Thunderbolt Display stock-outs continue hinting at imminent update

“While Apple has begun to catch up with demand for its redesigned iMacs, the company’s Thunderbolt Display remains in limited supply at resellers, potentially hinting that an update could be around the corner,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.

“As of Thursday, the 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display is sold out at Amazon, MacConnection, and J&R,” Hughes reports. “Resellers MacMall, B&H and Best Buy advertise that they have inventory available.”

Hughes reports, “AppleInsider first noted in January that Thunderbolt Display units were in short supply at some resellers. The fact that inventory remains limited a month and a half later may hint that Apple is drawing down supply ahead of a refreshed product.”

Read more in the full article here.

14 Comments

  1. Yet another Apple product that has languished far too long without an update.

    I appreciate the inclusion of thunderbolt into the display, making it a perfect docking station for newer laptops. That is a clear benefit that Apple doesn’t explain well enough, and it is part of the reason for Apple’s price premium.

    … however:

    – why does the 3-year old Cinema display cost the same price?
    – to what large display can one easily dock an iOS device?
    – why doesn’t Apple’s flagship display match the iMac’s aesthetics? Couldn’t Apple launch both products at about the same time?
    – the still-in-production Cinema Display is the only realistic Apple option to mate with the Mac Pro, and it is handily outmatched by other displays in either performance or in price.
    – is Apple truly incapable of offering multiple screen sizes or the option of a matte screen finish?

    Innovation please. Wrapping a snazzy aluminum body around an LG display — but missing every other LG product update cycle — doesn’t cut it, Cook.

    1. For my photography business, color is critical. Of all the displays I’ve tried that beat the Apple monitors on price or features, none have come close to the color fidelity of Apple’s displays.
      But it is irksome that to use my 27″ Thunderbolt display next to my 27″ iMac I need to set the display on an old O’Reilly book “SSH, The Secure Shell” so that the active display areas are at the same height.

    2. Mike, people need to remember that Apple does not sell monitors to sell monitors. Apple sells monitors as accessories to it’s other offerings. Want/need a second screen for an iMac? Apple has a monitor for you. Want a screen for a Mac Pro? Apple has a monitor for you. Apple likes to portray that its monitors are the best in class, but they just are not anymore. They are merely accessories for the rest of their offerings.

      Monitors seem to be headed the same way as RAM, hard drives and video cards. Apple sells those items too at a premium for those people who don’t want to search for a better value option.

      And for the continuing lack of availability? Couldn’t it just be explained by the idea that Apple is using most of their production to try to catch up on the iMac backlog? If there were no iMac backlog at all then there might be more displays in stock. Just a thought.

      As for a new monitor? If I were to dream I’d ask for a32″ with 2560×4096 with at least 120 Hz refresh at equal to or better than the full sRGB color gamut. It may never happen, but I can dream can’t I?

      1. Go to MacWorld, MacLife, CNET, TechRadar, GadgetReview, Amazon, et al. Hell, do a simple Google search. I’m not doing the work you apparently are capable of performing with minimal effort and intelligence. Seriously, a person in business should have the wherewithal and motivation to act independently.

        1. Wow, so first you blatantly lie, then rather than maintaining any integrity, you turn it back on the OP. I wonder what life is like being a great big dirty liar.

  2. The biggest issue is that the 27″ display is only slightly less expensive than the 27″ iMac. If they offered a 21.5 and a 27″ version at closer to reasonable prices, I am sure more folks would purchase them. I’d like to replace my view sonic for instance…

  3. Maybe it’s just a shortage due to the fact that some people (including me) can’t wait 4-6 weeks (according to the apple store tonight) for a new iMac. I’m getting a mini and Thunderbolt Display instead.

  4. Still waiting on a New Mac Pro and the 24 LED Cinema is due to be passed on to someone in the family. The current LED Cinema is too expensive, has a crappy glossy display and is far from the best in class.

    BTW- Please bring back the 24″ size as the 27″ is kind of clownish looking on some desktops.

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