AppleInsider Staff
New orders for the Wi-Fi-only and 3G-capable iPad, in all available storage capacities, now ship within 24 hours when purchased from Apple's official online store.
For months, customers had to wait an estimated 7 to 10 days for their order to ship. A few weeks ago, iPad shipping times quietly improved to between 3 and 5 days.
The estimated 24 hour shipping schedule would suggest that Apple has managed to catch up with consumer demand for the iPad, which has been a multi-million seller in its first few months on the market. Apple struggled to meet demand, as various component suppliers could not get orders to the company fast enough.
In its first three months of availability, the iPad sold 3.27 million units. Officials with Apple admitted that they were caught off guard by the high demand for the product.
Strong initial demand for the iPad even forced Apple to delay the international launch of its touchscreen tablet by a month. Instead, the device launched in a number of overseas countries at the end of May.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
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Malcolm Owen
103 Comments
This would seem to be just the opposite of what would be expected by those guessing a refresh on the current iPad (a 2nd generation) although I guess a smaller form factor could still be introduced. I don't see the price going down much for it. I also don't see me having a need (or want) for one. Now I might just get in line next spring for one with 3G - or a FaceTime capable model (leveraging both WiFi and 3G). I was not patient enough to wait till the 3G's came out - snapped up my 64G WiFi the first day and even get to use it to test with when I can tear it away from my family - my wife figured we would get by with just the one. Boy did she miss that mark, need more like 3. Should make it easier to get the next one though.
This would seem to be just the opposite of what would be expected by those guessing a refresh on the current iPad (a 2nd generation) although I guess a smaller form factor could still be introduced. I don't see the price going down much for it. I also don't see me having a need (or want) for one. Now I might just get in line for one with 3G - or next spring a FaceTime version using WiFi and 3G.
That?s what I was thinking.
My usage needs have changed over the past couple months that a dedicated reader would be a useful tool. The Pages update to export to ePub is also nice. However, I will be wait until the 2nd generation 9.7? iPad at this point.
After struggling to meet consumer demand for the iPad since it launched in April, estimated shipping times for new online orders have improved to within 24 hours, suggesting any production problems have been resolved.
...or that demand has dried up.
It does seem that the possibility has to be accounted for. Do we have any updated sales numbers? Or even estimates from those store-watching analysts?
I suspect it is a combination of both views. Sales could hardly be expected to keep up the torrid pace of the first few months (and the international rollouts have been completed, no?) and it is to be expected that production capacity would be expanded as needed over time. Anyway, I thought I would hit this before a troll can make it into an "issue."
...or that demand has dried up.
It does seem that the possibility has to be accounted for. Do we have any updated sales numbers? Or even estimates from those store-watching analysts?
I suspect it is a combination of both views. Sales could hardly be expected to keep up the torrid pace of the first few months (and the international rollouts have been completed, no?) and it is to be expected that production capacity would be expanded as needed over time. Anyway, I thought I would hit this before a troll can make it into an "issue."
It's possible. People might be waiting and seeing until some of the Android decides come out. But personally I don't think so. Most people I know who own one now want a second one.
This would seem to be just the opposite of what would be expected by those guessing a refresh on the current iPad (a 2nd generation) although I guess a smaller form factor could still be introduced. I don't see the price going down much for it. I also don't see me having a need (or want) for one. ...
Yeah, as much as I would love to see a smaller iPad, I don't see how it's in the works if they aren't testing it yet, and they are still trying to ramp up production on the first model.
... - my wife figured we would get by with just the one. Boy did she miss that mark, need more like 3. Should make it easier to get the next one though.
If they don't get out some decent software for the thing soon you can have mine.
I bought it because I wanted to be productive "on the go" sort of speak. iPad is a fantastic slouchy-type device for using around the house, but it ain't no mobile computer (unless you are talking the mobility needed to get from the living room to the kitchen).