No delays here, as the new 21.5-inch Apple iMac is out on November 30

The rumors suggested it wasn't going to be possible, but Apple has now provided the launch date for its new 21.5-inch iMac, putting to rest talk of an extensive production delay.

There have been concerns that Apple would miss its November and December release dates for its new iMac computers, after a stream of rumors linked them to production delays, perhaps stretching into next year. These concerns seem to have been unwarranted however, as today Apple has provided the launch date for the 21.5-inch model, and it will go on sale this Friday, November 30. The company has also confirmed that it will be joined by the 27-inch iMac in December, although no specific date has been provided yet.

These official dates don’t quite match the most recent guesses as to when Apple would put the computers on sale, with one source saying they would launch either today or tomorrow. This followed a report from earlier this month, which said Apple had already started sending out new iMac computers to its distribution centers. Apple may have met its own target, but it’s only just, so there may be at least some truth to rumors the new design makes construction a pain.

Apple’s press release says the 21.5-inch iMac will be available through its own stores, both online and on the high street, plus selected Apple resellers too. If you’re set on owning one of the new, beautiful, computers, it will be wise to get your order in early; as while there has been no launch delay, Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned stock would be limited for at least the first three months.

At the time of writing, the Apple Store still shows a November and December date for the two iMac computers, with no option to pre-order or buy the systems yet. You’ll need deep pockets when they’re ready though, as the standard 21.5-inch iMac with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive costs $1,300. Spec it with a 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 and an improved graphics card, and you’ll need $1,500.

While international release schedules aren’t mentioned, a glance at the online Apple Store in the UK shows it too expects the iMac computers to launch this month and next, so look out for an option to buy the machines there later too.