Local Apple resellers may be forgiven for thinking they have been hit with their own personal tsunami wave of news, with Apple closing its South African office and the Core Group assuming sole responsibility of distributing and branding the US computer maker`s wares.

On top of that wave came two new product releases aimed at the cheaper end of the market spectrum, namely the iPod shuffle and the Mac mini. And new price lists for all products were released at the same time.

Then there was the news that Apple has just had its most profitable quarter ever. The designer computer and electronics manufacturer reported it had earned $295 million, or 70 US cents a share. That was more than quadruple the $63 million, or 17 US cents a share, the company earned in the same period a year ago.