Proof that there will be around 800,000 systems at launch

**Badlittlemonkey** · 09-23-2001

I found this post on another forum and it makes sense

Proof that there will be NO SHORTAGE come the 15th

quote:
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From Microsoft's press release on the 21st:
Xbox will launch in North America on Nov. 15, 2001. The company also reconfirmed it will ship 1 million to 1.5 million Xbox consoles to North American retailers this holiday season, with replenishment of more than 100,000 Xbox units each week.
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What Microsoft said about the November 15th launch, "more than 100,000" units per week, contradicts what Ed Fries said on September 18th, "When we do start (manufacturing), we can make about 150,000 units a week." I'm thinking that they overestimated the production capacity of their factory in Mexico. Perhaps they didn't realize until yesterday that they couldn't handle the demand as well as planned. So, they started manufacturing immediately and delayed launch one week, so they could deliver what they promised at launch.

If you do the math, it really all makes sense. At the original 150,000 units a week, it would take only 5 weeks and 2.3 days for them to produce 800,000 units. This would give them until October 1st to start production (maybe a couple days before to ensure the units have enough time to be shipped to retailers by the 8th) and deliver the 800,000 units at launch.

But after they realized that they overestimated their production capabilities, they started production immediately. From the 21st of September to the 15th of November is 7 weeks and 6 days. This gives them theoretically enough time to produce 771,429 units, including a day for shipping. But notice that they said "more than 100,000 units each week," which probably means anywhere between 100,000 and 110,000. If it were 110,000, that would mean they have the time to make 848,571 units before the 15th, including a day for shipping.

So in conclusion, there will be NO SHORTAGE OF UNITS, because given the current production rate specified by Microsoft, they will physically be able to pump out 771,429 to 848,571 units by the 15th (including a day for shipping of course).