iPad 2 Still On Track For International Launch This Friday - Starting At 5PM
March 21, 2011
Over a week after launch, the iPad 2 rush is still going strong in the US. Because of the short supply, enthusiasts all over the country are lining up at Apple stores every morning, sometimes starting very early. Unfortunately, each store is still only receiving a few units every day and a lot of potential buyers come home empty-handed. The image above was the line at the Apple Store at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas this Friday at 7 a.m., just to give you an idea.
The obvious conclusion was that Apple would have to delay the international launch (starting this Friday) until it's able to produce more units. They did that last year for the original iPad, and we already heard that the Czech Republic would have to wait until at least the end of April. (Update: Never-mind, Apple has now rescheduled the Czech Republic launch back to Friday.)
Nevertheless, we're now just a few days away from the iPad 2 launching in 24 countries, and everything seems to still be on track.
As many readers have reported, Apple's online stores all around the world still list this Friday, March 25, as launch day. However, in case that doesn't convince you, RazorianFly came forward this weekend with more details on availability and pricing they claim to have obtained from a UK retailer.
As you can see in the screenshot they obtained (above), Argos is still listing the iPad 2 for this Friday in the UK, starting at 5 p.m. If this is true, the same would probably apply to the other 24 countries listed for launch this Friday (26 originally, minus Japan and the Czech Republic). Pricing is believed to be the same as for the original iPad, starting at 389€ (or £399) for the 16GB Wi-Fi version. As for Smart Covers, they're believed to go for about 40€ and up.
If true, this would be very good news, as we know many of you, all around the world, are still waiting to get your hands on the new model.
Of course, it remains to be seen how Apple will manage to provide stock to so many countries when they can't even meet demand in the US at the moment. Yet, the fact that we're now just a few days away from launch, and haven't heard from Apple, makes us feel like everything should go as planned. Either way, if they do launch on Friday, you better be in line early if you hope to score a device.
Have any more details or theories of your own? Share them with us in the comments, or directly at tips@appadvice.com.
