, the cooling system is not designed to suck air in from one side and blow it out the other. It’s based on heat rising. I’d imagine your Mac Pro will run hotter with it on its side.
No it will not. Apple has a page specifically stating that the mac pro can run on its side with no ill effects. A quote from that page:
The Mac Pro (2013) has a fan system capable of cooling the computer in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
Brilliant Idea! I always wanted a less thermally efficient Mac with a larger footprint!
There are actual reasons for running the mac pro on its side. They can be rack mounted that way and consume much less space. There are rack mounts for the new mac pro that hold dozens of machines on there side. Also apple has a letter detailing how mac pros are designed to run vertical or on there side as I mentioned above.
Stupid and ugly.
Wow. The purpose of most 12 south products is to minimize space. This does not do that.
Chrome? How about polished Aluminum that comes in various colors?
How bizarre. I can’t imagine wanting my machine to be on its side.
What’s the point of this product? Why would I put a Mac pro horizontally to occupy more space?