New Apple iPad may be available in stores on Friday, 16 March

According to 9 to 5 Mac's Apple store source the new iPad that will be announced tomorrow should be available in stores on Friday, 16 March. This makes sense given that the iPad 2 was announced on 2 March 2011 and then available in stores the following Friday, 11 March when I was able to hunt one down.

You may also recall that there was an online ordering option with the iPad 2 launch, but after just a few hours (sales started at midnight) availability was pushed back to 2-3 weeks. The online option may happen again and you will need to stay up late to get in on that action, but won't get your iPad 3/HD for 3-5 days. The fastest way to get one will be to find one in the stores, but again there WILL be lines and selected models will sell out.

I will try to order one online to make sure I get one, but may then take the day off (it's a geek rock concert after all) to get in line for one at the local store.