13" MBP 2.53 Sold Out of Stores; 7-10 days online

[applerocks]

So, I went to an Apple Store today to buy the 13" 2.53 GHz MBP. After waiting for about 20 minutes for a Mac Specialist (I had to check in with the Concierge at the front...service wasn't good, and the store was understaffed), I was told that the store was sold out of that model.

I called around, and basically every Apple Store in Illinois was sold out of that MBP model. Online, it's showing 7-10 days.

This begs the question if I should just order the 2.26 and upgrade the HD and the RAM, rather than waiting another week or two. I'd save about $150 too, probably even more with the EDU discount.

I've never seen an Apple Store sold out of computers before (iPhones, sure, but not MBPs). Looks like not even Apple anticipated the demand for these models. Then again, I kept hearing the Mac Specialist with his salesman approach..."Oh yeah, with prices this good, people want to buy them, especially with the back-to-school promotion..." blah blah blah...shoulda told me that you were sold out before I waited 20 minutes! Yeah, I should have called ahead, but I never thought I would need to for a MBP!

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Wait for them to get back-in. Even if the difference isn't that noticeable, you might get locked into the perpetual "what if..." You also never want to be forced to buy something.

 

[jpyc7]

. . .
I've never seen an Apple Store sold out of computers before (iPhones, sure, but not MBPs). Looks like not even Apple anticipated the demand for these models. Then again, I kept hearing the Mac Specialist with his salesman approach..."Oh yeah, with prices this good, people want to buy them, especially with the back-to-school promotion..." blah blah blah...shoulda told me that you were sold out before I waited 20 minutes! Yeah, I should have called ahead, but I never thought I would need to for a MBP!

I would just note that it isn't necessarily these laptops that are in high demand. If you check for other 2.53 GHz machines, they are also in low supply. So I think it is the chip manufacturing that is having issues.

 

[sunyourbuns]

This is happening to the 2.26 MBP as well. I ordered mine online last night and the ship date is July 20!

 

[ucfgrad93]

The Colorado Springs store is out of them as well. Must be selling real good for the back-to-school season.

 

[iAlexG]

Looks like I got mine at the right time. Ordered on the 11th June Arrived 19th june. SOOOO HAPPY. I would wait thegoldenmackid is right. "What If?"

 

[toanavinai]

I should note here that I just ordered my 13" 2.53GHz MBP off Apple's Online Store, and if you customize the order at all, that ship date drops from "7-10 days" to "1-3 days". I opted for a slightly bigger than stock HD (320GB) and iWork preinstalled. Should be shipping tonight (China being 12 hrs ahead of US EST, and I ordered on a Friday of the July 4th weekend being the contributing factors to why it's not shipped yet).

 

[jec6613]

Also, I think Apple may be having QC yield issues with the initial batch. I had one that was DOA, and know several other people who have had to have theirs replaced due to SMC issues (so battery/logic board or similar). Of the 11 people I know (including myself) who have one, five are on their second unit, having returned the first one within days of purchase for identical replacements.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...chinese mass production at its finest...

 

[Macrimonious]

Are you a gamer? Do you edit video (on a 13" blech) Photoshop? If none of these you won't be able to tell the difference between 2.23 and 2.53, in my opinion.

I got the 2.23 and upgraded 4GB of ram and 500gb hd aftermarket. Couldn't be happier. Then again, I was coming off a 15" Core Duo 2.0 Ghz, with 2GB of RAM, and never once thought, durn, this computer is too slow.

 

[Nasus]

I don't know, I think these little guys are all the rage. They are awfully nice for a small computer and perfect for college. I went to a Pittsburgh Apple store last Thursday and it was packed. Probably the back to school iPod rebate. I was in there 40 minutes and never even got approached by anyone. Finally, I found someone and told them I wanted to get the MPB 2.53 and she told me it would be a "2 HOUR" wait just to purchase the thing - yikes! I didn't wait and it's just as well. After I thought about it, I ordered the 24" iMac on line. My current 15" MPB (late 2006) is still an awesome laptop so I went for the big real estate instead!