I was curious so I asked-
The DW1640 has just become available this month, June 2005. Since we have not been given an exact shipment date, this could be the end of June that we will have the first shipment in North America.

Thank you for your interest in BenQ Products,

Qreseller Team
BenQ America Corp.
http://www.benq.us/Products/DVDRewriter/index.cfm?product=572 8)