Apple orders additional LCDs


According to Digitimes, HannStar Display of Taiwan confirmed that it has received a fresh order from Apple to supply 15-inch panels for use in the new iMac. The digital daily says that the order has been pegged at 200,000 units.

Shipments for the iMac will begin in May with an initial monthly volume of 10,000 units, which could then rise to 30,000 units in the future. Digitimes reports that HannStar and LG Philips are the only two companies supplying LCDs for the new iMac, which is manufactured by Quanta Computer.

The company told Digitimes that the orders were handled directly by Apple and the completed displays will be shipped to Quanta. Hannstar's LCD shipments for the iMac are expected to reach about 200,000 units in 2002 and add about NT$1.96 billion (US$56 million) in revenues to the company's bottom line.

If the figures quoted in the article are correct, this figure translates roughly into US$280 per LCD.

Analysis: This is good news although a little late in coming for many long-suffering iMac buyers who have waited weeks for delivery. It won't provide immediate relief for consumers, but it should help reduce some of the criticism Apple has been getting from Wall Street analysts in recent weeks.