Must Read: No niche for iPad: Why I returned mine

Topic: Apple

Apple announces arrival of iPads in stores

Summary: Apple has officially announced the arrival and time of its latest iPad model launch in stores.

Charlie Osborne

By for Between the Lines |

Apple has officially announced the arrival of its latest iPad model in stores to be Friday 16 March.

The new iPad will be launched at 8.00 am local time on Friday morning in the United States and nine other countries. It will also be available for purchase through Apple's online store.

For the WiFi-only, third-generation model, Apple Inc. will open its doors to expectant crowds on Friday in the U.S., UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The retail price for the new iPad is from $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model.

In the U.S., a number of different retail outlets will stock the device, including AT&T and Verizon stores. Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam's Club, Target and Walmart are also official stockists of the device.

Customers purchasing the new iPad will also have the option of a free, personal setup service, including email setup and the configuration of applications. Personal pickup options are also available through the Apple App store.

The announcement has also confirmed a further 25 countries that will soon receive next-generation iPad stock, including Austria, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy and Spain. It is expected that the iPad will be available in these regions from March 23.

Online pre-order dates for these countries have yet to be confirmed.

An analyst at Piper Jaffray, Gene Munster, projected that Apple will top 1 million new iPad unit sales on its launch date. Considering Apple's popularity and the likelihood of incredible consumer demand on Friday, it is reasonable to expect that many queuing Apple fans may be left disappointed.

Image credit: Apple Inc.

Related:

Topics: Apple, Banking, Collaboration, Hardware, iPad, Laptops, Mobility, Tablets

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37 comments
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  • I will be standing outside the Apple Store with my Android Tablet

    ...getting pictures and laughing.
    Socratesfoot
    Reply Vote

    • I will be getting my iPad from UPS

      And laughing at you with no life outside the Apple store with your crapdroid tablet.
      http404
      Reply Vote

      • As opposed to those of us who really DO have a life...

        ...and are laughing at YOU for being another Apple Lemming who satisfies its ego via UPS instead. :-)
        It'sNotMe
        Reply Vote

      • Really?

        [i]As opposed to those of us who really DO have a life...[/i]

        You have one?

        Surprise, surprise, surprise...

        lol...
        ScorpioBlack
        Reply Vote

      • Whatever

        You'll get it in 3 weeks. It won't seem that long. Really.
        bobjones2007
        Reply Vote

    • I will as well

      But, hopefully my iPad arrives early and I can have it with me to sell to the guy at the end of the line for a few hundred more and then I will be laughing all the way to the bank.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

      • Sad so many would actually pay.

        [i]But, hopefully my iPad arrives early and I can have it with me to sell to the guy at the end of the line for a few hundred more and then I will be laughing all the way to the bank.[/i]

        It's understandable people would wait in line for the first generation iPad. But not for subsequent ones. Though I have to say many waiting in line are not looking to use but rather resell at a higher price. Kind of skews the demand for the devices higher than it really is.
        ye
        Reply Vote

      • Not a bad idea

        N/T
        athynz
        Reply Vote

      • Peter and Ye... Value is a very personal and subjective

        thing. What you two value and what I value is likely in many a case different. It does not mean either of us are wrong however. Just different. As for people who stand in line... Again different strokes, for different folks and as for a person who may buy a product for prices above it's normal retail well that is a compliment in this case to Apple is it not?

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • But what is being valued, James?

        what is actually at value here? You seem to be saying that to these people the value is in purchasing the iPad for less, but you don't know that?

        They could very well value the belief that others will [i]perceive[/i] these people standing in line as something more then they are.

        A misguided belief to be sure, and hardly a compliment to any company.
        William Farrel
        Reply Vote

      • Not sure what you are saying/asking me?

        William Farrel

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • I didn't say they had no value.

        I'm saying they really don't offer anything over the previous generation iPad. Yes the display is nicer, the graphics faster, etc. All incremental improvements.

        So I have to ask: What does waiting in line for the latest version offer these buyers over the previous generation? With the original iPad the answer was obvious...there was no previous generation. It was a revolutionary device. With this one? Not so much. I'd be willing to bet every person who stands in line could have their needs met just fine with the generation two iPad. So what's the hurry?
        ye
        Reply Vote

      • Ye... You did use the word "sad". Which I would argue

        is a poor choice of words in this case because it's again simply an opinion and to say another persons opinion is wrong is well out there as far as I'm concerned still that is my opinion after all:P I think you could have avoided the word "sad" and still made your point just as I think another poster here could have avoided the sound "baaaaa" and the not quite a word "sheeple" to make his point.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • The point is they are sheeple

        Waiting in line, paying a higher price (on CL) for a device which isn't going to do anything more for them than the previous generation. At least not on launch day. The only reason they're waiting in line is to say they have the latest and greatest. And that, IMO, is very sad. Not only sad, it's pathetic.
        ye
        Reply Vote

      • Ye and my point is you are assuming your values are the

        standard of which others can be judged against. Not a line of fire I would willingly stand or walk into. As arrogant as I may be I do NOT assume what I think and or value is true for everyone even if they obviously disagree with me by say standing in line for a product or to see a band which I may or may not enjoy. Perhaps people who do this kind of thing enjoy both the product and the experience of hanging with like minded folk and chatting? I don't know cause I don't do it. Nor do I feel it is my place to judge.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • Damn straight.

        We value wants over needs these days. So much so we're willing to spend more and waste time because we cannot wait. And that's sad. No, it's pathetic.
        ye
        Reply Vote

      • And who would buy from you?

        [b]Above[/b] retail price?
        ScorpioBlack
        Reply Vote

      • But what is being valued, James?

        Certainly not you, Wille

        I hear you come real cheap.

        lol...
        ScorpioBlack
        Reply Vote

      • Oh spare us, ye

        I don't plan on buying one either, but if others do, it's their money. They don't have to value the same things you do.
        ScorpioBlack
        Reply Vote

    • So I'm going to assume

      that you have no life? And will likely get what 3-4 pics before your battery dies? But whatever floats your boat.
      athynz
      Reply Vote
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