Chip maker Intel says a lingering hard drive shortage will affect its 4th quarter results. However, the issue is not expected to have a negative effect on Apple’s Mac sales.
Neil Hughes at AppleInsider reports:
Intel’s results are expected to be below the company’s previous projections due to the continued shortage of hard drive supply. The chip maker lowered its fourth quarter revenue to $13.7 billion, down from $14.7 billion.
Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital said Intel’s revisions shouldn’t be a surprise to those who watch the PC market. PC makers HP and Dell expect to be negatively impacted by the drive shortage, but it is believed that Apple will not be harmed by the supply shortage.
“We think Apple will be the least impacted of our PC coverage names, if at all, given its ability to sell MacBook Airs and iPads,” Reitzes wrote in a note to investors.
There have been signs the hard drive shortage might be affecting Apple. Earlier this month, built-to-order iMacs with 2TB hard drives saw estimated shipping times slip to 5 to 7 weeks, much longer than the previous estimates of 1 to 3 days. Estimates did improve last week to 2 to 4 weeks. This suggests supplies of 2TB drives have improved.
About 14,000 factories were shut down by the floods in Thailand. Among the companies affected by the disaster were hard drive makers Western Digital and Seagate.
