Originally Posted by AppleInsider

After more than fourth months on the market, Apple's iPad 2 appears to have nearly caught up with the staggering demand for it, as estimated shipping times on the company's U.S. online store have improved to just one to three business days.

The Cupertino, Calif., company reached near immediate availability for all models of its popular touchscreen tablet on Saturday, as noticed by MacNN. The lead times are an improvement upon last week's drop to three to five days.

Shortly after the device's launch in March, Apple was quoting shipping estimates of over a month. In April, the iPad 2 began shipping within one to two weeks, with Apple holding that timeframe steady until early July.

Analysts have viewed the improvements to availability as evidence that Apple has overcome supply constraints, rather than viewing the news as indicating slackening demand for the device. J.P. Morgan's Mark Moskowitz believes the resulting increase in iPad sales should help allay investor concerns that have contributed to recent volatility in shares of Apple.

Apple stock reached a new 52-week high of $364.92 on Friday ahead of its quarterly earnings call next Tuesday.



Despite the fact that Apple sold "every iPad [it] could make," analysts were disappointed in April when the company announced sales of just 4.69 million units last quarter. Wall Street had expected sales of 6.2 million.

"Demand has been staggering, and I'm not going to predict when supply and demand will come into balance, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said during the earnings call, adding that the iPad 2 is "the mother of all backlogs."

Originally Posted by solipsism

Keep making them at breakneck speeds, Apple, because this will be the must-have device for the Holidays.

Originally Posted by brucep

When is the IPAD 3 coming out?

9

Originally Posted by charlituna

Next Spring.

But if you believe the rumors there's an ipad 2.5 coming out anywhere from tomorrow to 2 months from now.

Originally Posted by Vadania

It makes perfect sense. When demand slows down for the current model, release an upgraded one.

I mean, they don't sell tons of models like the other guys do right?...

I'm not sure why people think they should make tons of these for the release so everyone can have one. They want constant demand. So if they built enough ahead of time, then they would have one great quarter and three bad ones right?

Their stock would go up like crazy, then plummet if every one who wanted one bought it right away.

I think they found the right balance of keeping supply in constant demand enough for their earnings. I can't believe some people who post here thinking they only build so many because they can't build more.

Even after reading post after post from this site, of potential partners who could build more of them when they're actually "needed". Really?...

This is only my opinion. Please don't jump down my throat. :o)

Originally Posted by irnchriz

Another way to look at this is that demand for iPad 2's has dropped and there are now a surplus of units, just saying..