Digitimes: 15.4" PowerBook Coming as PB 17" Production Ramps Up
April 14th 2003
Delays in volume shipments of Apple's flagship PowerBook 17" have been resolved, according to a report in Taiwan's Digitimes.
Supplies of the new PowerBook have been trickling into the channel, but a large number of orders have not yet been fulfilled. The Digitimes article says that only now is production being ramped up. Meanwhile Compal is expected to be prepping a 15.4" PowerBook replacement for Apple's ageing 15.2" Titanium PowerBook.
Compal is reportedly the manufacturer which was awarded the PB-17 contract, with production of the model slated to be 50,000-60,000 units. Annual production targets are not mentioned.
Apple may achieve exceptionally high gross margins on the PB-17, as the OEM price is reported to be around $1,500, with retail prices set at $3,299.
The 15.4" PowerBook rumors have existed for months, with Compal supposedly the favored contractor. The current TiBook is made by Quanta Computer.
Analysis: As IGM has reported previously, a 15.4" is likely and the TiBook has been EOL'd and is rumored to be replaced by an aluminium model by the end of this month. Get your plastic ready.