Apple struggles with MacBook Pro demand

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Strong demand for Apple's new Intel-based MacBook Pro professional notebooks is there but supply of the computers still is not, says research and investment firm PiperJaffray.



While the MacBook Pro officially began shipping about 2 weeks ago, the firm notes that the product is still not readily available through either Apple retail stores or the company's online store.



"Specifically, in our checks over the last several days with 40 Apple retail stores, we found only 4 stores that had the MacBook Pro in stock," analyst Gene Munster wrote in a research note obtained by AppleInsider. "Of the 4 stores that had stock, there were generally only 1-3 MacBook Pros in the store."



Munster said 70 percent of the stores he surveyed have a waiting list of MacBook Pro customers, which shows that demand is clearly not the limiting component with the product. "As has been the case with the last several major Apple product releases, the company is having a hard time making the products readily available to buyers," he wrote. "The good news is that demand for the MacBook Pro is clearly not an issue."



Some comments on MacBook Pro demand received by the analyst as he placed calls to the 40 Apple retail locations were: "Sold about a dozen right away," "Received a big shipment - all sold fast," "The few we had sold quickly; demos just got in last week," "A couple models in stock; interest is high," "Receiving 2-3 daily," Recieving more by end of next week" and "Two models in stock - selling quickly."



Based on limited availability of the MacBook Pro, Munster believes his March quarter Mac unit estimate of 1.298 million units may prove to be overly aggressive. Averaging 11 other analyst models, the he found the Street to be estimating around 1.2 million units on average.



"Outside of the MacBook Pro, our checks two weeks ago with Apple specialist resellers indicated t hat they are not experiencing a significant slowdown in Macs due to customers waiting for Intel-based Macs and iPod availability is significantly better than it was during the December quarter, while iPod demand is only down "slightly," not "significantly" from December to March," Munster wrote.



PiperJaffray is currently recommending the purchase of Apple shares, given that controversy surrounding limited availability of the new MacBook Pro appears to be priced into estimates.



The firm maintains an "Outperform" rating on Apple shares with a price target of $103.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 52
    tinktink Posts: 395member
    It sure is refreshing to have the component shortages associated with new PowerPC product launches finally behind us!

  • Reply 2 of 52
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    My friend got his the other day, it's a screamer!



    No seriously it's really pretty good.







    And it's the coolest lap-top I've ever soon.



    People have commented the fact that the screen is not as tall because of the iSight!



    People are you retarded, it's because it's now officially wide-screen! (16:9) Duh !!









    p.s. It's fast, and i'm getting mine soon, can't wait
  • Reply 3 of 52
    xoolxool Posts: 2,460member
    The screen is not as tall because Apple is using an industry standard sized flat panel, leading cheaper, brighter displays. I'd rather have that and an isight than 60 extra vertical pixels, even though that's dock space we're talking about.



    It's also interesting that the AirPort antenna have been relocated to the hinge rather than being up at the top of the screen... but who knows what the rational was for that. I'd think we'd want the antennas as far away from our genitals as possible.
  • Reply 4 of 52
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Xool

    The screen is not as tall because Apple is using an industry standard sized flat panel, leading cheaper, brighter displays. I'd rather have that and an isight than 60 extra vertical pixels, even though that's dock space we're talking about.



    It's also interesting that the AirPort antenna have been relocated to the hinge rather than being up at the top of the screen... but who knows what the rational was for that. I'd think we'd want the antennas as far away from our genitals as possible.








    If you have a 15.4" screen with a ratio of 16:9, the laws of reality do not allow you to make screen any taller, regardless of wheather you want a cheaper, more expensive, brighter or darker display! This does not seem to make sense to people, it's strange.
  • Reply 5 of 52
    michaelbmichaelb Posts: 242member
    And when the Intel-iBook ("MacBook Jnr?") appears, demand will hit the stratosphere!



    But I'll still hold out for the 12"/13" MacBook Pro which I'm sure J. Ive is putting the finishing touches on right now.
  • Reply 6 of 52
    filburtfilburt Posts: 398member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Ireland

    People are you retarded, it's because it's now officially wide-screen! (16:9) Duh !!



    It's 16:10 (1440/900 = 1.6).
  • Reply 7 of 52
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member
    The only person I know who had ordered one got jerked around by Apple's online store, cancelled the order, and is now extremely happy with his new Dell laptop and is determined never to buy from Apple again. Sigh.
  • Reply 8 of 52
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    How did it "jerk him around"?
  • Reply 9 of 52
    wilcowilco Posts: 985member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Ireland

    My friend got his the other day, it's a screamer!





    Are you referring to the high-pitched whine they make when the second processor kicks in?



    Or the scream the user lets out when actually placing the hot laptop on his/his lap?



    Or the scream in frustration when discovering that they're getting one AirPort bar, despite placing the laptop next to their wireless connection?



    Is that what you were referring to?



    IMO, the "retarded" ones are those who will pay $2k+ to be Apple's guinea pigs to test out the new laptops.
  • Reply 10 of 52
    zengazenga Posts: 267member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Placebo

    How did it "jerk him around"?



    Hey Placebo!!!

    I thought you were turned over the "dark side" of the force.. What are you still doing here???

  • Reply 11 of 52
    zengazenga Posts: 267member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by wilco

    Are you referring to the high-pitched whine they make when the second processor kicks in?



    Or the scream the user lets out when actually placing the hot laptop on his/his lap?



    Or the scream in frustration when discovering that they're getting one AirPort bar, despite placing the laptop next to their wireless connection?



    Is that what you were referring to?



    IMO, the "retarded" ones are those who will pay $2k+ to be Apple's guinea pigs to test out the new laptops.




    I have a cousin in L.A. with the same attitude.

  • Reply 12 of 52
    wilcowilco Posts: 985member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Zenga

    I have a cousin in L.A. with the same attitude.





    Yes, we call it common sense.
  • Reply 13 of 52
    I don't really think it's a bad thing buying a 1st gen mac. Look at the past first gen machines, the 400mhz TiBook has had no particular problems, neither did the 1st gen Aluminum PB's. I think its actually a good investment, buying something in the beginning of its product life, it holds its value for a longer time. Look at those 1ghz PowerBooks that are going for similar prices to the 1.33ghz/1.5ghz PowerBooks (that were released a year apart). One thing is for sure though, i'd definitely buy the AppleCare option for a 1st gen MBP, and I did...just placed my order for a 1.83/120GB Friday night, not expected to ship until the 24th though ...and even though I paid for 2 day shipping, won't arrive till the 29th (something about shipping counting when it gets in the US from Shanghai).
  • Reply 14 of 52
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Placebo

    How did it "jerk him around"?



    Apple gave him a ship date, changed it a couple times, then shipped machines to people that had ordered weeks after him before his machine. He cancelled the order, got a Core Duo from Dell with identical specs, a much bigger screen and the 4x dual-layer DVD burner for less money. And he received it three days after ordering.
  • Reply 15 of 52
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by tink

    It sure is refreshing to have the component shortages associated with new PowerPC product launches finally behind us!





    Yes, it is. Since Apple's selling iMac Duo's out the wazoo it's obviously not the Intel parts, so I guess they had component shortages elsewhere. It seems Apple will always find a way to shoot themselves in the foot.
  • Reply 16 of 52
    lundylundy Posts: 4,466member
    These analysts apparently did not listen to Tim Cook during the quarterly earnings conference call where he explicitly stated that Apple would not be able to keep up with initial demand on the MacBook Pro.
  • Reply 17 of 52
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    OK 'Wilco'
  • Reply 18 of 52
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Booga

    Yes, it is. Since Apple's selling iMac Duo's out the wazoo it's obviously not the Intel parts, so I guess they had component shortages elsewhere. It seems Apple will always find a way to shoot themselves in the foot.



    It's not shooting themselves in the foot. Like the article says, it's an excuse to hike up the prices. I'm not saying that it's deliberate, but I am saying that Apple finds it profitable.
  • Reply 19 of 52
    deapeajaydeapeajay Posts: 909member
    It's impossible to get a dell with identical specs because there's no built in iSight, and it runs windows (which severely lowers the computer's value)



    I ordered my MBP last thursday and it's not supposed to ship till the 30th. Maybe its because I upgraded the hard drive to 120GB :/ I was originally going to wait till the second generation, but since my iBook died and I got a cash settlement from Safeware, and I absolutely need a computer, I went ahead and got one. I hope I don't regret it. I can't afford AppleCare
  • Reply 20 of 52
    hardeeharharhardeeharhar Posts: 4,841member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Tag Me Back

    It's not shooting themselves in the foot. Like the article says, it's an excuse to hike up the prices. I'm not saying that it's deliberate, but I am saying that Apple finds it profitable.



    Are they raising the prices?



    It is not profitable for Apple to provide products at a rate lower than they are demanded...
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