hm there are some very interesting things in that article that id like to go over (and please excuse my rambling/typos as i have been awake for 40 hours)
first it does not sound as if the imac shortage will take center stage, in fact it sounds like it will be a very quick side note.
Sources tell Think Secret Jobs will admit to problems that caused iMacs delays, and apologize for it almost all in the same breath.
no one should expect him to bear all, especially when availability seems to be easing day-by-day, week-by-week.
i also thought it was interesting that this article also finally tells us why there have been such shortages (no firmware or hardware problems as everyone has been saying)
The problem centers around a parts shortage of at least two components, the Pioneer DVR-104 SuperDrive and power transistors used in the LCD display.
and then there is discussion of promotions in order to win back any lost converts:
Jobs must now do something to reel those fence-sitters back in and sources tell us he'll announce promotions to do just that. What those promotions might be is not known. Sources say the details of the promotions were still being worked out less than a week from the keynote. Promotions could range from free added memory, to free software, to discounts on third-party products such as printers, software, etc.
i also found it interesting that the shortages at third party retailers while apple stores have tons of stock will be addressed:
Jobs is expected to say availability will improve dramatically in the next few weeks, and those independent dealers who have been cheated out of stock while Apple retail stores swim in boxes will start to receive multiple unit shipments in the next week or so.
so after all that i got the impression that all of this would be a quick announcement like "oops seems more of you wanted those imacs than we anticipated so sorry shipments will begin to build up steam and now we are announcing promotions to make the deal all that more sweet" a short and sweet announcement that most definitely will not take center stage as the article states:
For Jobs to admit the product has problems in detail would be financial suicide so close to the end of a quarter in which the company shipped far less than the predicted 200,000 units. For this reason alone, no one should expect him to bear all, especially when availability seems to be easing day-by-day, week-by-week.
so if the imac announcement woudl be economic suicide to allow it to take center stage that must mean steve has something else up his sleeve to make sure the imac announcement does not steal all the press.
steve needs to make it clear that apple is still inovating still working on new products (hard and soft) and that this minor problem has not consumed them.
in my opinion thats why we WILL see something (ipod? powerboook? 10.2?).
