The team was then increased to about 50 people, who defined the machine's broad features, prepared sales estimates and began looking hard at the economics.
The company also reduced its spending and sales estimates.
Other analysts were more conservative in their sales estimates.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the steep reduction in sales estimates of network equipment.
But most analysts have sharply scaled back their sales estimates.
The first issue had sales estimates of 11,088 putting it at 163rd in the sales chart.
The sales estimates was lowered to $52 billion from $54 billion.
When a company does not meet sales estimates, it frequently falls short of profit projections, as well.
The first issue had sales estimates of 30,637 putting it at 77th in the sales charts.
Some sales estimates range as high as 14 million copies in the first week.