iMac also growing scarce for in-store reservations
updated 07:35 am EDT, Mon July 26, 2010
Apple hints at iMac update coming soon
Recent word of thinning Mac Pro supply has been joined today by secondary reports of the iMac now facing similar shortages. Customers trying to reserve the all-in-one for an in-store pickup are finding some 21-inch and 27-inch models listed as "unavailable." The voided stock is considered a likely sign by AppleInsider and others that Apple is readying for new models expected soon.
Details of the systems aren't confirmed but have been filtering in through rumors. The systems are now believed to use Core i3 at the low end as well as Core i5 dual-core chips at the mid range. They may also be some of the first Macs to use FireWire 3200 and USB 3.0, primarily to support fast external hard drives.
No clues have emerged of a concrete release date for either new iMacs or Mac Pro towers, but Apple normally releases new systems on Tuesdays.
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 1999
CTO = Custom-relabeled
We received a batch of 25 iMac 21.5". The manufacture date label was 5/07-5/10/2010 and they were relabeled as 6/17-6/20/2010. Apparently the production was already ramping down around that time. The typical configuration was stacked up and not going anywhere, so they were opened up and changed a bit for 'custom' orders (to meet software/RAM requirements).
7/27 or 8/2/2010. Pick one.