Apple has announced it will move to a dual source for its chips after a low delivery of Motorola chips forced a delay in the supply of Apple's Power Macintosh G4 computers.
Apple's corporate affairs manager, Myrna Van Pelt, said the company had previously relied on a single supplier for its chips, but now a deal between Motorola and IBM means Apple will be buying chips from both suppliers.
`I don't believe the delay will strain our relationship with Motorola,' Van Pelt said.
`Now rather than rely on a single supplier, we are broadening to IBM as well. Having a dual source decreases vulnerability and it's just a better way of managing inventory.'
Van Pelt said Apple will honour all orders for the Power Macs that were placed by October 13 at the original configurations and prices, but the 500MHz models will not be available until next year.
She said customers could place new orders now but they would have to wait a week for shipping of the 450MHz models.
