14 DAY TRIAL // Those end-users interested in the tablet market will likely know of what has been happening with the ASUS Eee pad transformer, and it looks like things, supply-wise, may be a bit more complicated than previously thought.
The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer was responsible for a range of conflicting feelings and opinions after it went on sale.
Basically, it sold out in a matter of minutes, and while this does seem to hint at a nice consumer demand, it was later found that short supply was more to blame for the phenomenon.
More specifically, it was discovered that some online stores hadn't even received their first batch of slates and those who did had a fairly low number of them.
Now, yet another report has emerged on this very same subject, one that paints an even less pretty picture of the entire situation.
Apparently, even though ASUS intended to ship 300,000 Eee Pad Transformers a month, it can only manage 10,000 because of component shortage.
According to reports, the problem is not that components are more expensive than what ASUS is willing to pay, but that there aren't nearly enough of them to go around.
Granted, that the slate would be in short supply was something foreseen, but the number of monthly shipments expected was of 100,000, not just 10,000.
It is possible that the Apple iPad 2 is draining all available component supply, being more bold in its long-term contracts. Still, as things stand, it is hard to say exactly what is the main cause for all this.
Either way, even though the Eee Pad Transformer was welcomed well in reviews and seen as quite appealing, with its price of $400, it doesn't seem to be in a very good position yet.
Predictably, ASUS hasn't offered any sort of comments on the entire situation.