Sounds like the sales person is telling you all that they can tell you and they are correct from the experience I have had buying two different Dell laptops and a couple LCD's. All my stuff from Dell always arrived well before the expected date they gave me. However, I have never had these dates pushed back. I am not sure what more the sales person could tell you, because it is doubtful they have any ties with making the order go out faster and I am surprise they didn't try to blow sunshine up your ass and keep stringing you along lol. Really, sounds like they are telling you the straight up gospel and thats just how it is.

I don't know if this helps, but Gateway sells some very nice and inexpensive laptops. I cancelled my last order through dell for an XPS when I saw the gateway.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668159.php

Thats the newer model, although if you buy it through one of the local stores in the USA (Bestbuy), it comes with a 9800GTS , 1920x1200 screen, a better CPU with the newer chipset and only cost @$1500, then usually there is a $100 coupon, so $1400. I don't know why, but the Gateway FX model you can get at Bestbuy is far superior to the one on Gateways own site and also cheaper. The one I got was with the 8800GTS (which is same as the 9800GTS, but the 9800GTS is more energy efficient I think...smaller die) and cost me $1100 US. I have no doubt it can 5 box wow, although I don't play that game. This laptop plays FSX very well, which is pretty demanding.