Well Mead, I've been closely following. They are FINALLY in backorder. Took 2 days. Now the question hinges on how far they are backordered by Friday when I get mine. Crazy "apple runs the world" fact: they were shipped yesterday. Via overnight delivery. I have my tracking number. HOWEVER, apple has forced fedex to hold them til Friday, the official release date. So my 2 ipads are sitting at the fedex location 4 miles from my place and I cannot get them.