Once again, Apple's apparently cutting it really close with this whole "let's completely clean out our inventory before introducing new computers" scheme. The idea, of course, is to try to avoid the overstock problems of the past, where they'd be stuck with warehouses full of aging and unwanted Performas while customers clamored for the latest and greatest. Those overstocked models depreciate faster than a Lambourghini in the Bad Part of Town™, so it's important for the new, responsible Apple to make sure that their modest profits aren't eaten up by unsold stock. Still, when CNET articles start talking about Mac resellers not having "any products to sell at the beginning of January," we start to get a little nervous.

According to CNET, several resellers have told them that "a variety of systems are already in short supply." Given that the most recent rumors indicate a late January ship date for the new Yosemite systems, the fact that current Power Mac G3's are already running dry is sort of scary. Add to that the potential nightmare of some kind of glitch during Apple's holiday upgrade to a whole new production control system, and, well, you've got the makings of a really fine blockbuster suspense film. (Hmmm, is anybody from Pixar tuned in?) And what's this? The Apple Store is now reporting that they're all out of Power Mac G3's, except for the entry-level desktop 266 MHz models. The note claims that new systems will be available "in early January." We're on the edge of our collective seat.

Don't get us wrong-- we're big fans of the new, "inventoryless" Apple; their inventory levels at the end of the last financial quarter were among the best in the business. We just find it a little unnerving that for the next month or so, people who want pro-level Power Macs just may not be able to buy any of them. Far be it from us to start a run on the bank, but if you're going to need a new Mac within the next month or so, you might want to start calling around.