Gavin Andresen - 2010-07-12 13:36:39

@s{quotedtext} @s{quotedtext} If you have finished downloading the "block chain" (the history of previous transactions) then you'll get your bitcoins right away.

If you haven't finished that initial download (if the "blocks" number at the bottom of Bitcoin is less than 65-thousand-something), then you'll get your free bitcoins as soon as you download the block containing that 5-bitcoin transaction.