If you really want a computer that ships when they say it will, the way is to buy something in stock from PC Connection or such. PC Connection has been particularly reliable for me over the years. They have HPs (and Apples, for that matter, if you're so inclined) that will ship the same day you order them. They also appear to stock certain configurations of Lenovo ThinkPads for quick shipment. The one HP laptop I bought recently seems fine, some variety of nc6400, although I'm not the everyday user of it and it doesn't get used particularly hard.