Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

Apple will begin taking online iPad 2 orders at 1 a.m. PT, 4 a.m. ET Friday

Apple on Thursday reminded customers that the iPad 2 will go on sale at retail locations at 5 p.m. on Friday, but those who want to purchase from the comfort of their home will be able to order online starting at 1 a.m. Pacific, 4 a.m. Eastern.

Those who don't want to wait for delivery will be able to buy an iPad 2 at 5 p.m. local time at all 236 Apple retail stores in the U.S. The multi-touch tablet will also be available at 5 p.m. local time at AT&T, Best Buy, Target, Verizon Wireless, and Walmart stores, as well as select Apple Authorized resellers.

The company also revealed that iMovie and GarageBand for iPad are available in the App Store starting today for $4.99 each.

Every customer who buys an iPad 2 at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPad 2 by setting up email, loading new apps from the App Store and more, so they’ll be up and running with their new iPad 2 before they leave the store.

iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in the U.S. on March 11 for a suggested retail price of $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.

iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.

iPad 2 will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25; and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.