“Credit Suisse First Boston said early interest in the Apple Computer iMac G5 ‘appears robust.’ CSFB said customer demand appears strongest for the 17-inch model with the CD/DVD burner while supply of 20-inch iMacs ‘seems most limited.’ The research firm said that on the supply side, Apple’s key iMac supplier in Asia offered a ‘relatively bullish tone regarding its ability to meet iMac demand in the calendar third quarter.’ CSFB said its fiscal fourth-quarter estimates assume iMac shipments (not including eMac shipments) remain flat quarter-over-quarter at 60,000 units. ‘Based on our checks with stores and suppliers, we believe there could be material upside to our estimate despite [Apple] releasing the product with only two to three weeks remaining in the quarter,’ the firm said. The new iMac presents ‘another leg of strong product momentum and a boost to its underperforming consumer desktop product line,’ CSFB said. Longer term, the firm remains concerned that Apple’s pricing and the ability for IBM to meet G5 processor demand may hinder results. CSFB rates Apple at “neutral” with a $35 target price,” Forbes reports.
MacDailyNews Notee: Apple is currently trading at $36.68 at the time of this article’s publication.
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