I wouldn't start counting the profits for Q2 yet. You say they need
to sell 325,000 non G3's to get their numbers, and G3's sales are
half what they need. The only non G3 machines they have are powerbooks,
the 6500, and the 9600 (the 8600 has already been discontinued).
Powerbooks will probably sell close to what they did before. The 9600
was never a big mover, and there aren't a tremendous number of them
in stock. That leaves the 6500. Apple is supposed to have a ton of
them around, and they just cut prices on them again. While cutting
prices on them will help move them out, and will definitely help with
cash flow, they may be selling them for less than they have them on
the books at in their inventory numbers. If they aren't selling for
a loss, then the profits on the 6500s are so miniscule that they
won't help.
At this point, every non G3 sale, except for a small number of PBs and
a handful of 9600s, hurts P&L, but helps cash flow.
-Russ |
