MacBook Air Selling Out

[ebouwman]

hm I wonder what is planned for days ahead?.. By the way, at my local best buy they've had a few macbook airs but don't think anyone wants to spend that much money to save on having to carry something just a little bit lighter with less features. I asked how many they had in stock and the girl said 3 and they had only sold 1 the entire weekend. Not sure if it's true..

Well what size of population is your best buy selling to?

Where i live most of the big retailers like that are the only ones in northern B.C. so not only are they selling to our town (about 75 - 85 thousand people) but also to all the little towns nearby, and some not so nearby

 

[NC MacGuy]

I work at a best buy and ....They are super sturdy and built well seeing that we put them through a couple drop test at work.

Yepp, that's Best Buy for you.

 

[willdenow]

Are you serious?

The Macbook provides more power, identical display real estate and more ports, but it doesn't match or exceed every aspect of the Air. The Air has a much tighter build than both the Macbook and Macbook pro, is a lighter weight, more rigid, sturdy design, has the LED backlit display and has some of the little aesthetic niceties that were generally reserved only for the Powerbook/Macbook Pro, such as the backlit keyboard. I personally find more use in my Blackbook over an Air, but there are lots of things about the Air that I wish my Macbook had.

Exactly which things about the Air do you wish your macbook had? No optical drive, no ethernet port, no firewire port, no interchangeable battery, . . .?

 

[willdenow]

You mean like visiting http://www.apple.com/retail/macbookair after 9PM ET and noticing the majority of stores are sold out, or how over at http://store.apple/com, the "ships in" is 5-7 days instead of 24 hours like other Macs, or how very few 3rd party retailers have them in stock?

What more data are you looking for?

This tells you nothing. If Apple only produced a thousand machines and then distributed them to its retail outlets and Best Buy, you would perhaps have no more than four or five machines per store which could then easily sell out with only the slightest demand. The point that the questioner was trying to make concerns the VOLUME that is being "sold out." Until Apple reveals the number of machines sold, it will be impossible to gauge how well it's doing commercially. The clerk at the Vegas store told me that they received only a "handful" (whatever that means).

Personally, I agree with some others that Apple is trying to create the cache of limited availability in order to boost the desirability of the product. Only time will tell. Until we get hard numbers, however, no one can say if the Air is truly a success.

 

[hcuar]

Here in Dallas I spoke to an Apple store sales person. They mentioned that they can't keep the Macbook Airs in stock. He said they get regular shipments and usually sell out in an hour or two. I'm guessing someone must be buying them .

 

[ebouwman]

This tells you nothing. If Apple only produced a thousand machines and then distributed them to its retail outlets and Best Buy, you would perhaps have no more than four or five machines per store which could then easily sell out with only the slightest demand.

Hey! Just like the Wii! For the most part apple has enough of it's products to go around. This X-mas there were soooooooooooo many iPods where i worked, and we got phone calls almost every day asking if we could hold one for somebody because they wanted to make sure that they got an iPod. We told them that there was no need, and if they insisted we would just tell them we did to make them feel good and leave it at that

 

[gwangung]

This tells you nothing. If Apple only produced a thousand machines and then distributed them to its retail outlets and Best Buy, you would perhaps have no more than four or five machines per store which could then easily sell out with only the slightest demand.

Except---what's the point?

As several people have pointed out, if you place supply too low (either accidentally or on purpose), you leave money on the table. You can't constrict supply too much---you cannot expect to keep that demand forever, because changing technology will eat away at that demand, or people will give up and find an available substitute.

There's a balancing act here of trying to keep demand up without cutting into your bottom line. Apple may have placed supply on the low side--but not by too much (at least intentionally); there are too many marketing people walking the street because they placed supply too high and too many who left money on the table (companies lose money either way).

I think some of the business "geniuses" are looking at only one dimension here and not looking at some of the other factors.

 

[thejakill]

the stores that have green dots on the MBA availability page say they are out of them on the store's actual webpage. Which page is right?

 

[ebouwman]

the stores that have green dots on the MBA availability page say they are out of them on the store's actual webpage. Which page is right?

Just call the store, that way you know for sure, because who knows how often that site is updated. Some retailers just don't post availability for products that they know will sell out fast, like the wii for instance, they just don't want to promise you anything.

 

[elo]

The MBA is a great fit for many of us who are not power users. I have a Mac Mini, a G4 at that, and a MBA would complement it perfectly. Together they would provide all the computing power I would use over the course of a year and leave nothing to spare. I don't need 3 USB ports, I don't need a Firewire port on the go, and I don't need my 42GB iTunes library everywhere.

The fact that you only need certain functionality in a Laptop is confusing to most people here because the Laptop has become a desktop replacement.

The MBA is a desktop SUPPLEMENT. It adds to what you already own. A MBA would increase my functionality by increasing my processing power, albeight, a G4 Mac Mini is not the flagship of macs, it's functional and compact.

Stop slapping down a Mac that has a great niche, between desktop replacement and iPod Touch.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It drives me crazy when people dismiss the MBA as a "vanity" product (as one poster here did) or argue that it's somehow more enlightened to buy a heavier, thicker product just because it has more features. As a business user who travels frequently and has desktop systems at home and at work, the MBA is a perfect choice for me. For my wife, who uses a laptop as her primary system (and who likes to play physical DVD's), it might not be such a good choice. I have no idea whether I qualify as a "niche." But I do know that my own needs don't include an optical drive, firewire, etc. Folks, please stop assuming that I'm making the wrong purchase decision just because it differs from what you would make.

 

[MacMyDay]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It drives me crazy when people dismiss the MBA as a "vanity" product (as one poster here did) or argue that it's somehow more enlightened to buy a heavier, thicker product just because it has more features. As a business user who travels frequently and has desktop systems at home and at work, the MBA is a perfect choice for me. But I do know that my own needs don't include an optical drive, firewire, etc. Folks, please stop assuming that I'm making the wrong purchase decision just because it differs from what you would make.

Too true. I would never have bought the Macbook Air if I didn't have a primary computer. Yet at the office and at home, I've iMacs that I use for all my work, as I much prefer to work on a desktop (having worked only on a laptop for about 4 years). I can then just transfer what I need for the road. I've got a 160GB iPod, so that can be any extra space if I need it on the go (I don't) and I've got Time Capsule arriving so I can do back-ups and access any other files on the network.

 

[h00ligan]

I wasn't having a pop at the cube. I loved the design and it was a great technical success, but it wasn't a commercial success.

I was having a pop at the pundits who claimed the Air would be a commercial failure, which from early indicators it more than likely will not been.

it wasn't a technical success... it was an engineering failure, just a pretty one. I'm a MBA hater, so far - I haven't had my grubbies on one yet. My friend swears the MBA is a great machine, and he - well has his pick let's say. Perhaps my view will change - we'll see. I am sure if I were still walking everywhere in Manhattan and had to also carry home an IBM - i'd be all over this.. but living in Phoenix now, driving, i just can't see it being right for me.

 

[netdog]

it wasn't a technical success... it was an engineering failure, just a pretty one. I'm a MBA hater, so far - I haven't had my grubbies on one yet.

In two (sort of) sentences, you have managed to contradict yourself and undermine your own assertions. Well done! Thanks for posting!

 

[jarpod]

Everyone is missing the point here!
Even though Im a noob around here, I will place an order this week for a MBA and a 17"MBPRO with the hi res screen.... Having said that: I think the MBA IS JUST PLAIN GREAT!
It was designed for the road warrior in mind.... Really! Have you guys ever traveled for a day?
Do you need firewire? do you need an optical drive? extra battery? NO! NEVER! you need something you can tuck in your briefcase and snap it out quickly and do some surfing, document editing and what have you.
Apple thought of this and made a laptop for this market segment.
I find the MBA really useful for taking notes at my Master's class, quick trips, playing some music or vids from Itunes.... but then again that's IMO.

and BTW, I live in Laredo Tx.... Best buy was getting like 2 each week and someone always bought it before me..... two weeks ago I decided to be first in line and waited outside the store before they opened ... to my surprise they had only one in stock... but some schmuck bought it online and asked for store pick up..... Since then best buy has not seen one!


so here's my 2 cents for you guys.... MBAs are selling fast! they dont sit much at the shelf.... even in Mexico! (they cost twice as much in Mexico than here in the US and they are sold out everywhere!!!)
bottom line:
A good product, that is selling fast and apple did not foresee this amazing demand the product is having
regardss!

 

[jarpod]

ohh and Im a lawyer... I need the 17" for word document editing..... and the mba for quick trips!

 

[krye]

I think Apple wanted to test the waters before going full-bore. I don't think they made as many as they normally would have just in case it flopped.

 

[bytethese]

The MacBook Air Availability Tool is a classic example of the Reality Distortion Field. The text says "The Apple Retail Store very likely has your MacBook Air in stock"

Yet when I check for my (former) home state, this is what I see:

So again, Apple don't want us to believe the facts, just their spin on them.....

When I checked yesterday, the Availability Tool said: "Return after 9:00 p.m. to check MacBook Air availability at your local Apple Retail Store". So I waited until this morning to check, says same thing. Is it borked? Or can I only check between 9pm-11:59pm to see if they have any?

 

[kirk26]

Of course they would sell out if they only have 1 or 2 per store..

 

[gotohamish]

it wasn't a technical success... it was an engineering failure, just a pretty one. I'm a MBA hater, so far - I haven't had my grubbies on one yet. My friend swears the MBA is a great machine, and he - well has his pick let's say. Perhaps my view will change - we'll see. I am sure if I were still walking everywhere in Manhattan and had to also carry home an IBM - i'd be all over this.. but living in Phoenix now, driving, i just can't see it being right for me.

As someone who's just lugged his regular MacBook on the New York subway, yeah, I'm all over the MBA. It's very sad to hear anyone has the energy to be a "hater" when they haven't even held one. It's quite a marvel, and would suit by needs perfectly as an inbetween machine when not at home or work.

As for the Cube, I once bought a couple to be installed in a museum, running looped slideshows onto flatscreens. At the time, they were the only macs available that could fit behind the museum display wall, and thus the only option. My point, everyone has different needs, and I'd rather carry an Air and be in Manhattan than have to drive everywhere, but if I had to drive everywhere my options would likely differ.

 

[seedster2]

And how did you even BEGIN to address his point?

Money. Table. At least TRY to discuss.

*sigh*

hmmm, seems like i was clear. But let me expound

If the product is in such HIGH demand, why is Apple only shipping a couple to each store in comparison to other products? Isn't that leaving money on the table? Or does it convince people on the fence it's highly desirable and/or brings people into the stores to buy another apple product.

Selling out a stock of 5 units per day in major markets isn't exactly monumental? I was able to track one down in NYC so it's not impossible find like others have asserted. I think it's selling well, but determine how well would require us to know more about the volume shipped thus far.

 

[uNext]

As someone who's just lugged his regular MacBook on the New York subway, yeah, I'm all over the MBA. It's very sad to hear anyone has the energy to be a "hater" when they haven't even held one. It's quite a marvel, and would suit by needs perfectly as an inbetween machine when not at home or work.

As for the Cube, I once bought a couple to be installed in a museum, running looped slideshows onto flatscreens. At the time, they were the only macs available that could fit behind the museum display wall, and thus the only option. My point, everyone has different needs, and I'd rather carry an Air and be in Manhattan than have to drive everywhere, but if I had to drive everywhere my options would likely differ.

I think that the saddest part of it all is how people complain about the weight
of the macbook. When did we humans in general become so flimsy?
Lugging a macbook on a subway is not as tough as you portray it to be.
I do it with a 15" macbook pro and i really dont see what the big deal is with
the air. Not a hater 3 people i know swear by it but like you they idolize its weight.

Whatever happened to human strength and energy? I personally rather feel some weight on my shoulder then none at all specially while traveling in the subway.

By the way-2 apple stores and 3 best buys around my area have stock on the airs.

 

[plopy]

Completely Fake Demand

Many of my friends are Macheads, including myself. But NONE of us have been even remotely interested in MacBook Air. The price is unjustified for the relatively low benefits offered.

I agree with several other posters that during my last few visits to Apple Stores in Austin and Los Angeles, people have been mostly underwhelmed by MacBook Air, and have turned their attention instead to MacBooks or iMacs.

This weekend, when scheduling a Genius Bar appointment, I saw the MacBook Air Availability Tool. I thought, "that's funny -- I've haven't heard a single person say they really want one!" I think Apple is purposely reducing inventories and output in order to spur demand. I think this is misleading!

 

[b0ned0me]

When did we humans in general become so flimsy?

When we quit being forced to put up with needless effort and inconvenience? I got so sick of carrying my T40 on an off aeroplanes that I went for an X60 rather than a T60 on my next upgrade. I wouldn't have been killed or crippled by the effort of carrying a few extra grammes, but why bother if you dont need the features that necessitate the extra weight.

If you ever want to see just how much people are prepared to pay in order to save carrying a few grammes, go to an serious outdoor store and look at the prices of all the titanium/carbonfibre equipment relative to the stainless steel. Camping stoves and so on are sometimes priced at a 200% premium for 15% less weight.

 

[drchipinski]

Maybe they are selling out because so many of them are being replaced?

I think it is all hype and just creating a demand for it. It helps people "on the fence" run out and get one..just so they have one.

 

[sleepingworker]

I think that the saddest part of it all is how people complain about the weight
of the macbook. When did we humans in general become so flimsy?
Lugging a macbook on a subway is not as tough as you portray it to be.
I do it with a 15" macbook pro and i really dont see what the big deal is with
the air. Not a hater 3 people i know swear by it but like you they idolize its weight.

Whatever happened to human strength and energy? I personally rather feel some weight on my shoulder then none at all specially while traveling in the subway.

Not every notebook user is just commuting on a subway. My 17" PB is taken all over the world with me as I need it for my work - that includes Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, and London. I carry the PB (plus external HD - a small light one!, power-cords, sketchbooks, mouse, etc.) in a backpack and then also my luggage. You are obviously not a "flimsy" human as you like "some weight" but many of us just want lighter equipment where we can find it. Unfortunately the MBA does not suit my needs but I look forward to when they redesign the MBP for us "flimsy" humans.

BTW, my 87 year old father is buying the MBA tomorrow on my recommendation (he has been using the 12" G4 PB) - guess he's just a "flimsy" human too. Not everyone is an uberman like you.