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from the it's-not-bricked-if-you-CAN-restore-it dept.
MacRumors reports Restoring a Bricked iMac Pro Requires a Second Mac and Configurator 2:
"If an iMac Pro becomes unresponsive and requires restoring, like if there's a power failure during a software update, there are a special set of instructions iMac Pro users must follow, which require a secondary Mac."
As outlined in an Apple Configurator 2 support page, an iMac Pro restore requires a second Mac running macOS High Sierra with internet access and Apple Configurator 2.6 or later installed.
[...] This restore process is similar to what must be done for an iPhone or iPad that is unresponsive, and it is necessary due to the extra security afforded by the Apple-designed T2 chip ... [which] integrates the system management controller, image signal processor for the camera, audio controller, SSD controller, a Secure Enclave, and a hardware encryption engine.
(Score: 2) by Rich on Monday December 18 2017, @10:30PM
Note that I wrote "these sort of things will keep me away", not "this particular thing". For one, the number of hoops we are made to jump through to craft a system to our liking is steadily increasing, especially if we have to cater for things outside of the hipster universe. Today, I got surprised by an e-mail with a purchase order. A customer's external device was discontinued and I have to make a newer one fit - this is on FFS Tiger, which runs the main application in, hold your breath, Classic. If the customer had to entirely upgrade the system, that would be a multi-million job with all the mandatory V&V and paperwork, because it's a controlled market (medical). To reasonably build for that, I need XCode 3.2, which is completely no-go past Mavericks. I have that on my refurb Mac, but it already was a nightmare to get it going - and I can be glad that the machine doesn't (officially) work past El Capitan, so I don't run the risk of being locked out of my work by some automatic (High Sierra, or anything else?!) file system conversion.
If you want to call it "conspiration theory", this looks to me like the path to take the end users' power away to set up their own system and force them into subscription dependencies. Further elaborating on this will eventually need its own essay.
The other thing has been the service nightmare I've experienced with my RMBP when the RAM failed. I ended up finding a replacement logic board literally on the other side of the world, and (with the needed assistance of a top-grade Wiha Pentalobe screwdriver) it's back in service, but never again shall I spend such a ridiculous amount of money on stuff with all the components being soldered down BGAs. There's no excuse, because I know how it works with the T-Thinkpads: FRU number into the search bar, two or three clicks, and the machine is back in business within 48 hours (though that gets worse too, these days. see "conspiration theory" above).