This week, Apple Computer delayed the worldwide rollout of the iPod mini from April to July, citing problems getting enough of the miniature hard disks the devices require. Apple released the iPod mini in the United States last month--sort of--but made only a limited number of devices available, leading me to wonder if the "soft" rollout was a bit of a charade. Regardless, Apple is still touting the 100,000 preorders it received for the iPod mini, although whether that number has changed or how many of those preorders have actually been filled is unclear. This situation is just the most recent example of Apple pre-announcing a product, then not fulfilling its promised shipping schedule. In the most notable case--the Power Mac G4--Apple shareholders sued the company for overpromising and underdelivering.