Apple finds it hard to meet iMac demand
Article Abstract:
Apple will overcome the sales backlog of its popular new iMac computer within weeks, interim CEO Steve Jobs said in a speech to software developers. Jobs said demand has outstripped the 'tens of thousands' of iMacs that Apple is shipping each week to stores since the computer's Aug 15, 1998, debut. Neither Jobs, who addressed the Seybold Seminars trade show in San Francisco, nor Apple executives, specified a completion date. Analysts say recent manufacturing process improvements will help Apple fill the back orders without significant problems. By contrast, Apple's previous struggles to match supply with demand resulted in unpredictable finances. A Gerard Klauer Mattison analyst predicted that Apple will ship 450,000 iMacs, up from 350,000, in the quarter beginning in Oct 1998. The analyst projects Apple to ship 250,000 iMacs in the current quarter.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1998
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IBM plans direct sales for some servers
Article Abstract:
IBM said it would bypass distributors to sell its popular NetFinity PC servers directly to some big customers. The move represents a shift to compete against low-priced rivals but could create losses for some of IBM's sales-channel partners. IBM intends to announce the plan today, relying on its large sales force to win back corporate customers who have chosen rivals Dell Computer and Compaq. Compaq leads the surging PC-server market with a 31% international share, and IBM holds only a 13% share. New users and new applications account for only 20% of IBM's server sales, while the industry averaged approximately 45%. The four IBM PC server brands produced revenue of $1.4 billion in 1997, compared to the IBM PC subsidiary's revenue of $12.7 billion and IBM total revenue of $78.5 billion.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1998
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Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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