>>I got a definite "by June 30 at latest" shipping date from someone at Amazon. Not sure how reliable that is, though. But I ordered 4 copies, anyway, we are in one of those stupid "use-it-or-lose-it" gov't budget times, at least Amazon allows me to advance-order.
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>Microsoft will "release" this month. Traditionally, when MS releases, that means it is "Released to Manufacturing (RTMed)". It's usually 4-6 weeks after that before the product actually ships.

Yes, no doubt the Amazon sales people are trying to put the "earliest face" on it, to gain orders. Perhaps the June 30 date is really only an RTM, if not outright sales BS or idle speculation. As I said, that is less-important to me than being able to order early, weird is that seems to private sector or independent people.

But I have a hunch Amazon will be at the top of the post-RTM distribution list, anyway - maybe end of July is a more realistic date of actual delivery?