“Apple Computer is once again facing a problem that it has become all too familiar with — not enough supply of its most popular products to meet growing demand,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider.
“In particular, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company this month is reportedly struggling to fill orders for its consumer-oriented MacBook notebooks, which are arguably its most popular new product of the year,” Marsal reports.
Marsal reports, “Many customers who were expecting to receive previously-placed orders for Intel notebooks by this week got something else instead — an apology letter from Apple stating that it would be unable to fill orders within the timeframe it had promised.”
“In an attempt to form a long-term solution to its notebook supply difficulties, the Mac maker has been scouring the far east for a third manufacturing partner to compliment current partners, Asustek and Quanta. With insiders believing Apple holds the potential to sell upwards of 1 million notebook systems during its December holiday quarter, the company will surely need the added help,” marsal reports.
More in the full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple seeks third MacBook manufacturer – August 17, 2006
‘Fantastic quarter’ helps Apple double share of U.S. retail notebook market to 12% – July 19, 2006
AP: Apple’s MacBook should give makers of Windows-only notebooks nightmares – July 07, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Far from the worst problem a company could have. But still annoying.
i’m ordering one soon. I finally got my wife to agree to the allocation of funds. But I think I might hold out for the new revisions to come out with faster processors and less power consumption. But I can’t wait too long. Any advice?
There is always a faster model around the corner. Buy what you want, enjoy it and never look back.
anaknipedro,
I’m waiting for the more efficient
chips as well. It’s all about how
long you can stand to wait. I’m
gonna push my old dual 867 G4 as
far as I can.
The one I got for my wife will be here tomorrow.
anaknipedro: there will always be faster, better, less expensive macs to come out, so if you need it, just get it and be done with it. don’t look back and don’t wait trying to speculate as to what’s coming next.
It’s better to have too few than too many. Now that Apple knows the potential demand during the holiday season, they should be able to ramp up production to clear the current backlog and have enough inventory on hand. This is great news. But with THREE manufacturers, I wonder they will all do an equally proficient job of assembly.
It’s Intels fault!
They didn’t crank up enough fabs for dual cores.
Remember, Quanta and the rest also make HP and Dell laptops alongside MacBooks.
If the demand for MacBooks is high, so must be PC laptops or else at Quanta the production would just shift from PC’s to Mac’s.
Apple is realizing something too, they are going to have a hard time winning production favor from Quanta over HP and Dell.
Good problem to have – glad I haven’t ordered one yet though.
Cheers
I’m getting one for my girlfriend. Were gonna finally get rid of that pos Dell we got for her real estate job. It will join my 15in Powerbook G4 and my daughter’s iBook G4 in the house. When I dropped my daughter off at FSU this weekend, her roomate had a new Macbook and she said all her sisters had the same foe back to school.
Welcome to the real Mac world..
I wonder if Dell is facing the same problems?
Maybe people started getting tired of applying burn care products to their crotches and fire retardant underwear got too expensive.
I have some advice. Be a man, spend your money where and when you want to spend it.
loc
My wife has approved this announcement.
Could it be merom related?
This has always been a problem for Apple.
That is why it befuddles me that numerous posters want Apple to increase marketshare. Apple can’t even supply the marketshare that it has. Can you imagine the chaos if Apple’s marketshare doubled to maybe 8%!!
(BTW, I’m referring strictly to sold marketshare, not installed user base)
Hmmm . . . with all the money Apple’s making I wonder if they could conveniently and easily just fire up that former plant in Cork, Ireland that they closed? You know, it’s just sitting there now …
I seriously doubt that Apple is looking for a third manufacturing partner to compliment current partners. More likely they are looking for another manufacturing partner to complement current partners. Don’t know the difference between the two? Look them up using the built in functionality of Apple’s OS X dictionary!
I agree that you should buy the laptop when you need the laptop.
That said, I do NOT NOT NOT anticipate a new processor in the laptops too.
Why?
This article justifies the position – if Apple can sell all they can make of the current model – and there is not a substitute in the market (e.g. Dell) – then they won’t upgrade and outdate the existing model so soon (the MacBook has only been around like 3 months!)
This point is countered and bolstered with the release of the iPod nano. In order to keep the iPod brand lightyears ahead, they End-Of-Lifed the best selling iPod mini. But that is not happening the the Mac Book. It is the best consumer notebook on the market IMHO but it is not revolutionary like the iPod mini/nano.
Compare and contrast the horrendously negative news about Mafia$oft and Windoze today with this – yeah, Apple has it bad.
Call your local Apple Store(s) and ask them about their quantities in stock. The Apple stores seem to get a few hot items arriving each day regardless if they are back-ordered on line. Apple WANTS people to buy out of the stores because they create much more impulse add-ons to the sale, and thus a higher profit margin.
If they have one, ask them to hold it. Most stores will hold items for 24 hours, but they may also refuse to hold it if it is a really hot seller. Ask when shipments arrive each day to the store. It’s usually by Fed Ex and it is about 1pm in most places.
Nonetheless, it is worth attempting rather than waiting forever for it.
I was outside an Apple store last weekend in So Cal. In a fifteen minute span, I saw 6 macbooks, and 2 macbook pro’s head out the door. Seems to be flying off the shelves.
I doubt that the news that MS is apparently going to start selling Vista vapour-ware to try and rescue something of the holiday PC upgrade market isn’t going to dent Apple demand.
Personally, I can wait the few months until it come pre-loaded with Leopard – and by then it might even have a speed bump.
Ordered one for my mother in law on Wednesday last week and had it on Friday.
Certainly didn’t seen any evidence of a supply problem there.
Ordered a Black MacBook 5 minutes ago, being picked up at Burlington Store in Mass.
OH BE JOYFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is an awesome laptop.
Perhaps it is ‘compliment’. If your peers were complimentary about you, wouldn’t that make you think ‘damn, I’m good. I’m going to make twice as many laptops today!’