People who have already purchased a Mac Pro featuring a built-in feet currently must reach out to Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if they’d like to add wheels because the workstation lacks an interchangeable feet. Thankfully, the Cupertino tech giant yesterday confirmed that it will soon make that optional upgrade available as an aftermarket purchase.
By default, the tower enclosure features feet that make it easier to get the machine up off the floor. Adding optional wheels is great for moving the machine across your studio.
As spotted by Stephen Hackett, Apple yesterday published the Mac Pro Technology Overview (PDF link) which confirms that a customer-installable wheel kit is on the horizon:
The tower enclosure comes standard with feet; wheels are a configurable option. Both feet and wheels are available as a customer-installable kit and therefore can be converted from feet to wheels or vice versa.
You’ve always been able to configure your brand spanking new Mac Pro with optional wheels at the time of purchase for $400. Unfortunately, it wasn’t immediately clear at post time when the company might make the feet and wheel kits available as aftermarket purchases or how much these options would cost when sold as customer-installable options.
For what it’s worth, the support document does include a disclaimer in the footnote which confirms that “some options may have delayed availability” while instructing would-be Mac Pro buyers to “see the Apple online store for current availability.”
Another support document on Apple’s website cautions that a Mac Pro fitted with wheels must not weigh more than 25 kg, or approximately 55 pounds: “Computers that weigh more than 25 kg don’t comply with safety standard stability requirements, if they’re on wheels.”
Heavier computers should rest on the standard feet, Apple adds.
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Apple’s official Buy Mac Pro webpage includes the following advisory for those wondering whether to order their desktop with a stainless steel frame with feet or one with wheels:
Stainless steel frame with wheels
Customize your Mac Pro to have a stainless steel frame with wheels, which is ideal for moving your Mac Pro quickly and easily without having to lift it. Configuring your Mac Pro with wheels makes it about an inch taller than the frame with feet.
Stainless steel frame with feet
The standard Mac Pro has a stainless steel frame with feet, which is a good option if you don’t need to move your Mac Pro away from your workspace very often.
In January, Apple launched rack-mountable Mac Pro configurations starting at $6,499, with the rack mount featuring a tool‑less stainless steel slide rails in place of feet or optional wheels.