People drooling over new Macintosh models, or even some of the older Macs, may be frothing with frustration right now. Apple has massive backorders on a large number of models. The lack of supply has a number of reasons, including unexpected demand and downright poor planning on Apple's part. In Apple's defense, some backlog stems from inability to get parts, such as those low-yield, active-matrix screens.

Luckily for Apple, they have no competition - if you want a Mac you'll wait. You're unlikely to buy a Windows machine, whereas PC-clone buyers would quickly jump ship to a competitor. If Apple plans to pump new models out every six months, they have to make the machines available. Otherwise customers see another form of vaporware, call it trickleware, because only a few lucky (or unlucky, depending on early quirks) souls manage to buy these machines.

We've received a list of Macintoshes that Apple expects to be in good supply through the end of the year. If something is NOT on this list, then figure that your chances of buying one within the next month are slim. The PowerBooks and Duos in particular will be in limited supply. The optimism in providing a list of available products is interesting (or perhaps merely desperation mixed with frustration, since Apple loses big bucks by not having products available during December). More interesting for those who want a machine in stock is that you may get a special deal on these models since Apple wants to sell in-stock machines rather than take orders for trickleware.

     Macintosh LC II 4/floppy w/256K VRAM
     Macintosh LC II 4/40 w/keyboard
     Macintosh LC II 4/40 w/keyboard (System 6)
     Macintosh LC II 4/80 w/VRAM but no keyboard
     Macintosh LC II 4/160 w/VRAM but no keyboard
     Macintosh IIsi 3/40
     Macintosh IIsi 5/80
     Macintosh IIsi 5/160
     Macintosh IIci 5/SuperDrive (w/cache)
     Macintosh IIci 5/80 (w/cache)
     Macintosh IIci 5/230 (w/cache)
     Macintosh IIvx 4/230
     Macintosh Quadra 700 4/SuperDrive
     Macintosh Quadra 700 4/80
     Macintosh Quadra 700 4/230
     Macintosh Quadra 700 4/400
     LaserWriter NTR
     LaserWriter IIf
     LaserWriter IIg

Information from:
Pythaeus

Related articles:
MacWEEK -- 07-Dec-92, Vol. 6, #43, pg. 1