Shipping estimates for new orders of the 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac dramatically improved today, with both models now shipping in 1–3 days from the online Apple Stores in Canada and the United States.
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In January, shipping times for the 21.5-inch iMac slipped to 2–3 weeks, and the 27-inch iMac has been in short supply since its November release. The supply shortage has been attributed to issues with display production resulting from a new lamination process.
During Apple's first quarter financial call, Tim Cook noted that iMac supply constraints in the fourth quarter had impacted sales results. He expected supplies to increase during Q1 2013, which was confirmed in late January with a report that assembly rates for the iMac had been improved.
Apple's redesigned iMac is considerably thinner than its predecessor, with 40 percent less volume and a 5mm edge. The newly implemented lamination process provides improved optical quality and an anti-reflective coating.
Update: As noted by MacRumors forum members, changing the base configuration of the iMac results in a shipping time of 2-3 weeks.
Top Rated Comments
Sure there will always be a small number of users who want to open their PC's up and either change or repair them on their own terms. But that's a tiny percentage of the total user base, heck even a lot of 'pro' (i.e. business) users don't do that any more with 3 or 5 year warranties being taken up instead. When it breaks outside of that it's on a replacement schedule with funds set aside in the budget for that very purpose.
On a related note I've never been able to figure out the dismissive attitude to attractive looking desktops. Sure, when I'm sitting in front of my iMac (2011 model with a new 27" on order) I can't see the sides, fair enough. But every time I stand up, every time I walk past the home office or do anything in that room that doesn't involve sitting in front of the screen the design is clearly visible. Am I buying an iMac to show off to my friends? Nope, not at all. But I am buying it (at least in part) because I like having things in my home that are well designed and in a very small way are enjoyable to look at. I've had self-built tower PC's since, yikes, 1998 and while they may give the most bang for the buck my priorities have shifted. Nowadays I'd much rather pay a little more for a great looking near-silent computer that doesn't clutter up the room. Of course I understand that others have different priorities and that's fine but I do wish that sentiment was shared a bit more than it is.
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Thank you! I don't think some readers think past tomorrow.
And last!
Steve Jobs would never have allowed the iMac to get fatter in the middle than it is on the edges.