What’s in a name? Apple’s MacBook Pro product shift paying off
When Apple rejiggered its top shelf portables and moved to include the smaller, unibody consumer model, more than a few were taken unaware. Now comes news that apparently even Apple hadn’t anticipated—users have not only accepted the move, they’re embracing it to the point of buying all available entry-level 13-inch pro portables.
Quoting analysis and data from Gene Munster and Piper Jaffray, AppleInsider reports that the mothership’s freshly-minted 13-inch MacBook Pros (MBP) have been selling well. Specifically, the 2.53GHz model, as evidenced by the seven to 10 day availability at the online Apple Store, has been selling particularly well.
“We see this as a sign that demand is outpacing the company’s build expectations, and it may take several weeks to reach a supply demand equilibrium,” Munster told clients in a research note.
Further, with the 2.53GHz 15 inch MacBook Pro also in short supply, the analyst and his minions called round to 10 brick-n-mortar retail locations to check availability, finding that seven of 10 were short of one or the other 13-inch MBP, not necessarily the faster unit.
My own calls to regional Apple Stores—Buffalo, the two Pittsburgh stores and Cleveland—revealed that all four have stock of $1,199 13-inch model and only the latter has the $1,499 2.53GHz 13-inch configuration on hand.
That said, AppleInsider speculates that the mothership’s Back to School Promotion (Apple Store), which pairs a free 8GB iPod touch with every educational Mac purchase—is likely the source of this surge.
Floats all boats
This news coincides with fresh data and analysis from NPD and Morgan Stanley, respectively, that indicates Mac sales have returned to growth since May with unit volume showing expansion in excess of 10 percent in the weeks since Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June.
Although the Back to School promo is likely part of Apple’s revived computer fortunes, another factor likely driving sales is the iPhone, which has been a proven source halo effect switchers—ie people attracted to the Mac by their experiences with Apple’s zeitgeist defining handsets.
Whatever the source, data, analysis and anecdotes all point to robust sales even as the Apple’s PC competitors and the general economy continue to lag and/or retreat.
Cupertino just keeps executing like mad men and that’s a beautiful thing…
What’s your take?
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July 7th, 2009
I didn’t know there was that many Chiropractic students. That Back School Promotion must have gotten 100% of the enrollment. {;P)
July 8th, 2009
I for one am SHOCKED that they could be selling so well with those gosh-dang ultra-glossy screens. They make it so hard to work with.
I’m either going to wait until they give an anti-glare option, or I’m going to get the regular MacBook which is glossy, but not so reflective.
July 8th, 2009
To be fair, the glossy screens aren’t that bad at all. I don’t see what all the fuss is unless you’re a graphics designer. And contrary to popular belief, not every Mac user is an idiot who can’t use a normal PC or a graphics designer, so its not that shocking that they’re selling well with glossy screens which I for one have had no issues with.