Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
That is really interesting, because producing them in China would make much more sense business-wise.

My money is on Apple "producing" nMP in USA being a marketing stunt and real bulk for worldwide distribution being manufactured in China.

No it doesn't, this is high end tech manufacturing, not making a $5 plastic chair.

Modern electronics circuitry have to be machined assembled or drawn. They're getting small enough that it's really difficult to have a human solder the chip to the board at a point where you can guarantee QC. You have a lot more yield loss with human assembly than with machines (which are almost always perfect), and quite frankly there's some part of the process that humans just can't do anymore. What you're looking at are really just a lot of QC people and engineers to make sure the assembly machine works.

Then count in the cost of international transport for something this heavy (and yes, it's heavy for it size), and the cost adjustment may not be as much as you would think. When apple move their production oversea, shipping was dirt cheap, ever since 2008 that hasn't been the case anymore. I can't barely ever ship anything UPS or FedEx without costing at least $10.

There's also a lot of issues with having new industrial processes leave the border, it leave the company much more vulnerable to competitors. The method of manufacturing and assembly here are trade secrets, everyone one of their competitors would have it in an instance in an uncontrolled environment like China. You should read up on the nightmares of how many U.S. manufacturers suddenly find competitors putting out exact clone products with the same quality soon after they go to China, even in low and medium tech, never mind that this is the cutting edge of high tech microchip manufacturing.

Going to more machine manufacturing and relocating the factories back to the U.S. is actually a very smart long term play on Apple's part.
 

mintakax

macrumors regular
Dec 19, 2013
176
24
My order got shipped today as well. I placed my order at 12:31am PST for an 8C/1TB/16GB/D700.
I had called Apple to update my credit card (got new cards with a new number) back in December and they upgraded my shipping to overnight free of charge. Apple consistently does this for customers that call in to check on their order. They upgraded my shipping on my iPhone back in September when I had to change my shipping address, plus they comp'd me a free $39 case.

To those that haven't had their orders ship - it is worth a call to Apple!

When I saw that my order status had changed to "prep for shipping " I called to get my shipping upgraded but they said it was too late. I was concerned that if I called before the status changed that it might disturb my place in line. At any rate if all goes right with UPS, I should have it on Friday !
 

ricviv

macrumors newbie
Jan 16, 2014
15
0
(new to the board... please forgive)

I placed my order on 1/3 for a 6 core/32GB/512 through the Apple Store.. I'm sure I dont' need to tell anyone here, but I've been checking the status of this thing about every 6 hours since... it's basically consumed any time that I used to play Simpsons Tapped Out with.

So.. I've decided to ship it to a store, as my UPS guy has a hard time leaving expensive packages... and I feel that's the best way to combat that. It's currently 'Processing Items' and available in February...

I have two questions... what is the boards thoughts on true order length, and what are you drinking to calm your nerves until your's ships?
 

rene.bonvanie

macrumors member
Dec 28, 2009
43
0
Foster City, CA
(new to the board... please forgive)

I placed my order on 1/3 for a 6 core/32GB/512 through the Apple Store.. I'm sure I dont' need to tell anyone here, but I've been checking the status of this thing about every 6 hours since... it's basically consumed any time that I used to play Simpsons Tapped Out with.

So.. I've decided to ship it to a store, as my UPS guy has a hard time leaving expensive packages... and I feel that's the best way to combat that. It's currently 'Processing Items' and available in February...

I have two questions... what is the boards thoughts on true order length, and what are you drinking to calm your nerves until your's ships?

I had my order shipped to the Apple store too.

As for being calm, I just don't get it. I remarked it before on the board; we went into this eyes wide open. Apple told us it'd be a while, so why get anxious? Ever had a child? You don't ask your wife every day for 9 months now, do you? Or worse, every 20 minutes...
 

Nugget

Contributor
Nov 24, 2002
2,168
1,468
Tejas Hill Country
As for being calm, I just don't get it. I remarked it before on the board; we went into this eyes wide open. Apple told us it'd be a while, so why get anxious? Ever had a child? You don't ask your wife every day for 9 months now, do you? Or worse, every 20 minutes...

That's not a very good analogy. When pregnant, the delivery date isn't some random day which could happen at any time over the span of nine months. With nMP orders being fulfilled seemingly at random it is just as likely that it will ship today as it will ship on Jan 31st. I do agree that there's no cause to be upset with Apple since they're still (so far) meeting their promise; The hope for an early shipment surprise is what drives many to frequently check their order status looking for good news.
 

ricviv

macrumors newbie
Jan 16, 2014
15
0
I had my order shipped to the Apple store too.

As for being calm, I just don't get it. I remarked it before on the board; we went into this eyes wide open. Apple told us it'd be a while, so why get anxious? Ever had a child? You don't ask your wife every day for 9 months now, do you? Or worse, every 20 minutes...

... not married, and no kids. i just don't have the patience for either of them.;)
 

golf1410

macrumors 6502a
May 7, 2012
748
3
San Francisco, CA
I had my order shipped to the Apple store too.

As for being calm, I just don't get it. I remarked it before on the board; we went into this eyes wide open. Apple told us it'd be a while, so why get anxious? Ever had a child? You don't ask your wife every day for 9 months now, do you? Or worse, every 20 minutes...

How long does it take for shipping from factory to Apple store?
 

Vic-Viper

macrumors regular
Apr 1, 2010
177
2
I received notification that my order was preparing for shipment at 6:30 pm PST on January 15th. I checked my bank account on a regular basis and did not see a charge before this (I didn't have Apple Care).

I received my shipment information at 7:50 am today (the 16th).

FedEx says it will be delivered today, but I doubt I will get shipment that fast (same day). Apple tracking estimates tomorrow on the 17th.

I ordered a 6-core D700 12gb RAM 1TB rig at 12:50 am PST on Dec. 19th.
 
Last edited:

NeonHeatDisease

macrumors member
Jan 2, 2014
73
3
I received notification that my order was preparing for shipment at 6:30 pm PST on January 15th. I checked my bank account on a regular basis and did not see a charge before this (I didn't have Apple Care).

I received my shipment information at 7:50 am today (the 16th).

FedEx says it will be delivered today, but I doubt I will get shipment that fast (same day). Apple tracking estimates tomorrow on the 17th.

I ordered a 6-core D700 12gb RAM 1TB rig at 12:50 am PST on Jan. 19th.

Congrats! Thats almost my exact rig. Encouraging.
 

2128506

macrumors regular
Dec 28, 2013
194
198
Heart of Mordor
No it doesn't, this is high end tech manufacturing, not making a $5 plastic chair.

Modern electronics circuitry have to be machined assembled or drawn. They're getting small enough that it's really difficult to have a human solder the chip to the board at a point where you can guarantee QC. You have a lot more yield loss with human assembly than with machines (which are almost always perfect), and quite frankly there's some part of the process that humans just can't do anymore. What you're looking at are really just a lot of QC people and engineers to make sure the assembly machine works.

So this is why Apple produces iPhones, iPads, iMacs and MacBooks in China? They are similar to a "$5 plastic chair" and do not require any high-end manufactoring whatsoever? :D
 

NeonHeatDisease

macrumors member
Jan 2, 2014
73
3
So this is why Apple produces iPhones, iPads, iMacs and MacBooks in China? They are similar to a "$5 plastic chair" and do not require any high-end manufactoring whatsoever? :D

At least in weight, yes an iPhone and plastic chair are similar.

...

Then count in the cost of international transport for something this heavy (and yes, it's heavy for it size), and the cost adjustment may not be as much as you would think. When apple move their production oversea, shipping was dirt cheap, ever since 2008 that hasn't been the case anymore. I can't barely ever ship anything UPS or FedEx without costing at least $10.
I totally agree.

Mac pro = ~11lbs. iPhone = ~7.2oz - so on weight alone for one mac pro shipped from overseas they can ship ~24 iPhones. Vastly different playing field. Id suspect eliminating shipping costs helped play a part in the decision to move manufacturing back to the US
 

iizmoo

macrumors 6502
Jan 8, 2014
260
34
So this is why Apple produces iPhones, iPads, iMacs and MacBooks in China? They are similar to a "$5 plastic chair" and do not require any high-end manufactoring whatsoever? :D

More might be moving back than you'd think. That Austin factory is too big for just MacPro production alone, the factory is supposedly large enough to employ something like 2000+ in 24/7 production. Way too many people for just the nMP, sustained demand should be less than 1000units/day. That mean either Apple is betting some massive explosion in sales (doubtful), or as an experimentation in starting to bring back assembly for more units.

You're also ignoring my whole point about manufacturing trade secrets. Having production in a place that's more ripe for espionage have hurt apple, their clones get a freeby in replicating manufacturing processes without much R&D. Locking that down is gonna put some pains into the copycats.
 

Jasper111

macrumors newbie
Dec 19, 2013
26
0
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

There. I feel better.

So happy to see how many people who ordered after me have their shipping dates. Mine must be just around the corner.
 

rene.bonvanie

macrumors member
Dec 28, 2009
43
0
Foster City, CA
At least in weight, yes an iPhone and plastic chair are similar.


I totally agree.

Mac pro = ~11lbs. iPhone = ~7.2oz - so on weight alone for one mac pro shipped from overseas they can ship ~24 iPhones. Vastly different playing field. Id suspect eliminating shipping costs helped play a part in the decision to move manufacturing back to the US

Shipping cost is probably the last reason why Apple moved some manufacturing back to the USA. A distant second, and probably third, is labor disputes. My money is on control over the manufacturing process and the fear it is becoming a (leaky) black box, which in the long-term could reduce Apple's core competencies and introduce major intellectual property risks.
 

Scissors

macrumors regular
Jun 14, 2012
230
25
London, UK
Thanks to whoever restored the missing data in the spreadsheet - really appreciated.

I've toned down the warning at the beginning. My thinking is the more heavy handed it reads, the more likely we're going to see someone mess with it. The loss of data earlier today might have been accidental.

Don't know about you guys but I'm really impressed how long the spreadsheet has lasted without any major data loss or grafitti.
 

ABCDEF-Hex

macrumors 6502
Feb 15, 2013
372
76
NC
Thanks again -

Thanks to whoever restored the missing data in the spreadsheet - really appreciated.

I've toned down the warning at the beginning. My thinking is the more heavy handed it reads, the more likely we're going to see someone mess with it. The loss of data earlier today might have been accidental.

Don't know about you guys but I'm really impressed how long the spreadsheet has lasted without any major data loss or grafitti.

As usual we learn a lot about the whole process. The spreadsheet was a good idea. I would be anxious too if it wasn't for my need to come up with a display solution that isn't temporary.
 

Pistol Peto

macrumors regular
Oct 9, 2013
141
391
West of Toronto
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

There. I feel better.

So happy to see how many people who ordered after me have their shipping dates. Mine must be just around the corner.

Still no word Jasper? That's weird. Mine is in Winterpeg right now. Yours can't be far behind! Keep the faith!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.