Apple Cutting Back iMac Supplies, Making Room for New Models (Rumor)

An AppleInsider report claims that reliable sources have gained knowledge of iMac supplies being constrained in the near future, indicating that new models are waiting to be released.

Reportedly, people familiar with Apple's plans found that new reseller orders for the high-end 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac aren't likely to be fulfilled. This can mean two things, according to the publication: either manufacturing of the 3.06GHz iMac has been reduced to a lower number, or that production has ceased totally, as Apple's efforts are focused entirely on the new models. The same rumor says that Apple's partners have also been warned of the changes.

Several other sources have been reporting in the past weeks that Apple has serious plans of refreshing its all-in-one desktop line of computers. One of those sources, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu, wrote a note to his clients revealing he was certain of iMac hardware upgrades soon.

Explaining why he thought Apple was holding off the release of new iMac models, Wu said, “We wanted to give an update on the Mac business from what we are picking up from our latest supply chain checks. While new the iMac appears to be almost ready for primetime, what is holding it up appears to be business reasons and a potential small technical hurdle ... Apple is in the midst of figuring out whether to power the new iMac line with Intel quad-core processors or more high-powered dual-core processors with larger caches,” Wu wrote.

If Apple chose Intel’s recently-released quad-core processors, the move “could cannibalize the Mac Pro.” A Digitimes report also suggests Apple is waiting on Intel’s new quad-core to release upgrades, the analyst reasoned. Further trying to explain the possible reasons for the delay, Wu noted that Apple might want to roll out new iMac models along with the latest version of Mac OS X, (version 10.6), Snow Leopard. Apple might also be redesigning the iMacs' cases, to fit new cooling technology needed for multiple-core processors that generate large amounts of heat, Wu added in his note to clients.

However, with this fresh information to chew on, analysts may become a tad more confident that Apple has made up its mind and went for the move to quad-core processors.