The Inquirer.net claims that Apple is trying to influence Intel in providing their newest processors to Apple early.
So just what can Apple do? It could attempt to put pressure on Intel to give it the necessary chips early. So Apple is doing just that, and sources claim that it isn't flying as well as it had hoped.
According to this unverified report, Apple is interested in the Woodcrest and Merom processors which Intel announced in August.
Note that previously, analysts predicted Apple would use the Yonah processor which will be released in early 2006, consistent with Apple's present timeframe.