Apple today began shipping its 17" Aluminum PowerBooks to resellers, almost 2 weeks after its announced "February" ship date.

You write that "Apple today began shipping its 17" Aluminum PowerBooks to resellers, almost 2 weeks after its announced 'February' ship date," but it's more accurate to say that the delivery is "over two weeks after its announced ship date." It's March 14, 15 days after the end of February. --Paul

Can it! Can it! oh wait, that's DOLE... sorry, think-o.

Use that dull for what it's only good for - a doorstop.

Actually, Apple has been pretty good over the last couple years on ship dates. The 17" slip was pretty embarassing, but at least partially because they had not had such problems for a while.

I wonder what the hold-up was?

Scott

I am the proud owner of a 12'' aluminum model, and trust me, the case is far from plastic or feeling plastic (I know you know this, but stil...) IMHO, Apple really packed this notebook, and the features its missing is really none that important. Of course, the 17'' will be simply stunning.
But back to the point; the 12'' casing is one of the most impressive features on the model, at least to me.
-dame.

Why does anyone praise Steve Jobs? He can't run a company for his life. Market share is dead in the water. Products are overpriced, and he can't even ship the products that are in demand. 3 friggin months! What seemed expensive 3 months ago is now a rip off for the same price. They should drop it to 2999 at the very least, considering everything is now 3 months more dated than when it was announced. It has become the norm for Apple to announce to early, ship to late, hurt their sales, and piss of current and potential new customers. For 2 months they've had a huge freeway billboard touting the 17" near the Emeryville store. What on earth is the point of advertising something you can't sell. Do PC users (potential switchers) say, gee I need a computer now, I think I'll order and wait three months. No, they buy when they need the product. And if there is something enticing that Apple claims to have but doesn't actually sell, why bother? Dell and the other companies don't do that. They constantly update their products and they are for sale right away. Jobs needs to go and Apple needs to find someone who can run a big company and make the trains run on time.

I agree with the previous reader, Apple is NOT doing a good job at all. They are a day late and dollar short. If they would only get involved with better hardware developers like Intel so they could have access to better CPU speed and T.T.M. I am now reminded that I am waiting for a slow 1Ghz machine or I can spend less and get a P4 2.4 speed demon from IBM. As a potential switcher, I am quickly loosing faith in this Apple...Waiting since 1-16-03 for my 17 inch powerbook. Thank you Steve...I may just dump it on ebay when it finally ships to me and get the new T40 from IBM...install RedHat and have a nice day. Apple is a big disapointment, and I feel disrespected that they have not had the balls to come out and explain the delay. They need to realize that our attitude toward Apple is their future...not some code of secrets that they live by. Get a clue Apple...

Look, Apple is a weird company. But if it weren't for Steve Jobs (Coming back, forgetting the fact that he started the company in the first place), the mac as we know it would simply not exsist. The company was in major trouble, and the iMac pulled the company up by it's bootstraps. Steve may not be the easiest guy to get along with, and he might suck at running companies, but he sure is into innovation. I'm sure there will always be complainers, but this is my 2 cents.

Apple charges your credit card when the product ships.
Therefore, if a product is reduced in price, the charge on the credit card reflects that price reduction, even if the product was ordered 3 months ago.

Ok...so you can run the company then. I suppose you stand around the water cooler Monday morning telling everyone what the coach should have done. Armchair CEO

No it's not just you, I also feel that the new aluminum case feels really plastic-like... or maybe it was just the heat from the lighted stands on the MacWorld show floor... but the one I played with at Apple Store Valley Fair (Santa Clara) didn't feel that much better.

It does feel lighter than it seems though.

Personally I actually like the Titanium case more, and it feels more "metal"

Bring back magnesium alloy.

Can't wait to see the first review of the 17" PowerBook. Anyway, how true is this shipping news?

Saying a product has a Feburary ship date, and shipping it on March 14 means it was 2 weeks late. Call me crazy, but when it's a brand new product, I can give a two week relaxation. Maybe there was a bug or a piece temporarly unavilable. Do you want it fast, or right?

Blame 'em if there's a major problem with the delayed systems, but I'm willing to give Apple two weeks. They provide me quite a bit by providing a superior OS and better quality HW.

-Stryfe

NEVER annouce a product unless its SHIPPING. Should be a law, in my opinion. Getting tired of the annouce at Macworld then isn't available till Feb/March.

I work in university IT.. I convinced an academic and another staff member to get macs.. or specifically they ended up getting a 17 inch PB.. this delay is making me look REALLY bad..

Apple really needs to get their supply problems for new products sorted out.. how about they don't announce them until they actually start making them in quantity?

checkout the thread! people have their tracking numbers! -

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150756

And just how is the delay making you look bad? I ordered the 17" and was quoted 7-10 weeks for delivery... 10 weeks is 3/21/2003. I don't have a tracking number yet, but I still have a week to go. I ordered the day of the Keynote. So, if you somehow look bad from this, I'm not sure what you did, but it must be something you said or did... and not Apple. Additionaly, MacNN is once again mis-reporting the news. The PB is not 2 weeks late. It is right on time by their initial shipping estimates. All this c*** about the 17" is just pure BS and people need to read the actual data.

Dell and the other companies don't do that. They constantly update their products and they are for sale right away.

Yeah, but Apple's always in a bind, because MacWorld Expo comes around every 6 months, and you whiners would be complaining if they didn't announce new hardware. So, to satisfy you "Its MWSF, if there's no 'one more thing' or wicked new stuff, its a complete loss and Apple's down the toilet" trolls (remember MWNY last year - or was it two years ago?- when NO new hardware was announced, you guys screamed your heads off), they have to pre-announce stuff, then deal with the delayed shipping due to unforseen circumstances.

Dell doesn't have this problem because they don't get stuck with fixed dates for announcements. Luckily for Apple they're getting out of MacWorld shows.

h***, I remember when Apple announced upgraded powerMacs in late January, everyone was complaining that they didn't announce them at the show (and if they did, they'd complain they weren't shipping on time). But when they were announced, they were shipping (well, the lower end ones were, the faster ones weren't, but then again, they said they wouldn't be shipping for a while).

NEVER annouce a product unless its SHIPPING. Should be a law, in my opinion. Getting tired of the annouce at Macworld then isn't available till Feb/March.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Can anyone here make up their mind? Do they want to know what's coming up or not??? If Apple didn't announce the 17" at MWSF, and waited until this week, the latest 15" buyers would be all over themselves complaining how they were rooked or conned into thinking there were going to be no upgrades anytime soon.

And another big complaint about Apple is that no one knows what's up their sleeves until they announce it. Are they going to the 970? Who knows. What about some mythical Motorola G5 chip? Can't say. What is their plan for the PowerMacs this year? Only the insiders know, and not all of them. If people had a roadmap about where Apple is going and when they expect to get there, Apple might be more likely to sell more hardware now then later. I don't NEED a new Mac now, but would like one. But why get one now if the rumors say that a whole new architecture is coming out with the 970 by end of summer? Is it true, I don't know. Buit I've waited the last two years on the 'the G5 will be out in 6 months' rumors, so what's another 6 months. However, if I knew it would be 2 years, I might have just bought a new mac a year ago.

Shoot, if they didn't announce the 17" I was about to buy a 15" with a SuperDrive. Thanks for reminding me - I'm happier with the wait than feeling I got screwed.

[i]Dell and the other companies don't do that. They constantly update their products and they are for sale right away.[/i]
[i]NEVER annouce a product unless its SHIPPING. Should be a law, in my opinion. Getting tired of the annouce at Macworld then isn't available till Feb/March.[/i]

Obviously neither of you remember Microsoft's announcement of Windows 95 (or 98, or 2000, or XP, for that matter). One of the reasons for Windows 95 being called "Windows 95" was to force the developers to actually release the software *IN* 1995. Oh, and it took nearly 6 months [i]after[/i] the announcement for it to arrive.

So much for the "don't announce until it is ready for release" argument. We won't even mention how first IBM and then Microsoft have "announced" products that have never shipped...

That was my reaction as well. Had Apple waited until yesterday to announce, we would see nothing but angry reactions to the news from people who bought new Powerbooks after Macworld. (This reaction would, incidentally, be as illogical as the one we are seeing, but it definitely illustrates how Apple just can't win with some of the people here.) I also suspect that many people don't understand how the process works. By the time Apple made the announcement, they had probably submitted their specifications to the assembly plant, and had received estimates back for each part of the work. Then, they finalized their price and took their best guess as to the date of completion. From that point, the factory produces numerous (probably hundreds) of prototypes, which then go through Apple's QA. At this stage, the QA people are charged with finding *anything* which might pose a problem, or anything which might need to be revised from the original specifications. If, for example, one part needs to be revised because it can come loose over time, they will return it to the engineers, who will design a new part, return it to the assembly plant, have a new prototype made, and the process will be repeated. QA doesn't catch everything all the time, but they are considered one of the best, and they are allowed to go after anything they want, irrespective of the product release date. That's why we know what standard of quality to expect from Apple, and that's why the problems that do show up (the chipping paint on the original TiBook, for example, are so rare compared to issues from most other companies). We know for a fact that prototypes were already coming off by Macworld in January. Beyond that, the exact date this is certified for shipment is an educated guess the company has to make.

Same here. When I was watching the Keynote and saw the 17" I knew that I was going to get that one. If they didn't announce the 17" I was going to be walking out of the store with the 15" SD. So, I guess, in some ways Apple lost out on revenue for the last quarter, but in the end I'll be happier that I have the 17".

Just got the message this morning and it is on its way from Taoyan Taiwan! SO HAPPY! SO HAPPY!

"Seems to me that by the time the orders get filled it will be time for a price cut... then all those people who ordered early will really be upset! (I am glad I am waiting...) "

No, you idiot. When a supplier can't meet demand prices are usually RAISED. Blistering idiot, learn some basic economics.

Everyone I know that has bought a PC against my Mac recommendation in the past two years regrets it. Every single Dell has had a cooling fan fail within 8 months. This isn't fantasy, it is fact. You get what you pay for, and also what you wait for.

I just found out from Apple that there are no 17" PowerBooks! They are actually just going to ship you a 17" iMac with a new genorator attached that will power your iMac when you are on the road. The generator will run on a new, fume free fuel called iFuel.

Seriously, I'm just kidding. I thought i'd try to bring some humor into your lives to relax some tension.

stilling waiting for the humor part ;)

On another note:
It is now, what, 4-5 months since the last speed bump of the PB.
How long before they update the 17"?
Surely they are not going to release a new 15" without a speedbump, so the 17" flagship will need one as well!
I am thinking of cancelling my now longstanding order (since Jan 8th) and wait another month or two, (waited long enough already, though). 1GHz would have been o.k.in January, come April, May and a new 15", I should think we are going to see a sppedbump to 1.25GHz? Then the sh*t is really going to hit the fan! After three month wait, outdated after 2 months? yehah!

they are in no way going to make the specs of the 15" better than the 17"

look at the 17"
subtract some LCD

there you have the next 15"

one if the models (15") is 867MHz PowerPC G4 so it will do to 1ghz

EXCUSE ME but isn't Apple a HARDWARE company, what does Microsoft have to do with anything? Microsoft is a SOFTWARE company..




[i]Dell and the other companies don't do that. They constantly update their products and they are for sale right away.[/i]
[i]NEVER annouce a product unless its SHIPPING. Should be a law, in my opinion. Getting tired of the annouce at Macworld then isn't available till Feb/March.[/i]

Obviously neither of you remember Microsoft's announcement of Windows 95 (or 98, or 2000, or XP, for that matter). One of the reasons for Windows 95 being called "Windows 95" was to force the developers to actually release the software *IN* 1995. Oh, and it took nearly 6 months [i]after[/i] the announcement for it to arrive.

So much for the "don't announce until it is ready for release" argument. We won't even mention how first IBM and then Microsoft have "announced" products that have never shipped...

i am spanish. but i do not speak english.
es verdad que ya estan enviando a las tiendas los powerbook de 17 inch????
thankyou. muchas gracias!!!

the speed of the 15" has been the same since November, I cannot really see Apple updating the 15" without giving it a speedbump at the same time (otherwise, are they going to wait for another 4 months after intro to do that?, that would be 8months!!)
I think they are going to ship the 17" for two months, then update the 15" AND the 17" and piss everybody off (as in the past).
Can't see any other way? any comments?

the speed of the 15" has been the same since November, I cannot really see Apple updating the 15" without giving it a speedbump at the same time (otherwise, are they going to wait for another 4 months after intro to do that?, that would be 8months!!)
I think they are going to ship the 17" for two months, then update the 15" AND the 17" and piss everybody off (as in the past).
Can't see any other way? any comments?

Alguna gente ha divulgado que los powerbooks de 17 pulgadas están en el envío del hecho.

I suspect that they may put off the clock speed updates on the lineup for a month or two, so that we see them come in June instead of April or May. It'd make the 17" owners happier for a little bit longer. Whether or not the 15" titanium model hangs around until all models are updated, though, I don't know.

If they update the 15" before they do the rest of the lineup, they may just simplify it and put a 1 GHz chip in all 15" models, and then just differentiate 15" prices through features (Combo vs. Superdrive, HD space, and so on).

Those of you who DO get a 17" model: don't despair even if they do upgrade the specs... A) you'll be first, and B) you'll still have one of the fastest Macs around for awhile.

Boohoo, my Powerbook isn't shipping yet. Boohoo! It should be illegal to announce before it ships. Boohoo!

GROW UP!

Dude, when are you going to realize that all early adopters of Apple stuff always get screwed one way or another, be it shipping late, quality issues, premium price, or short warranty (as was the case in the iPod-- which Apple retroactively extended). It's the price you pay for having a cool looking product early.

It gets old listening to you dopes whine about this year after year.

Lots of industries pre-announce products. Think of cars! What's the harm? It's info on what's coming, and you can ignore it if you wish. And if Apple found an unexpected flaw, I'd rather they fixed it than let the first buyers suffer something WORSE than delay.

So why does Apple take such heat for +/-2 weeks? And for announcement timing? Things that would seem trivial for another company? Thy doesn't Dell have these problems?

Because Dell doesn't release anything WORTH getting that excited about. Few companies do--and rarely a CPU maker. But Apple is known for it.

So, the whining counts as a compliment, I say!

If I recall correctly, didn't Dell announce their Inspiron 8500 last week or so? I checked their website when they announced it and it wouldn't ship until April 10th. Apple isn't the only one that doesn't ship when they announce. Let's not make a big fuss over it.

I use both Apple’s and PC’s. I love Macs, but I ordered my 17” laptop and I am really getting pissed about the wait. We are spending over three grand on a machine we should get compensation for the delay. I’m thinking an extra free battery. What do you think?

I use both Apple’s and PC’s. I love Macs, but I ordered my 17” laptop and I am really getting pissed about the wait. We are spending over three grand on a machine we should get compensation for the delay. I’m thinking an extra free battery. What do you think?

If you're not allowed to cancel your order, then you should be compensated for such a delay. That would be un fair.

Luckily, though, you CAN cancel your order, so you have options if you need to change to a 15" or a Wintel notebook.

Lots of products in the world involve waiting. I sympathize with the frustration, but not with the view that Apple has committed some major sin here. People knew they were ordering a product that did not yet exist in stores.

You'll still have one before me, and I'll be jealous! I'm not buying until it has an IBM 970 and a GeForce FX. Which dould be a LONG while.

I think you are a f****** idiot!

You don't have a written agreement to have the laptop in your hands by a certain day. Apple is working like mad and is about to ship the silly thing. Don't want it? Cancel. Too late to cancel? Too bad. PISS OFF you whiny troll. Nobody owes you ANYTHING in this world. Compensation my a**.

God, the lawyer infested American consumer market seems to have bread a 'you owe me' and 'me first' mentality. You dumb dicks are jealous somebody gets it before you, or wanting compensation for your pain and suffering for not having a $3300 laptop in your hands within x number of days. I FEEL YOUR PAIN! Yeah, whatever. Jeez, makes you kinda wanna go live somewhere else. Nah, maybe in other countries I wouldn't be free to tell you lame whiny overpaid techno-dorks to kiss my free white a**, on behalf of the great American company called Apple.

/Departs with middle fingers extended.

>>> I use both Apple’s and PC’s. I love Macs, but I ordered my 17” laptop and I am really getting pissed about the wait. We are spending over three grand on a machine we should get compensation for the delay. I’m thinking an extra free battery. What do you think?

I think two things.

Number one is that whenever people are this frustrated, it means the company has done something right: creating something people are dying for.

On the other hand, I absolutely agree that the timing on this was not good. The product had a huge amount of buzz and the lengthy delay (for anyone who is not a mac addict) was a day late and a dollar short. I also think that for those of us that are dying to buy a new computer, the clear indications that Apple is six months away from updating to the PC970 makes almost any educated buyer of the 17" a stupid buyer. It's too impulsive and not pragmatic enough, because you know that models are going to be twice this fast in eight months and that there may even be a new design on Apple laptops to go with it.

Just got the 17" Powerbook G4 delivered today (3/21). I ordered it through the Apple store back in mid-Feb. It came earlier than i expected given the delay talk. It looks way cool... ok, back to playing!

I bought a 12 inch Powerbook over the 17 inch myself because I can fit the 12 inch in my inside jacket pocket, anyway... I had to wait two extra weeks than I expected and it was painful!

With that in mind, I could not imagine the sheer agony of ordering a 17 inch Powerbook from Apple in early January and be told that it won't ship for a few months. ...then find out that it will be even longer and Apple knew about it all along!

Sucks that you have to wait. Apple's doing everything they can at this point. But if people who ordered want to complain and use these forums to do so, LET THEM! I completely understand, I'd be mega pissed right now if I'd ordered one and week after week, month after month Apple says they're almost here and then yanks the rug out from under you week after week, month after month.

Whether it's Apple or some PC maker, doesn't matter. It's not good business. Apple (and everyone else) needs to reveal these products, but then NOT say they'll be available on Tuesday when the KNOW it's actually gonna be Friday. Just say they're coming soon. It CAN be done this way.