UPDATE: It looks like this new baby will have the Radeon 7500 graphics card! Jackpot!
Just got the call myself. They are upgrading people to a HP 4101 (which I cannot find on the HP website). If I understood her correctly, she said that the only difference was that this had a 1.5GHz processor. She also said that the rebate centers were aware of this issue.
I said yes, upgrade me, and I do intend to go along at this point. However, what was an unusually long 2.5 week delay from when I ordered in late September has now becoming a 4.5 week delay. Not too hot....
FYI - Before the above call I had coincidentally called Staples and asked if I could cancel the order without the restocking fee. The rep said that if I refused delivery then it would be no charge, but that if I accepted the delivery then I would have to pay the restocking fee. I asked her about the website, which says:
A 15% restocking charge will be applied to any non-defective, open computer, notebook/laptop, digital camera, handheld computer, build-to-order computer or special/custom order furniture that is returned or exchanged. Shipping charges are non-refundable on build-to-order computers and special/custom order furniture.
By my reading, this says that the charge only applies if you open the box. She disagreed with me on the interpretation. I think you could fight the credit card charge, though, on the 15% if you didn't open the box.
In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if many people say yes to the 4101 upgrade and, if something better comes along, just refuse delivery of the unit during the intervening 3 weeks.