Apple, ASUS slash notebook production
updated 11:25 am EST, Mon November 10, 2008
Apple, ASUS cut notebooks
Both Apple and ASUS have dramtically cut their notebook production going into the fourth quarter of the year, says the Commercial Times. The Chinese-language paper reports that the companies have slashed outsourcing by 20 to 30 percent, affecting Quanta Computer -- a Taiwanese company thought the be the main builder of unibody MacBooks -- and Pegatron Technology, which handles production for ASUS. ASUS has suggested that its fourth-quarter shipments will be limited to 1.7 million notebooks, preventing it from reaching its 2008 goal of 6 million.
It is not clear how many MacBooks have been ordered from Quanta, but the company is believed to be shipping 38 to 40 million notebooks to all of its clients, roughly a fifth of which may be MacBooks.
Relatively unaffected may be the $999 white MacBook, which is being built by Foxconn and in its first production quota is expected to have between 300,000 and 400,000 units. The unibody reductions are being blamed on a continuing decline in public demand, most likely connected to global economic recessions.
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Slashed or trimmed...
...in my world a 20-25% pullback is a relatively routine correction after a very long bullish run - certainly not the dire 'sky is falling' scenarios that the 'if it bleeds it leads' media seems to thrive on hyping - many I know are waiting to take advantage in the bargain hunting environment that seems looming & I suspect those with cash (such as Apple) may be able to leverage their potential in the near future...