Categories: MacWorkspace

Report: Super-Thin iMacs To Arrive On Time

Apple’s newest 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs are on track to meet their respective November and December sales dates, according to a 19 November report from 9to5Mac. The report refutes an earlier media report of a design-related issue potentially preventing the all-in-ones from arriving before the holidays.

“Our sources say that Apple is already shipping new 21.5-inch iMacs to its distribution hubs across the United States and several other countries around the world,” 9to5Mac reported.

Christmas delays?

It added that while the 27-inch iMacs also seem to still be launching in December, as promised, “our sources say that there is a high chance that they will be available to order from Apple’s online store at the same time, or around the same time, as the 21.5-inch models.”

MacBidouille, a French Apple news site, had reported earlier the same day that it learned from a “commercial source” that the 21.5-inch iMac was scheduled for a 27 November release but was facing delays that might have gift-givers offering Christmas IOUs.

“Apple seems to have more problems than expected because of the new manufacturing process of these iMacs, which passes through a system of welding of aluminum under a high-pressure system [similar to that] used to assemble the wings of some aircraft, such as the Airbus A380,” MacBidouille reported, according to a loose translation from Google.

Apple introduced the new iMacs at a San Jose event on 23 October, describing them as built “with an unprecedented level of fit and finish”.

The new iMacs take up 40 percent less volume than their predecessors, reduce reflection by 75 percent, include Nvidia GeForce processors and quad-core Intel Core i5 processors that help to make the systems 65 percent faster, and even use up to 50 percent less energy.

At their thinnest points, the displays taper to just 5mm.

Thin display

“The all-new iMac is unbelievably thin, yet packs an incredible amount of performance and technology into our most innovative desktop,” Phil Schiller, Apple’s head of marketing, said in a statement accompanying the device’s launch.

The iMacs’ glass displays are attached to essentially a bent aluminum stand – a thin curve that, in profile, resembles a rounded corner of a billiards triangle and is where MacBidouille seems to be suggesting the issue resides.

9to5Mac, while refuting the delay claims, added that even with shipments on time, Apple will no doubt still be hustling to get iMacs through its doors. Writing that iMacs will be in “relatively short supply” at launch, it pulled a quote from Apple chief executive Tim Cook, during Apple’s 25 October earnings call.

“In terms of general shortages… on the iMac, we’ll be constrained for the full quarter in a significant way…” said Cook. “There will be a short amount of time to manufacture and ramp those, and I expect demand will be robust. … We will have a significant shortage.”

Do you know all about UK tech leader ARM Holdings? Take our quiz!

Originally published on eWeek.

Michelle Maisto

Michelle Maisto covers mobile devices, Android and Apple for eWEEK and is also a food writer.

Recent Posts

Spyware Maker NSO Group Found Liable In US Court

Landmark ruling finds NSO Group liable on hacking charges in US federal court, after Pegasus…

19 hours ago

Microsoft Diversifying 365 Copilot Away From OpenAI

Microsoft reportedly adding internal and third-party AI models to enterprise 365 Copilot offering as it…

20 hours ago

Albania Bans TikTok For One Year After Stabbing

Albania to ban access to TikTok for one year after schoolboy stabbed to death, as…

20 hours ago

Foldable Shipments Slow In China Amidst Global Growth Pains

Shipments of foldable smartphones show dramatic slowdown in world's biggest smartphone market amidst broader growth…

21 hours ago

Google Proposes Remedies After Antitrust Defeat

Google proposes modest remedies to restore search competition, while decrying government overreach and planning appeal

21 hours ago

Sega Considers Starting Own Game Subscription Service

Sega 'evaluating' starting its own game subscription service, as on-demand business model makes headway in…

22 hours ago