The day they announced it (September 1st), they said it would ship in 4 weeks which pegs it at September 29th. If you look at the site today, it says it ships within 2 to 4 weeks, which also pegs it at September 29th at the minimum. So probably around that date, although I wouldn't be surprised to see it a couple days sooner. That's if you bought it near the announce date, depending on the initial demand and production of course.
Just ordered one today, and the email order acknowledgement sent out says "Ships: Oct 18" !!!! Looks like I've missed initial shipping! (or general availability has been delayed..) Perhaps I'll pick one up at the retail store if they show up there earlier.
I just hope that this thing arrives before it hits the stores. Don't you think Apple should have
a policy of getting it to pre-orders before the general public?
Well, sometimes you CAN get things faster from Apple retail store. For example iPhone shows 3 week ship online, but CAN be found in some stores. If Apple online provides a particular ship date, their only obligation would be to honor that estimate. It does not mean they are promising to ship one to you before any store get theirs.
Online may still end up to be faster, I'll just have to wait and see.
Ordered mine on Sept. 3, 2010 - now still displayed: "Ships: September"
Today is Sept. 19, 2010, as a company into consumer packaged goods and retail business for quite some time, it could share a bit more than a delivery date estimated in the month. Sure, no one is gonna die if it ships after Christmas...:-)
Products are great...the rest seems falling apart...
Well, my estimate wasn't quite so vague. For me it says ships by Oct 18, delivers by Oct 22. This just seems to me like a minor underestimate in the demand. I don't fault them for this, and providing such a specific delivery date at least tells me they have a handle on things. Nothing seems to be "falling apart" to me. I think I'll hold on to my Apple shares a bit longer.
i say its just like the iphone 4 bumpers. it said they weren't shipping them until sept 1 but came on aug 6th. so i'm guessing they are coming on the sept 29th