Motorola Inc is satisfied that any remaining bugs in the latest version of the 68040 are livable with and last week began shipping the desperately late part in significant quantities to companies like NeXT Computer Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co that had been severely hurt by the lateness of the chip. Motorola is now able to ship several hundred 68040s a week, and says that will rise to a peak of 1,000 a week in January – but it doesn’t expect to get supply into line with demand until the middle of 1991 – giving further ammunition to those manufacturers that argue that it is vital to have a second source manufacturer for crucial parts like the 68040. All told, Motorola says it is now expecting to ship 250,000 to 500,000 of the $495 chip next year.
