..Before you even get into the actual T&C's of the program. Anyway, depending on your current system status, and/or willing-ness to wait, you've got the two options here. Say you buy an 8600, decide you want better..Either go 8800 upgrade right away, or wait it out until there's 'rumors' of the refresh coming.. Either way, you've go 90 days to make a decision - you can upgrade on day 1 or day 90 [that's what I did going G70 -> G71]...It doesn't matter. And if your stepup window passes due to you having to wait in a queue (HUGE lines [400+] common @ release of new cards btw), you're cool, and you get to use the current card in the meantime too. You've probably got as much chance of G81 being released within 90 days from now (if you buy immediately) as not. Mind you G80 has been around for a while, I can't imagine the new high end being far off (Ultras be damned).