Pre-order iPad now, wait until April 12th for delivery

Consider this a friendly public service announcement care of our friends at TUAW. Those who coveted the iPad and pre-ordered anytime before today can still apparently expect a delivery by the original April 3rd launch date. Anyone that orders a WiFi model today, however, can expect to wait a little over a week, April 12th, to get an Apple tablet of his or her own, while the 3G-equipped units are guesstimated for late April. Have patience -- on the bright side, that gives more time to see apps that justify your larger-screen iPhone purchase.

[eka Posted Mar 28th 2010 9:25PM]

price is rip-off !!! $500 for 16GB? thats crazy !!!!!

[darkmax Posted Mar 28th 2010 10:00PM]

@eka

Nope. That's Apple

[Jack Posted Mar 29th 2010 12:55AM]

@eka

I don't suppose you noticed that the 16GB also comes with a tablet computing device? With an LED backlit IPS panel? And a whole bunch of other stuff I shouldn't have to point out but might have to if you are actually as dumb as that comment makes you seem?

[Ducman69 Posted Mar 28th 2010 11:19PM]

The iPad isn't bad for a cheapo device, but the idea that someone would spend over $800 for one brings a tear to my eye. ROFL! xD

How stupid do they think we are?

[Jack Posted Mar 29th 2010 12:57AM]

@Ducman69

You're right, the value of any given product is not actually subjective. Everything has a value that is determined by you. Therefore anybody who doesn't think exactly the same way you do and has different needs for their computing devices must therefore be stupid.

That's what you were getting at, right? That anybody who thinks differently than you do is stupid?

[The Madman Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:33AM]

@Jack I think he's getting at, "You pay too much for too little", and he wouldn't be very wrong.

[Jack Posted Mar 29th 2010 3:34PM]

@The Madman

I think you missed the word "subjective" in my post. The value of any given product is subjective. You can't say "it's not worth it" when to hundreds of thousands of people it is very obviously worth it.

I know, it's a real shock when you find out the world doesn't work under your rules.

[Motlee Posted Mar 29th 2010 12:24AM]

So is engadget even gonna review the iPad? It's pretty clear we know they hate it already "giant iPhone".
I hope they hate it so six months from now I can laugh at them when it has sold 10 million units and it's on all the editors "Top gadgets" list.

[onlymyrailgun Posted Mar 29th 2010 3:42AM]

@Motlee
You know Engadget made order #10. Maybe they'll receive one on the 2nd courtesy of Cupertino. I can't wait for the review and their take on it!!

[hyundaifanscom Posted Mar 29th 2010 12:25AM]

I'll wait to get concrete info on how many were actually made available for launch day before i accept the iPad as a success. Though unlikely, Apple could have had only 150K or less available for immediate shipment.

[Jack Posted Mar 29th 2010 12:58AM]

@hyundaifanscom

You're right, completely selling out of preorders is not a good indicator of success.

Oh wait, yes it is.

[cdubc2012 Posted Mar 30th 2010 12:23AM]

@Jack

Unless you don't have a very large supply? You certainly don't measure success before a product is released either...

Anyway... I guess I see the appeal. But, IMO, this is a luxury item, its not mass market. Aside from affordability, which I do think is an issue, the fact that this can't replace your laptop/netbook means it will fail to compare to the success of the iphone. This tablet space is just niche... and no amount of push from the industry is going to change that until the tech radically changes.

There are two settings that I can see this thing possibly working in:
1) A corporate/industrial setting where custom Apps help speed along information delivery and meet project specific needs... But I don't see any company dishing out the premium you have to pay for an Apple product when there are a bazillion other competitors entering the market, some with more business friendly features (hint: USB).

2) At home, as a replacement to time spent reading a newpaper (online or not), playing videogames, and watching TV. This is where I actually see the iPad doing decently. But again, because most people do these things just fine with the newspaper/internet/console/tv they already have... they're not going to shell out 5-800 bucks to do it with more style. Thus the product seems, to me, limited to those who have the disposable cash to pay for such style.

[Atkins Posted Mar 29th 2010 2:23AM]

@kaasinees "All of your arguments are invalid!"
Wow, that's a great argument!
You "can run photoshop, sony vegas pro and 3d studio max" on your netbook? You can probably start them but what kind of work are you actually getting done with those? And you are talking about "serious" design? Where I work, there are guys doing heavy video rendering and animation on Mac Pro's. I don't see them complaining. And the job is done. Sure you can buy a Boxx system that will be even more expensive than the Mac Pro. If the Mac Pro isn't powerful enough for you, than 90% of the PCs won't be either.
Saying that you can't do serious design on a Mac is just ridiculous. I know a lot of people doing it. A lot. It's you who clearly doesn't know s**t about design.
Maya is as bloated as your 3DS Max, btw. Who uses it? A lot of movie effects designers.

[NELLZ3000 Posted Mar 29th 2010 2:59PM]

ipad (wifi version) in one hand, evo 4g(with the wifi hotspot turned on) in my pocket = pure bliss
or should i just buy a couple and dump em on ebay or craigslist so they can pay for my evo 4g and dell streak? hmmmmm..................

[xanavi Posted Mar 29th 2010 5:33PM]

I for one think plenty of people will buy these things to cheaply escape windows and all its bullshit just to do email, surfing and assorted crap. Imagine these "dumb" terminals for kids who can blow up an XP install in 2 hours, old people who need simple large button functionality, dumb people who need simple large button functionality, rich people who buy a few and have them around cause they can, marketing freaks for quick presentations, all sorts of crap. They will sell millions.

[Atkins Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:56AM]

@Dank Dillweed "I was simply stating that for a large stack of cash, the specs are pretty piss poor."
Again, it's a large stack a cash for you, and the specs are "pretty piss poor" for you. Subjective.

[Atkins Posted Mar 30th 2010 7:59AM]

@brenro Well, that is what people normally do when they buy non-essential stuff. ( by essential I mean food and water)