Sources at two national retailers confirm Apple has informed them that current iMac models are EOL, meaning they will no longer be manufactured in their current configurations. In addition, sources at these retailers have been told new, enhanced iMac models with faster processors and CD-RW drives will be announced soon to replace existing models.
When new products are imminent, the goal for Apple, national retailers and independent dealers is to clear inventory, and Apple is doing everything possible to do just that.
Apple announced late Friday it would offer US$200 rebates on iMac DV+ and iMac DVSE models. The rebate is available through the Apple Store, major catalog retailers, national storefront retailers and independent dealers. The price cuts have been passed along to dealers in the form of lower prices they pay, although profit margins are no more than they were before the iMac price cuts, MacCentral has confirmed.
Indications are the rebates are not meant to clear out huge inventories of iMacs, as Apple is apparently doing very well on selling the consumer Macintosh products compared to a glut of professional products such as G3 PowerBooks and G4 tower systems. The rebates are primarily meant to assure every last iMac product is sold, as many advertisements for the rebates are prefaced with the words, “while supplies last.” Some dealers are reporting that despite the rebates, availability of certain iMac models and colors are virtually non-existent and that depending on how popular the rebates are, specific models might become tougher and tougher to obtain.
In addition to the Apple rebates, Circuit City is offering additional mail-in rebates on iMac models as well as iBook and G4 Cube products.