Please understand the difference between direct and distributor channels.
Direct is where Intel sells directly to the vendor. They do this as massive quantities are purchased, and shipped over time (result of
JIT Scheduling). The pricing, quantities, and delivery dates are negotiated in a contract.
It's good for Intel, as they recoup expenses faster, and therefore turn a profit faster. It's good for the vendor (Apple, Dell,...), as it gets around price volatility (pricing = fixed), and makes sure they've a steady supply of parts to keep the assembly lines running efficiently.
Then there's
Distributor channels. Those are what smaller vendors that can't buy nearly as much quantity have to deal with. Intel sells and ships to the distributor (i.e.
Arrow for example), and smaller vendors buy from them. The difference is, the availability and pricing is volatile (more expensive, and unpredictable).
Now since the Direct customers are so valued and it's in Intel's financial interest, they get parts first. Anything available beyond those contractual obligations will be sent out as both Retail packaged parts (boxed) and balance of OEM packaged (trays) to the Distributors.
The difference in Direct vs. Distributors is why Dell is already shipping 56xx parts in the T5500. Apple should already have parts in the assembly facility.
The only way Apple would be using Distributor channels, is if their purchase quantities have dropped low enough they can no longer negotiate for direct delivery from Intel (i.e. MP and XServe sales have dropped significantly with the '09 systems compared to previous years).
So it still is more likely that the development start time was delayed due to the iPad (people rotate from project to project). Start late, and you're going to be behind. It really may be that simple an explanation (very possible anyway, and far more probably than lack of CPU's).
