Whenever I need to pick up paper towels, pistachio nuts and and an iPad, I go to Walmart.

GTSC

But according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Android tablets are going to outsell the iPad. I'm not to sure about that since they require you to sign a $399 two-year contract if you want to buy it without full retail price.

How much more news on "iPad coming to Walmart"?
Does anyone actually care?

Wonder how many Apple can make before 2011. Sounds like the iPad will be THE hot item for Christmas 2010. I hope Apple can make enough, I rather doubt it though.

Obviously Apple does not share your view on this one. There was no need to give Walmart the green light, at least from Apple's perspective at this time unless Apple is confident that production can keep up with demand.

It makes sense that since the iPad is Apple's response to the netbook, Apple would want to sell iPads via the same retailers who had a hand in moving all those disappointing netbooks.

There are several different angles here to this question.

First I'm hoping this indicates a massive increase in production. Just to put five of each SKU into all of Walmarts stores would be a major order. If Apple has trouble into the Christmas season keeping production matched to demand this could be a very bad thing.

The flip side is that Walmart isn't exactly the place to go for state of the art electronics. Will this lift Walmart or Sink Apple?

Walmarts in store marketing isn't exactly inspiring so just how much such a venue could increase sales is an interesting question. Especially considering that Walmarts ability to discount will likely be very limited.

Finally what about support? I know I'm about to use a negative characterization here but many Walmart shoppers could be classified as stupid. How will they get through activation to start. Will Apples support lines be flooded.

Lastly buying electronics from Walmart is generally a rip off. Especially accessories. In theory Walmart is a discounter but generally they engage in the same rip offs the big chain electronics house do. For example grossly over priced cables and accessories.


Dave

I was just posting about this on another thread. I think opening up to this large nationwide store chains is business proof that Apple feels they cornered the market for tablets and therefore need to grow their distribution (like they did with the iPod) -and- they feel they will have enough product to satisfy this increased distribution. Well, the last point is more accurately stated as: they feel they will have too many units to be handled through their current retail methods. Im sure there will be runs on supply all over.

My fear is that Wal-Mart will treat iPads like a window-shopping item and when the customers actually come in try to sell them "cheaper" Android tablets instead... that tie the person into a long-term contract. Wal-Mart probably gets a much bigger kickback for signing customers up to the data plans than the commission on an iPad. And if someone insists on buying the iPad, well, they have 4 more in the back room to replace their lure with.

This will neither lift Walmart or sink Apple. After all, Walmart already sells iPods, including the Touch, and the iPhone. The iPad is not part of the OSX family but rather is the top product in the iOS range.

As for Walmart shoppers being this or that, having worked at Walmart on the floor, I can tell you that there is a wide range of clientele using Walmart just as I'm sure there is a wide range of clientele frequenting all other retailers. Head out to a Walmart parking lot and take a look around. You're liable to see lots of expensive rides, clearly not owned by "trailer trash" for lack of a better term. Besides, do you really think Apple is in the business of selling products only to a very defined segment of the population? Any one who wants to buy an Apple product is welcome. Fact is, Apple's stuff is easier to figure out than anything the competition is offering. I would sooner recommend an Apple for someone who is a tech dummy than a PC.

It is true that it's going to be hit-and-miss regarding the ability of staff at your local Walmart to help get customers set up properly but then again, sadly, you get that when you try buying product from any general-merchandise retailer. What Apple is counting on is that the process of setting up an iPad is pretty much the same as an iPod Touch. Millions of those seem to wind up used correctly regardless of where they are bought so I suppose the same could be expected of the iPad. Consider that you don't have to do anything more complicated than connect the iPad to a computer that has iTunes set up, just like a Touch, and it goes from there.

If there is a concern, it's that the iPad might well be offered up as a full-function computer which, in its early life, it is not. But then again, being as Apple has not allowed the iPad to be separated from the iOS family, you realize the second you get it home that it's part of that eco-system, distinct from the full-function computer line.

I bought a netbook last year and found it to be far more difficult to live with and set up than any of my Apple products. I only bought it as a low-cost storage solution for when I was travelling and in that role it worked well. But I have to say that Apple's products are far more consumer-friendly than anything from the PC side. As such, while there will be complications in not selling exclusively through the Apple retail network, the payoff is far too great for Apple to ignore. Most consumers will be able to work through this, even with less than stellar assistance from staff selling the product if only because so many of them already know how it all works, having done the same thing with their iPods. This is what Apple hopes will allow quick mass-market distribution.

At some point in the future that could be an issue but for right now, do you think there's much competition for the iPad? How many 9.7" tablets do you think consumers have their choice of?

Besides, the iPad is such a hot item and the numbers likely to be shipped to Walmarts so small that they will likely be selling out within hours of getting in more stock. For Walmart it's all about getting people into the store to buy whatever. Even if the iPads are sold out, they've accomplished the goal of bringing in consumers and while they're in the store, they're liable to buy something.

We're a long way from the scenario where the iPad will be in good supply and having to compete with a whole bunch of other tablets. That's certainly not the deal for this holiday season.