Speaking of the iMac G5, given that delays have plagued each and every single G5-based product that Apple has rolled out since the chip first surfaced last year, is anyone going to keel over in shock if they hear that Apple's hot new consumer desktop might not be available quite as early as the company originally indicated? Because if so, you might want to go stand over a bunch of pillows or something. Or bubble wrap-- the thick kind with the really big bubbles. Roll yourself up in a few layers of that. We'll wait.

All set?

Okay, so it turns out that iMac G5s might not be available quite as early as Apple originally indicated.

Ah, the sound of well-padded unconscious bodies gently hitting the floor. Now that those guys are out cold, the rest of you can chew on the latest iMac availability report over at MacBidouille, which claims that the very first customers to preorder iMacs at the Apple Store are being quoted a September 26th ship date-- a bit later than the "mid-September" Apple quoted when the system was unveiled, but not by much. If you're hoping to buy from a reseller, on the other hand, you'll probably have to wait a bit longer: reportedly Apple's biggest distributor lists October 5th as a likely date for "real availability." While MacBidouille might just be talking about availability in France, AppleInsider clarifies matters somewhat by stating that "Apple Authorized Resellers who are seeking prompt shipments of the new iMac may have better luck bobbing for apples in the arctic."

Yes, kiddies, just like with every other G5-based products Apple has ever introduced, availability of the iMac G5 will apparently be pretty limited; you didn't really believe that IBM had fixed all of its production problems, did you? But Apple reportedly will be sticking to its mid-September ship date for at least one of its distribution channels: certain strategic Apple retail stores (SoHo, North Michigan Avenue, The Grove, San Francisco; you know, the ones with glass staircases) are said to be expecting their first iMac G5s "anytime after September 12th." So if you're lucky enough to live near a flagship store, you just might be able to get your hands on an iMac as early as Monday.

As for Apple's less-swanky retail stores, AI claims that none of them seems to be expecting any iMacs for over two weeks, and some are figuring on a wait of nearly a month-- and if that's true, than the October 5th date for third-party resellers seems overly optimistic at best, if not downright crazy-cakes. Then again, who can say? Maybe all of these reports are wrong, IBM fixed its problems, G5s are plentiful, and iMacs will miraculously sprout everywhere Macs are sold as early as next week. But we sure aren't counting on it, and all we can say is, if we walk into a CompUSA on Monday and see stacks of iMacs just sitting there for purchase, we hope we'll have our big roll of bubble wrap handy. Because you can bet we'll need it.