12-Inch MacBook Air Production Ramping Up According To Supply Chain Sources – Digitimes

Digitimes’ Aaron Lee and Steve Shen report that longtime Apple laptop production subcontractor, Taiwan-based Quanta Computer has commenced volume production of the new 12-inch MacBook Air, opening the way for Apple to launch the device during the 2015 first quarter of, according to unnamed insiders in the Taiwanese supply chain.

Lee and Shen say their sources tell them Quanta is stepping up efforts to recruit more workers in order to increase 12-inch MacBook Air production capacity, and with Quanta also having landed orders for production of the Apple Watch, the company plans to increase its work force by approximately 30,000 in Q1 2015. That is both unusual and difficult due to the approaching annual traditional Lunar New Year holidays that tend to slow productivity in Chinese economies for a month or so this time of year.

They also say the new MacBook Air, which is expected to come with a 12-inch Retina screen, will likely replace the existing 11-inch MacBook Air, while production of the hot-selling 13-inch MacBook Air will continue for at least the near-term future.

The sources may be right, although discontinuance of the 11-inch MacBook Air would beg the question of what MacBook model will become Apple’s price leader laptop for the education market. Will the forthcoming 12-inch iPad be promoted in that role and priced commensurately? Seems problematical to low-ball the price with a Retina display in the mix, although Apple will presumably be saving to some degree if rumors that they will leaving out all ports save for a single USB Type 3 port (which wil also handle charging and external monitor connection) and a headphone jack on the new 12-incher are accurate.

For the full report, visit:
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150113PD202.html

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