Prince McLeanApple Computer on Wednesday pulled the new $899 educational iMac from its educational online store without giving reason.
When contacted by AppleInsider, sales representatives for the Mac maker said the computer's placement on educational store for the past week was "a mistake" and that the model "was only meant to be available to educational institutions."
But several other correspondents who contacted the company were given a variety of other explanations for computer's disappearance. One was told the new model "wasn't selling well" and therefore was removed.
However, informed speculation points to the contrary. At just $899, the educational iMac sells for $400 less than its similar, but more fully equipped retail counterpart.
It's believed that student interest in the new Mac may have been so strong that orders had begun to cut into sales of Apple's higher priced, higher margin iMac retail models.
In its announcement last week, Apple clearly stated that the "17-inch iMac for education" was available "immediately for education customers through the Apple Store for Education."
The $899 iMac remains available for purchase through Apple's online store for educational institutions.
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33 Comments
It may well be that too many people realized that the cheaper version took care of their needs very well - hurting the normal consumer ranges.
It brings into focus that not everyone wants or needs the fastest, most powerful computer available. For these customers the education version is a great form factor and a great buy. Hopefully Apple will place it back on the site when they have delivered the bulk of their direct education orders - just like they did with the eMac.
It may well be that too many people realized that the cheaper version took care of their needs very well - hurting the normal consumer ranges.
It brings into focus that not everyone wants or needs the fastest, most powerful computer available. For these customers the education version is a great form factor and a great buy. Hopefully Apple will place it back on the site when they have delivered the bulk of their direct education orders - just like they did with the eMac.
Cost is the most important factor to the masses.
My guess is that Apple started to get bulk institutional orders they could barely fill--so they had to stop offering to individuals rather than turn down or delay the big orders. Which wouldn't have to mean the model was outselling other iMacs, merely that it was selling enough to interfere with the big orders.
After all, many of those individuals will "settle" for some other Mac. But an institution might not.
My guess is that Apple started to get bulk institutional orders they could barely fill--so they had to stop offering to individuals rather than turn down or delay the big orders. Which wouldn't have to mean the model was outselling other iMacs, merely that it was selling enough to interfere with the big orders.
After all, many of those individuals will "settle" for some other Mac. But an institution might not.
Methinks this sounds likely...
I'm grooving on the use of the phrase "informed speculation" in this story.