OK, I've stopped fighting, it's time for a little treat and the old G3 has served its masters well since 1997. I've ordered a PowerMac G5 (dual 1.8GHz) today through the Apple Store. After my previous bad experience with them, I still cross my fingers, as all my colleagues and friends who have done so have waited months before getting their order, and it's apparently not just a French thing, as shown by Andrew in his diary of a switcher: D-2, D-1, D-day!
I settled on the standard graphic card, since it will always be possible to upgrade it later, should the need arise. Oh, and I got an iPod too, and forgot that I could get it engraved for free. Of course, nobody told me that on the phone althought it's all over the place on the store's home page...
I wonder if you can cancel the iPod order and re-order with the engraving? Especially if you placed it with Apple France.