Think Secret: 17" PowerBook delays a 'ruse'


"Sad" and "embarrassing" are the words that come to mind and not because Apple has apparently been caught in a lie. It's the nature of the lie of that's really damning:

"Despite publicly saying that the top-line 17-inch PowerBook would be available in February, Apple executives privately told dealers in a meeting on January 8 not to expect the product until mid-March, if not later into April -- Apple's fiscal third-quarter," the Think Secret report states. "Customers only in the last 10 days are now being told the same information."

According to Nick, he has heard an audio recording of a dealer meeting that took place Jan 8 in San Francisco where John Brandon (vice president, Americas and Asia Pacific, Apple) made the following statements.

... "I realistically wouldn't expect 17" (PowerBook) units in your hands until mid-March at the very earliest."
... "When I say mid-March, that's my being (at my) most optimistic. I simply don't think it will happen until much later...if we get as many orders as we expect, the wait could go deep into April, depending on where you are in line."

Apple's press release announcing the 17-inch specifically on Jan 7 states, "The new 17-inch PowerBook G4 is expected to be available in February..."

Customers who ordered the 17-inch PowerBook were being told up until a week or so ago that their units would ship this month.

Think Secret's report includes more details, as well as retailer comments.

Editor's note: I suppose that Apple was ready-to-go (ie advertising, promotions, etc) with the two PowerBook models, but their Taiwanese OEM wasn't. Rather than scotch their ready-to-go ad campaign, they thought they could skate on the niggling detail that the 17-inch wouldn't actually ship until months after the ads (likely booked months in advance) began running.

Rather than bite the bullet, they lied and left thousands dangling.

Have you ordered a 17-inch PB? Are you going to cancel that order now?