Intel Centrino 2 delay, Apple impacted?

 Apple’s MacBook upgrade plans may have hit an obstacle, with news that Intel will delay the release of its new Centrino 2  platform for laptops by nearly two months.

Intel’s delaying the release in order to address problems related to the chipset and the antenna used with the wireless chipset. Centrino 2 is the latest version of Intel’s laptop platform and was originally scheduled to ship in June. The impact of the delay means computer makers – potentially including Apple, should it make good on long-standing rumours claiming it has chosen Centrino 2 for its next scheduled MacBook release – will now have to delay the launch of any new machines.

"We are taking the extra days to address two issues that require us to re-screen our chipsets with integrated graphics, and attend to some terms-and-conditions mistakes while filing and testing our wireless antennas," said Elvin Ong, an Intel spokesman speaking to the IDG News Service.

Centrino 2 includes new Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme Mobile processors and also features an updated chipset with integrated graphics. As reported, the system includes WiFi, with WiMax support available as an option. The new processors will ship on July 14, Intel said.

All the same, the delayed release of the next0gen chips could scuttle any chance of Apple introducing new model MacBooks at WWDC next month.