Apple Computer has admitted to customers awaiting their shipments of dual-2.5GHz Power Mac G5s that demand is outstripping supply and that delays in shipping are anywhere from two weeks to a month. In addition, Apple reportedly is offering an alternative graphics card in place of the NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL graphics card until itis ready to ship - another product Apple can either not get an adequate supply of or canit acquire at all.
In a letter to customers provided by TMO readers, Apple said, "the demand for this item has been incredible. We are shipping them as quickly as possible, but cannot meet the ship date we previously estimated for you." TMO readers have received new shipping dates anywhere from an adidtional two weeks to four weeks, venturing into Mid-September at the earliest.
Additionally, customers awaiting dual-2.5GHz Power Mac G5 systems with the optional NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL graphics card have been told not to expect their orders until mid to late September. Customers have been given the option to substitute the card for the ATI Radeon 9600 XT w/128MB SDRAM card, but that alternative is not shipping until early September.
Customer opting for the ATI option, will still recieve a NVidia card, but not until mid-September, an Apple e-mail said. For customers wanting to use their new dual G5 system with Appleis 30-inch flat-panel Apple Cinema display, there is little alternative but to wait on the NVidia card, as itis the only option that will work.
"What choice do I really have?", said Eric Damien of Dallas, Texas. "They gave me little choice and few explanations."
An Apple spokesperson did not return calls from TMO seeking further details on the delays.
In at least some of the dual-2.5GHz Power Mac G5 delays, it appears the reason is related to unavailability or small numbers of graphics cards, but recent revelations give reason to believe others delays might be connected to manufacturing problems with the G5 processor, made by IBM.
Independent Apple retailers tell The Mac Observer they are being told by Apple that the dual-2.5GHz system is a hot selling product, but that demand is not the issue.
In Appleis conference call last month, Apple said that IBMis G5 manufacturing problems was the cause of the delay in the G5 iMac launch, which now is rumored to debut at the end of the month. Last week two research analyst firms warned of continued G5 processor shortages.