PowerMac G5: Delayed Again; Again. New IBM Chip Shortage?

updated Way back in early June (so long ago I forget) I ordered Apple’s new dual 2.5 ghz PowerMac; the new liquid cooled supercomputer. Apple said the new G5 would ship in July so I ordered right away. Apple said, “Wait.” I waited. Now Apple says the new G5 will be delayed until the end of August.

At first, the Apple Store had my order for the PowerMac G5 as shipping “on or before July 30.”

Not so. One day before the scheduled ship date, an Apple email message said the 2.5 ghz G5 will ship August 20th; about 3 weeks later than originally stated back in June. Let me see, hmmmm. June, July, August. That’s a hefty wait for a very big iPod.

Do they love their customers, or what? Read on for more grief; and a happy ending.

Apple really knows how to tug on a customer’s string. An order placed in June for a product expected to ship in July gets shoved two times backwards and now won’t show up until near the end of August? Why?

Is IBM screwing Apple on chips just like Motorola did? Shortly after the G4 chips were produced, Motorola and Apple had computers that were clocked at similar speeds to those of Intel and AMD. Then, Motorola hit a stumbling block and couldn’t get over the 500 mhz barrier for what seemed like years.

They still haven’t caught (and probably won’t) Intel in the clock speed race.

Over one year ago, IBM gets Apple to buy the new G5 chip, arguably more powerful than faster offerings from Intel or AMD. Steve Jobs announces the chip will hit 3 ghz within a year.

Not so. Here we are one year later and still stuck at 2.0 ghz. Unless you’re just lucky and walk into an Apple Store while they’re unloading “their” supply of dual 2.5 ghz PowerMacs-- while others who ordered back in June sit through June, sit through July, and now sit through August.

The 2.5 ghz PowerMac that was ordered back in June, now won’t show up until the end of August, says Apple. Nearly 30 days after an already once delayed introduction.

Is Apple the cuprit or the victim? Or is IBM the cuprit? Or victim of their own missteps?

There’s no mention of anything in Apple’s email notice except demand exceeding supply in Apple’s terse email notification to customers:

Demand exceeding supply? What a surprise. The supply is zilch and the demand is at least one. My order for a PowerMac. I received email from a few other readers who ordered and now must wait.

I suspect there’s a couple of issues at play. Orders for the dual 2.0 ghz machines appear to have been good. Heat generated from the 2.5 ghz PowerMac must be substantial to require a new liquid cooling system. Those are Apple problems that they’ll have to deal with before shipping those new “radiator” Macs.

IBM has already said they’re having trouble converting to the new 90 nanometer chips which will power the 2.5 ghz PowerMacs. They’ve also announced that the troubles are behind them and they’re catching up to demand.

Not. Or so it would seem.

If you ordered a PowerMac G5 with the dual 2.5 ghz chips back in June, expecting delivery in July, well, you, like me, fell into the clutches of Steve Jobs’ infamous Realty Distortion Field.

No new PowerMacs until late August.

Who’s at fault?

1) Apple: Not even close on product launch dates any more. Really.

2) IBM: As Pizza Hut once said, “Under Promise, Over Deliver.” Does anyone do that anymore?

3) Me: Stupid customer that I am, I want to trust that what they say is true.

Who’s at fault?

All of us. But mostly me. I’ve been burned too many times by Apple’s delays in shipping new products. I like Apple, I like the Mac. I like Apple products. They’re better. Really. Now, I think I’ll wait awhile. I have a trusty 733 mhz PowerMac that works quite well under Panther.

Note to Apple: “I’ll keep this old PowerMac a little longer, thank you!!

I love you guys, I really do. Please treat us nicer!

updated Here’s the latest note from Apple:

There is good news, though. I checked with the local Apple store regularly in recent weeks to see when they’d received a supply of the dual 2.5 ghz PowerMacs.

This week, they called and asked if I’d like one. I said yes, and bought it. If you’d like to read the details and see photos of the new PowerMac in action, Click Here.

Think about this scenario for a minute. I’ve purchased dozens of Macs through the years. I ordered a new 2.5 ghz PowerMac at first light after introduction back in June, Apple delays my order, not once, but twice.

Yet, any guy walking into the local Apple Store this week could pick up a shiny new PowerMac G5 while customers who ordered months ago still wait patiently by their door for FedEx to show up.

Apple, shape up.

The pain we go through can only be softened by BUYING SOMETHING. I need to relieve my soul from pain. Now, that being said, we all know how much pain we go through for Apple and our Macs. I picked up a story on the web about a woman who’s Mac pain was really intense.

Click Here for a great article from Joey Chen on BabeTaxi about her Naked Mac.

Enjoy.

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