Apple braces for significant shortage of new iMacs
Apple's newly redesigned iMacs will debut later in the December quarter, and the company expects the all-in-one desktops will face significant supply constraints through the end of the year.
The new 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs were unveiled by Apple this week, but the company announced the smaller version won't be available until November, while the larger one will not hit shelves until December.
"We will have a significant shortage there," Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook revealed during his company's quarterly earnings conference call on Thursday.
As Apple's desktop line has languished, MacBook products have become an ever increasing part of the company's lineup. For the September quarter, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air accounted for 80 percent of Apple's total Mac sales.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities first reported <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/08/31/iphone_5_ipad_mini_among_8_new_apple_products_coming_before_end_of_2012">in August</a> that the new screen lamination process for the redesigned iMac is apparently more difficult with the 27-inch model, which could lead to it launching weeks after the 21.5-inch option. His scoop proved accurate, as the larger iMac will launch a month after the 21.5-inch model.
<div align="center"><img src="http://photos.appleinsidercdn.com/iMac102412.001.jpg" alt="iMac 2012" /></div>
The new iMac is just <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/23/apples-redesigned-imac-is-5mm-thin-with-edge-to-edge-glass">5 millimeters thin</a> at its edges, and it features a new display laminated to the computer's edge-to-edge glass cover. Like Apple's other recent Mac updates, it lacks a dedicated optical disc drive.
In all, the design is <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/24/apple-slims-down-imac-40-with-friction-stir-welding-ditching-the-disc-drive">40 percent smaller</a> than its predecessor, thanks in part to a new "friction-stir welding" process, which Apple says "uses a combination of intense friction-generated heat and pressure to intermix the molecules of the two aluminum surfaces (of the front and back of the device), creating a seamless, precise and superstrong join."
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOtherGeoff
hard to keep that mac sales growth momentum if your desktop flagship isn't available for most of the quarter.
Since desktops account for less than 20% of mac sales and laptops momentum is only growing, it's really easy. especially if you consider the 13r and the new mini.
If the notebooks made up 80% of the 4.9 million that means there are less than million for their iMacs, Mac Pros and Mac minis (which is less than Apple TV sales). I bet the Mac mini account for most of their desktop machines sales so that leaves the iMac and Mac Pro picking up the rear.
I bet the 21.5" sells the most between the iMacs so I'm not surprised they aren't getting me my 27" iMac tomorrow.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonton
Can anyone tell me where someone in the Sates can get the absolute best deal on the low-end 2011 iMac?
B and H Photo still has the base model 21.5" model in stock, for a savings of $200. They are clearing them out for $1,099, with a discount on AppleCare too.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/767558-REG/Apple_MC309LL_A_21_5_iMac_Desktop_Computer.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
It is interesting they aren't even selling the old ones in the stores.
I bet the 21.5" sells the most between the iMacs
My local Apple Store has plenty of 2011 iMacs in stock and on display.
Doubtful that the 21.5 inch model will be popular, considering the memory is not upgradable and the hard drive is crippled at 5,400 RPM.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
I can't wait to get my hands on a 27" iMac. It is interesting they aren't even selling the old ones in the stores.
If the notebooks made up 80% of the 4.9 million that means there are less than million for their iMacs, Mac Pros and Mac minis (which is less than Apple TV sales). I bet the Mac mini account for most of their desktop machines sales so that leaves the iMac and Mac Pro picking up the rear.
I bet the 21.5" sells the most between the iMacs so I'm not surprised they aren't getting me my 27" iMac tomorrow.
It will be interesting to hear about the new ones. I'm not sure on the mini. It's not as possible to order everything you need from the Apple Store with the mini given that the thunderbolt display is somewhat at odds with a budget machine. I'm not surprised they pulled the discrete gpu. It wasn't that great an effort as far as gpus were concerned. If intel's improvements outpace the low to mid notebook grade gpus again next year, it should be comfortable. The haswell one would also support OpenCL 1.1. The current one is not capable of supporting this. The biggest thing that I find weird about the 21.5" is that they've migrated to a slower HDD format. 5400 RPM drives in a desktop just seems weird to me. It's odd prioritizing depth that has no real impact on use over performance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
Since desktops account for less than 20% of mac sales and laptops momentum is only growing, it's really easy. especially if you consider the 13r and the new mini.
OF COURSE laptops were 80% of sales. The desktop offerings were antiquated! Who would buy them? Of course instead of being antiquated they're now just lame, so who knows if there will be any improvement?
Interesting? I think it's confusing for people looking at their site interesting in buying an iMac. Even the text saying when the new models will be available is practically invisible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonton
Can anyone tell me where someone in the Sates can get the absolute best deal on the low-end 2011 iMac?
Apple Store Refurb (I think $999)
Edit: scratch that; they're $979
I always buy my AppleCare plans on eBay.
It doesn't seem to matter what country you choose, you can't buy an iMac online from Apple. It looks like going into an Apple Store or a 3rd party would be the only way to one if you really couldn't wait. This is pretty atypical. How long between the iPhone 3G announcement and it going on sale?
I wonder if they are using a 2.5" HDD in that model and are going with the slower speed for reliability for the larger capacity 2.5" drives.
It's just embarrassing that a company of the caliber of Apple cannot launch a product without shortages. And no, this is not a sign of overwhelming demand for magically awesome products. It's either a sign of poor planning or arrogant scarcity marketing, neither of which is flattering. They don't even have their own factories, so if it's really about production limitations, then they are just too cheap to pay Foxconn etc. to assemble more.
Some people are just going to have to wait it out. That's how it goes when the demand is much higher than what can be supplied. Apple stuff is simply too popular. Apple has always had a core group of faithful users who knew how great Apple's products were, but the word has gotten out now, and when you make quality products like Apple does, that has the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the entire business, you're only going to get more people wanting to get their hands on those products.
The new iMacs are crazy sexy, and people are going to wait to get theirs. Virtually nobody is going to opt for some other junk, because they have to wait for a little bit.
Assembly isn't the problem. The problem is getting the components for Foxconn to assemble.
Easy to have the desktop sales become so insignificant when you only bother to do a refresh after 18+ months & then don't even have stock to sell people.
No question the MacBooks massively outsell the desktop line but a lot of sales are lost due to the late refresh cycle over the entire line.
I feel for the poor Mac Pro users.
No need to feel poor. I love the Mac Pro. Don't need an updated processor; the thing flies. At one point I found the HDD to be slow and noisy, so I bought a PCi SSD, couldn't be happier with the speed.
I feel poor for all the iMac whiners, wanting to upgrade components themselves. In an All-in-One PC! How stupid is that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
It doesn't seem to matter what country you choose, you can't buy an iMac online from Apple. It looks like going into an Apple Store or a 3rd party would be the only way to one if you really couldn't wait. This is pretty atypical.
In fact I don't remember anything similar before. When the aluminum Powerbooks were introduced back in the beginning of 2003, you could place your order through the Apple Store even though the waiting time was very long, weeks to start with and then more than one month for the 17" model, probably even two months, I don't remember. But you could place your order. "Store" means that you can order, no matter how long it takes to deliver. Now, what's up with this?