I have asked CSolid here from the forums, and I also had the opportunity to talk directly to an Intel Guy from germany. CSolid said, that there basically are no G2 X18-M yet, while the Intel Guy told me that there actually "should be". But still, if you check, they simply don't seem to exist at all. There are no Review Samples anywhere to be seen, only X25-M, if you check the major Hardware websites. Additionally, there is not a single OEM currently delivering Notebooks with an X18-M G2 builtin, only X25-M are available as an option (like in Hewlett Packards Business Notebooks, e.g. the 2530p Elitebook).

Bottom Line is: I think they do simply not exist...  I wonder why Intel isn't somehow officially commenting on this...  Just by looking at the Intel Website one would assume, that the X18-M G2 is released, just like the X25-M G2, when it is apparently not...  It seems this drive is currently nothing more than "hot air" as we say in german...

I have not the slightest idea. This is the first live X18-M G2 i have ever seen anywhere (including the web), and it is clearly not a production model. See:

I haven't even seen another sample like this anywhere on the web, there are no reviews at any of the large websites like Anands or Toms, there is no nothing. Actually, I was very surprised that this thing even exists, given that there is next to no coverage in all the online media. The Intel Representative who sent me the disk just said, that 2nd Generation "is there", and that every piece you buy now should be 2nd Gen, but i dunno. I still can't find any such disks on the market, world-wide.

No idea, sorry...

The is some information available since 1 week or so. One of the major european price comparison sites (usually a trusted source of information, called geizhals.at or geizhals.at/eu) has now listed the X18-M G2 Postville. There is still no available unit though, most shops list it as being available in "2-3 weeks". But at least it seems to be on the distributors lists now, so this is a step forward. I suppose we might see those in February. Maybe a bit earlier in the US than in the EU.