07/30/2008, 1:05pm, EDT
Wednesday, July 30thfrom: www.electronista.com
Apple warning of impending Mac, iPod shortages?
Apple is warning that some products will be in short supply in the near future, according to a bulletin allegedly sent to resellers. The memo indicates that Apple is ramping down the production of current-generation iPods, along with 13-inch MacBooks, and 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros. The company has "strongly suggested" that resellers should immediately buy about four weeks' worth of iPods, as the reservoir could go dry within the next seven days. MacBook vendors are being pressured to buy three weeks' worth of stock.
Apple has traditionally let retail stocks dwindle in advance of a new product announcement, a move which reduces the burden of outdated inventory while lowering the number of customers angry at a sudden upgrade. The most recent example is the original 2.5G iPhone, which gradually disappeared in the months before the launch of the iPhone 3G.
The company has also traditionally introduced new iPods in September, and is rumored to be working on a tall-screened iPod nano, as well as an unspecified revision of the iPod touch. A redesign of the MacBook could also be in the works, marking a switch from standard Intel platforms to custom ones, and possibly with glass trackpads. The end product of this effort would be at least six to eight weeks away from shipment, say reports.
Filed under: iPod, computers, industry, Apple
Other story tags: MacBook, MacBook Pro, notebooks, iPod nano
, 
, 9
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Bookmark www.electronista.com now or subscribe to RSS feed.
Top
subscribe to comments
for this article
"..are being pressured.."
Really? How exactly is Apple "pressuring" them to buy 3 weeks of stock? Are they threatening to withhold future stock if they don't? Another example of MacNN's liberal journalistic freedom. Appears to me that Apple is simply suggesting that if retailers want to have stock for the foreseeable future they would be wise to obtain it now. Nothing wrong with that.
yes...
make sure you stock up now on soon to be outdated hardware!
easy
@Mrjinglesusa: That's easy, and there's no coercion involved. Apple is simply telling these resellers that they will be without stock for several weeks if they don't build up enough inventory within the next week to cover that period of time. For a reseller, being without inventory means not making any money on those product, and this is enough pressure to get them to stock up now. This is not an exaggeration on MacNN's part in any way, as the threat of being left without any stock for an appreciable amount of time is serious enough.
•
I hear the stampede of encroaching rumour mongers and analysts..
not a surprise
its one more step into becoming what they really want to be, a toy company. Screw power users that built the brand for years before the pink iPods came out. - note i am using sarcasm, lame i know but spare the biblical responses, if any.
Now I see the light
Hey, testudo! Thanks for setting me straight on this article. There I was, thinking Apple was being friendly by ramping down production prior to some product updates. But now thanks to you I realize it's all part of their nefarious scheming to screw their customers! Curse Apple and their vile product updates!
Hmm..
I just bought a 15 inch macbook pro last week and this news just came up..
Hmm..
I just bought a 15 inch macbook pro last week and this news just came up..
Shortages
No Offence To Any Chinese People!
I think the reason for shortages on many products is that the Chinese people who make all of the products are now preparing for the Olympics so not many people left to make them!