They started the bullet runs before October 2012 and didn't get their first -->sample<-- prototype until April 2013.
I always assumed this was because the chips from the first run didn't work, and they had to do a respin but chose not to go public about it.
I see no reason to disbelieve that they expect to receive some chips on 9th January. Whether those chips will work, or need some modifications and another run is another matter. But that's just the nature of chip design - these things don't always work first time. And from what I've read pretty much all the Bitcoin ASIC vendors are producing their chips on compressed timescales which are quite aggressive by industry standards, so I would imagine that increases the risk of failure.
So yes, it probably is the same as November 2012 in that no one knows yet whether they will be lucky and get it right first time. But I think that applies to every ASIC vendor who doesn't yet have sample chips in hand.
roy
They will receive the chips, they will make the cards , they will mine with them...
After 6 months , they will start shipping 1 or per day.Those that have started to get low hashrates.