Saw this article on Cnet:
http://msnbc-cnet.com.com/2100-1041_...&subj=cnetnews
quoting a Dell 'representative' saying (on 8/22) they had no firm date for shipping the patch. Assuming that 'Colin' was mistaken, I called Dell once more:
This tech also told me they were shipping last week. When I directed her to the article, she ran up the chain of command to check her facts:
1) the CDs haven't shipped
2) the CD was 'approved' 8/27 and sent to Zomax 8/28
3) Zomax will press the CDs & start shipping them on 9/5
While the date sounds suspiciously like the 'Friday of next week' dates I got in late July & early August, the amount of detail she provided leaves me hopeful...