A pple resellers are reporting solid sales of new PowerBooks and Mac minis but have yet to receive any iPod shuffles, brokerage house PiperJaffray told clients in a research note today.
"Initial inquiries for the PowerBook updates are in line with reseller expectations," said Gene Munster, senior research analyst. "That said, the majority of resellers believe that the update to the PowerBook line will add demand that they would not have expected if there had not be an update to the PowerBook line this quarter."
PiperJaffray believes that many potential PowerBook customers are still waiting for a G5-based laptop, but the firm doesnit expect one to arrive at any time in 2005.
Most of the 10 Apple specialist resellers PiperJaffray spoke to had received several Mac minis and feel that interest is "fairly strong, but are expecting more significant demand when Apple increases its marketing of the product."
Resellers reported very strong demand for the iPod shuffle, but to date none had received any shipments of the miniature music players. "Big demand, zero supply," one reseller said, while another added that they "would sell 25 shuffles right now I had them."
Last week, PiperJaffray surveyed all of Appleis retail stores and found that none had any Mac mini or iPod shuffles in stock, with strong demand for both.
PiperJaffray maintains an "Outperform" rating on Apple, with a $100 price target.