In a strange turn of events, the 21.5-inch iMac's ship times in the UK Apple Store have slipped to 2-3 weeks instead of the usual 7-10 days, while the rare 27-inch iMac continues to hold its ship time steady at 3-4 weeks. Both machines, which use new screen-lamination and friction-stir welding techniques, are said to be difficult to assemble, and this may be a warning that the in-demand desktops are coming into another period of short supply. The situation could also be temporary, and just reflect strong demand versus limited supply.
