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Somehow I don't think anyone is interested in spending any money they might soon need for oh... I don't know ...food? Although its interesting to think that the much loved and missed MacBook Pro Unibodies first showed up in Late 2008 right in the middle of the last world-wide economic downturn. Coincidence ?
 
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Somehow I don't think anyone is interested in spending any money they might soon need for oh... I don't know ...food? Although its interesting to think that the much loved and missed MacBook Pro Unibodies first showed up in Late 2008 right in the middle of the last world-wide economic downturn. Coincidence ?

The ‘tech market’ will hault, Mainly because tech is generally superfluous items that we don’t need, it’s more of a want. I think the only reason somebody would upgrade an iPhone or MacBook, it strictly because they need it for work purposes or their current device failed, but it’s all about strategy moving forward in terms of how you invest your money given the outlook is not promising right now given the pandemic is dragging another recession.
 
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Low availability no doubt. Usually Apple would have plenty of stock on hand to cover anticipated sales. Not this time.

But I’d bet demand is also low. Will very likely continue to be that way for a few months, quarters or years. Hard to say which, at this point.
Why would Apple unlock quantity orders if they don’t have enough inventory for all customers? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
 
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In 2020, I would expect that sales of Macs and other mature products (including iPhone) will get crushed, while AirPods, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watch will be hurt less given they are still growing with a smaller install base.

iPad is difficult to predict as many millions of students worldwide are now studying at home, and parents are upgrading, offsetting the obviously lower demand from the recession. Will parents buy their kids the iPad Pro? I think most will purchase the entry level model.

Even Macbook Airs will have a spike in sales as people are working from home and may need a new machine for that purpose.
As for the iPhone I expect Pro models to be less successful. People will continue to buy phones, but budget is going to be low for more and more people, so I don't see a huge market for a phone over $1000.
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Anyone has predictions whether Apple is going to reopen their retail stores again by the end of month?

By the end of April, I'm confident but not sure. If you're asking about March I'd say no way, at least in Europe.
 
Why would Apple unlock quantity orders if they don’t have enough inventory for all customers? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
It was 🙂 Low stock + unknown demand = restrictions on quantity.

But (my guess) low initial demand, possibly along with ramping production, allowed them to remove the restrictions, which were probably not actually necessary, in hindsight.
 
I suppose a complete lack of demand made them realize restrictions weren’t necessary. Not that they aren’t worth buying, just that no one in their right mind is going to drop a grand or more on new tech right now.

I’ve been planning on buying a new Synology NAS to build out my home network for awhile, but current realities have made me put all non-essential purchases on the back burner for the time being. I’m not hurting financially but there’s no need to be frivolous right now.
 
I suppose a complete lack of demand made them realize restrictions weren’t necessary. Not that they aren’t worth buying, just that no one in their right mind is going to drop a grand or more on new tech right now.

I’ve been planning on buying a new Synology NAS to build out my home network for awhile, but current realities have made me put all non-essential purchases on the back burner for the time being. I’m not hurting financially but there’s no need to be frivolous right now.

what you are writing makes no sense.
Investing in a crisis when you have time makes sense! When you have enough Cash, no problem.
 
The new stuff did not sell like they had fantasized it might.
If their products are not selling, then why lift a limit that isn't being hit?

Logic would suggest that as production capability in China gets back up to speed, they are able to better cater to demand, and no longer need such limits in place.
 
I suppose a complete lack of demand made them realize restrictions weren’t necessary. Not that they aren’t worth buying, just that no one in their right mind is going to drop a grand or more on new tech right now.

I’ve been planning on buying a new Synology NAS to build out my home network for awhile, but current realities have made me put all non-essential purchases on the back burner for the time being. I’m not hurting financially but there’s no need to be frivolous right now.

What if you need to work from home now? Buying the new Macbook Air seems like a good choice. Same for the iPad, maybe not the Pro model but it is the perfect device if your kid needs to study at home, and even for the parents to chill out if they can't move.
I think the iPhone will be hit harder by the crisis, especially the Pro model. People will try to hold onto their existing hardware for a longer time than usual, and the same is true for Macs, but many people will need a new device and that's the right time to buy it, keeping an eye at prices. The new Air comes with more storage at a lower price for this very reason.
 
I ordered a couple and was anticipating a good performance bump over the previous generation of 2018 iPad pros. I am anticipating returning the ones that I ordered once they arrive this week as I see that they have the exact same horsepower for the CPU and only one additional graphic Core. So not worth it at all for a camera.

apple’s interest in keeping everything quiet on tech specs and just touting how great they are seems to have backfired this time
 
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Well, many factors here IMO.
  • In the past weeks there has been high demand to enable "work from home" solutions, but most countries are already in lockdown, so most purchases have been done (before this announcement)
  • Nice to have/luxury purchases are on hold due to high level of economic uncertainty
  • The 2020 iPad Pro is mostly equal to the 2018 one, even Apple does not claim it is faster than the last one and the camera is attractive to only few users, etc. If somebody can wait, will wait for the real iPad update with A14X + new screen (micro led, or whatever it is called)
  • Not sure about supply Chain recovery, China is certainly in relative good shape now after the pandemic
 
I think the initial restrictions were to head off hoarding as some of that was going around in other products. Apple was just being cautious, especially when the public thought there may be problems getting products made in and shipped from China. Now that those fears have passed, there's no external need for restrictions.
 
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It's due to low demand for the product.
The restrictions coveted purchases of existing products like iPhones. You really think the demand for iPhones plummeted in three days?

or is it not more likely that the supply chain ramped up production enough to meet demand?
 
What a crazy time we live in. Amazing how the whole world can change in a matter of a week!
Then you’ll really be amazed with the landscape two weeks from now. Apple is a supply chain, and that chain has missing links.
 
The restrictions coveted purchases of existing products like iPhones. You really think the demand for iPhones plummeted in three days?

or is it not more likely that the supply chain ramped up production enough to meet demand?

Regrettably, I suspect the former. People probably feel justifiably uncertain and postpone their tech purchases, going more frugal and focusing on the necessities instead.
 
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