Report Blames Screen Supplier Wintek for iPad Delays

[MacRumors]

DigiTimes reports on an article from Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times claiming that Apple's touchscreen manufacturing partner Wintek is the source of issues that have slightly delayed the release of the iPad to April 3rd from Apple's originally planned window of late March and have reportedly resulted in lower launch quantities of the device than desired by Apple.

The report claimed that Wintek is facing a manufacturing bottleneck in its touch panel production, and its low yield rate for touch panels has hampered its shipments to Apple.

Wintek claims, however, that all of its operations are running as planned, although it has declined to discuss specific orders in its statement.

Several reports earlier this month addressed the supply delays and shortages before Apple officially announced a launch date for the iPad, although the reports offered conflicting information on the source of the problems. Initial claims of a "production problem" were apparently disputed in a later report, which indicated that the issue was not the result of "glass or manufacturing process delays". A subsequent report from Daring Fireball's John Gruber indicated that the delay was likely simply due to Apple putting the finishing touches on the software for the iPad.

Article Link: Report Blames Screen Supplier Wintek for iPad Delays

 

[macfan881]

a whole big 4 days wow

 

[devinher]

Hardly matters

Such a small delay only highlights what a machine Apple is. Look at how Palm seems to always be a day late and a dollar short and Apple's operational excellence seems all the more impressive.

 

[wackymacky]

Hope this is the whole story and there isn't a issue with the touch screen function.

 

[DoNoHarm]

this is not surprising at all - display glass is very touchy to manufacture and getting it just right can take a long time. Once they get the system set up, it should be no problem and that is likely why the bottleneck is not there anymore.

 

[Doctor Q]

Just make sure the hardware is right. The software can be changed later.

 

[billystlyes]

Does this even matter?

 

[/dev/toaster]

I wonder what is causing the delay in the 3G version.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

I wonder what is causing the delay in the 3G version.

FCC certification, perhaps?

 

[/dev/toaster]

FCC certification, perhaps?

They couldn't accept pre-orders without FCC approval for the device. The approval paper work for the 3G model is on their website (fcc)

 

[EagerDragon]

Hope the FCC finishes their inspection of the 3G version soon. Would be nice to get my iPad before the end of April. Don't need an FCC Aprils Fool

 

[RalfTheDog]

Just a silly stupid thought. Last time I checked, they make display glass out of glass. Am I wrong or have they been having a lot of earthquakes lately. I wonder if the delay could have been because someone over stacked the crates in the shipping warehouse at just the wrong time.

 

[inlovewithi]

Such a small delay only highlights what a machine Apple is. Look at how Palm seems to always be a day late and a dollar short and Apple's operational excellence seems all the more impressive.

I don't get it. So did apple make the extra screens they needed themselves? Or did they temporarily took over Wintek and and fixed the problems themselves?

 

[The Samurai]

a whole big 4 days wow

A 'whole big 4 days' for you, but for the rest of the world - theres still no accurate date nor any pricing schemes.

 

[Aeon Flux]

Just make sure the hardware is right. The software can be changed later.

Let the americans beta test the first couple of batches. I will wait.

 

[yonis]

For what it's worth, The World had an interesting piece on Wintek, specifically about some health problems caused in employees by a chemical they were using to disinfect the touchscreens they manufacture for Apple.

http://media.theworld.org/audio/031920105.mp3

Might be related to the manufacturing delay.

 

[Trek2100]

A 'whole big 4 days' for you, but for the rest of the world - theres still no accurate date nor any pricing schemes.

I'm sorry that Apple can't do better for you folks but considering the original wait time for the new iMacs for everyone, four days is a walk in the park for us in the U.S.

 

[Friscohoya]

Shame on them! Delaying our precious ipad for 1 week!

 

[Xibalba]

A 'whole big 4 days' for you, but for the rest of the world - theres still no accurate date nor any pricing schemes.

bummer for you, yes, but since Apple is an American company after all international business is not of paramount importance...just as i would expect if I was purchasing from an international company...

so, i agree with the issue that it's not that big of a deal for the amount of days delay - could be much worse.

 

[yodaxl7]

Apple and ATT

The 3g version is available later because they can add the radios once the fcc approved. So, it takes another 3-4 weeks to get that straight.

 

[nate13]

why wouldnt Apple have gone to the FCC before launch to get pre-approval, unless they think that their trade secret was in jeopardy?

 

[Jenkins12]

IMO any manufacturing company working for Apple must be working at 110% efficiency just to keep up with their quantity demand.

 

[Takuta-Nui]

Just a silly stupid thought. Last time I checked, they make display glass out of glass. Am I wrong or have they been having a lot of earthquakes lately. I wonder if the delay could have been because someone over stacked the crates in the shipping warehouse at just the wrong time.

Who knows, who knows... but I suppose most would be more concerned about the threat to people. Suspension clouds of shattered glass can form during/after earthquakes and are a pretty good killer of lungs.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Apple is an American company after all international business is not of paramount importance.

It's a sorry state of affairs if you actually believe that. Without the global market your 'American' company would not be where it is today. Now, before you go getting all magnanemous again take a second a think before gobbing off!

 

[rlmccormick]

A 'whole big 4 days' for you, but for the rest of the world - theres still no accurate date nor any pricing schemes.

What is this "rest of the world" you speak of?