For the Mac Pro users out there, hope is on the horizon for something new to happen next year with the powerhouse desktop.

To be honest, if you're a Mac Pro user, yesterday's refresh was not what you were looking for in the least.  The processor got a bump, but the graphics chip remained the same and no Thunderbolt ports were introduced.  A lot of speculation ran rampant that this may be the swan song for the computer you find sitting in many video editing bays and under the desks of graphic artists.

The good news is, it doesn't appear to be dead, but you may need to wait just a bit longer for anything really new to happen.  David Pogue of The New York Times spoke with an unnamed Apple executive who alleviated some fears.

Many Apple observers also wonder if Apple thinks that desktop computers are dead, since not a word was said about the iMac and Mac Pro. An executive did assure me, however, that new models and new designs are under way, probably for release in 2013.

If an anonymous Apple employee isn't good enough for you, then how about Appel CEO Tim Cook?  A MacRumors reader was distraught enough yesterday about the Mac Pro that he fired off a letter to Tim Cook, and got the following response.

Our pro customers are really important to us…don't worry as we're working on something really great for later next year.

Despite the refresh yesterday, the Mac Pro has stood virtually unchanged since July 2010 and "later next year" could very well imply more than three years without significant upgrades.  So, while hope does appear to be on the horizon, it still a bit concerning that Apple is taking this long to get something new out the door.

We'll just have to wait and see what Apple will be bringing to the table, but if its late next year, it had better be something darn good.

[via MacRumors]