Apple Thunderbolt Display Supplies Begin Running Short at Third-Party Resellers

[scoobydoo99]

Yeah, but those monitors can also be paired with more than just Thunderbolt Macs... It's a high premium for a device with very restricted utility, despite how well it may perform its intended role.

How is the utility restricted? I don't want to pair it with "more than just Thunderbolt Macs" - that's why I'm buying it! It will work great with my 2012 MacBook Air, which is all I need it for.

Just because you have other needs doesn't mean this device would have "restricted utility".

 

[bwillwall]

699 is fair for this monitor

Why would anybody ever spend that much on it? I can get a good LED 1080p monitor from another company for like $200. I think $700 is too much and definitely Apple's whopping $1,000 for it is. Honestly the iMac has the same screen and it's a whole damn mac for $200 more.

 

[Schmitty11]

699 is fair for this monitor

Who the hell do you think I am? Warren Buffet? 699 is outrageous! Make it 698 then it's reasonably priced!

 

[rdlink]

Does anybody know if you buy AppleCare for a previously bought Mac (still under the 1 year warranty) along with a new TBD, will the TDB be under warranty as long as the Mac is?

The website only talks of buying both the Mac and TBD at the same time, but I don't see why they wouldn't allow buying the TDB later on (supposing you only benefit from the remaining warranty of the Mac, not a full 3 year).

Not sure how it works with TBD, but I know that as long as you have a Mac under Applecare, any Time Capsules you own are still under the same Applecare warranty.

 

[iSayuSay]

Why would anybody ever spend that much on it? I can get a good LED 1080p monitor from another company for like $200. I think $700 is too much and definitely Apple's whopping $1,000 for it is. Honestly the iMac has the same screen and it's a whole damn mac for $200 more.

How big a 1080p display you can get for $200? It better be no bigger than 21" Because anything bigger with the same resolution is no longer fit to be a computer display, more like HDTV.

27" display is useful if you're used to open 2 windows side by side. It improves your workflow and efficiency.. And no 27" computer display should go lower than 1440p.

And if you buy a $1000 Apple display, for $200 more, you only get 21.5" iMac or 13" MBP .. Not the same 27", not even close.

 

[Akuratyde]

Oh great, after I just bought a brand new Thunderbolt Display...

 

[JD92]

Oh great, after I just bought a brand new Thunderbolt Display...

Me too :-(

I'm still within the 14 days, what to do...

 

[FatMax]

Dumb thing is, if they do add a much sought after HDMI input, the screen won't accept VESA mounts...

 

[LoggerMN]

The USB 3 ports are a must, as is the matte option to avoid headaches and sore eyes for many people. Choices are good. Otherwise, no purchase.

I was just discussing USB 3 and the TBD with a buddy last weekend. Interestingly there is a bandwidth problem, so we're wondering what Apple is going to do.

Thunderbolt is 10 Gb. Not all of that is usable due to overhead. There is at least 20% overhead, which leaves you with a maximum of 8 Gb. If you have one TBD attached (at today's resolution) that consumes 2.7Gb. GigE takes another 1Gb. USB 3 is 5Gb.

2.7 + 1 + 5 = 8.7 Gb > 8 Gb

Basically that means either the GigE or the USB port would have to suffer. If you daisy chain two TBDs together, your in a real world of bandwidth hurt.

I had wondered what the hold up was on updating the TBD, but looking at these numbers it's a little more clear. Putting USB 3 seems like an absolute must, but it will come with a performance compromise. I can now see why Apple has dragged their feet on updating this product.

Combine that with basically no Thunderbolt adoption in the PC space, and Apple is probably afraid to pour more R&D into Thunderbolt technology. Apple needs to choose between updating Thunderbolt or switching to the upcoming 10 Gb USB spec (announced at CES). 10Gb USB is almost assured to be a winner in the PC space, and will use cheaper cables.

 

[intothepolis]

How about more than one size? I'd like a smaller 20 inch version.

 

[chubad]

The iToy Company

MATTE RETINA DISPLAY.
Yea right. Like Apple will ever again offer a Pro level display. I am still hanging on to my 30" Cinema HD Display.

 

[merlyn412]

forgive me if this has been mentioned before.

Can this be tied to the supply constraints of the 27" iMac? Perhaps some of the panels being supplied from [LG... i think] are stockpiling for the new display, and cannibalizing the new imac.

 

[cclloyd]

Vesa or die.

 

[Squilly]

Eh, I'm waiting for the retina version.

Eh. I'm waiting for the IR with the Retina version.

 

[53x12]

Can this be tied to the supply constraints of the 27" iMac? Perhaps some of the panels being supplied from [LG... i think] are stockpiling for the new display, and cannibalizing the new imac.

I am guessing you didn't even read the first post/article on which you are commenting. No excuse for that.

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


AppleInsider notes that inventories of the Apple Thunderbolt Display have begun running short at third-party resellers such as Amazon and MacMall, perhaps providing the first hints of an upcoming redesign. The display remains in stock at the company's online stores, but shortages tend to show up at third-party retailers first as Apple prioritizes shrinking supplies for its own outlets.

Image​

One of the most significant changes likely to make an appearance in a redesigned Apple Thunderbolt Display is the adoption of the thinner profile and new display assembly process seen in the company's latest iMac. The current Apple Thunderbolt Display borrows heavily from the previous generations of the 27-inch iMac, and thus it seems reasonable to assume that some of the iMac design changes such as new lamination procedures to make the display thinner and more vibrant will make their way to the standalone display.

But with that lamination process leading to shortages of the 27-inch displays used in the iMacs, an issue expected to persist until next month, Apple may hold off on introducing a new standalone display for the time being in order to prioritize the iMac.

Other changes likely to appear in an updated display are a move to USB 3.0 ports, which have become standard on Mac products, and the inclusion of a MagSafe 2 port for charging Mac notebooks. The current Apple Thunderbolt Display still uses the original MagSafe design for power passthrough, with Apple bundling a MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter to provide compatibility for owners of newer Mac notebooks.

Article Link: Apple Thunderbolt Display Supplies Begin Running Short at Third-Party Resellers

 

[ybz90]

Me too :-(

I'm still within the 14 days, what to do...

Well, that's obvious, if you're within the exchange period, exchange it for the new one.

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How about more than one size? I'd like a smaller 20 inch version.

This is never going to happen. Apple caters to the mid- and high-end markets, and 20" inch screens are just too cheap, low margin, and low resolution for Apple to invest in.

Out of curiosity, why do you want a 20" screen? I find those to be WAY too small. The smallest I'd use is 22 at 1080p, and that's just far to cramped for me to be really productive on.

 

[Spungoflex]

Wish they offered a 21.5" version.

 

[53x12]

Why would anybody ever spend that much on it? I can get a good LED 1080p monitor from another company for like $200. I think $700 is too much and definitely Apple's whopping $1,000 for it is. Honestly the iMac has the same screen and it's a whole damn mac for $200 more.

Your accounting does not compute.

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Well, that's obvious, if you're within the exchange period, exchange it for the new one

The point is that no monitor has been announced, no release date is known...etc. So the issue is do you return now that you are in the 14 day period based on the speculation that something might happen in the next several weeks/months. Only the poster can decide. If you need one now keep it. If you don't need it now, wait for the new one.

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Dumb thing is, if they do add a much sought after HDMI input, the screen won't accept VESA mounts...

The new 27" iMac already is not VESA mount compatible. So the new ATD won't be VESA compatible either if they follow that design.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M...imac-andled-cinemaor-applethunderbolt-display

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1474090/

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Why are you so close to your monitor? it's really bad for your eyes, not the pixels, but the brightness... Literally burns out your retinas over time.

Would love to see the data supporting that.

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Not sure where the ATDs are made but is it possible that the panel manufacturer has swapped to making 27" iMac panels to help with demand for the iMac? Doesn't mean that a new ATD isn't coming but if they are swapping over to a similar laminated design, it would make sense to focus the limited supply of 27" panels on the iMac until yields increase.

If you read post #1 or the article it would answer your question.

 

[Michael CM1]

Now that this display is making news again, it reminds me that I'm surprised Apple hasn't released a 21.5" version that would be a few hundred cheaper. If you own a MacBook Air, your display is 13.3" max. Therefore a 21.5" display would be a huge improvement in a desk situation.

 

[tiger2]

As much as i wish, I can't imagine apple lowering the price.

I'd also like to see a smaller one, 24" maybe. That 27" thing is huge, 21.5 seems too small.

 

[pgiguere1]

Why are you so close to your monitor? it's really bad for your eyes, not the pixels, but the brightness... Literally burns out your retinas over time.

That's a myth.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=earth-talk-tv-eyesight

 

[bassfingers]

They'll release a new Thunderbolt Display alongside a new Mac Pro

 

[Spungoflex]

This is never going to happen. Apple caters to the mid- and high-end markets, and 20" inch screens are just too cheap, low margin, and low resolution for Apple to invest in.

Out of curiosity, why do you want a 20" screen? I find those to be WAY too small. The smallest I'd use is 22 at 1080p, and that's just far to cramped for me to be really productive on.

27" is catoonish. Way too damn big.

 

[ybz90]

27" is catoonish. Way too damn big.

To each is own, I personally need the real estate, which allows me to be able to browse the web, write/read a paper, and run simulations/code simultaneously. That said, the reasons I gave above are why Apple will never release a 20" or similar screen. Apple has no interest in entering saturated and low-margin markets.

 

[rdlink]

27" is catoonish. Way too damn big.

That's absurd. I have a 27" iMac at home, and it's not cartoonish. It's perfect. I also have a 27" iMac at work, with two 23" Dell monitors attached to it. I use them all.