IDC analyst Roger Kay said he did not expect the supply shortage to abate before third quarter, but others don't see relief until next year. ARS analyst Sam Bhavnani noted that shortages are worst for 15-inch panels--the same size used in the new iMac. "Apple should have checked their supply beforehand," he said. Bhavnani warned that Apple would be harder hit than most other companies because "they use a very high-quality panel." Gateway is also experiencing a supply crunch. The Poway, Calif.-based PC maker is quoting four-week lead times for delivery of its Profile 3 computer, which also incorporates a flat-panel monitor. Questions for the quarter Many financial analysts had predicted Apple would ship more than 200,000 new iMacs during its second fiscal quarter, which ends March 31. But it is now uncertain how much of a backlog the company will have to carry over into the next quarter. Still, most remained upbeat. Apple has never specified how many it plans to ship.