Apple's next-generation iPad, the iPad 2, stormed out of the gates on Friday, 11 March, on its launch in the US. The device reportedly sold out at Apple stores in the major US cities just hours after it went on sale, with supplies running down quickly at other stores such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target, as well as at AT&T and Verizon outlets. According to the Wall Street Journal, by Sunday Apple's online store was reporting a three- to four-week shipping delay for all models of the iPad 2.
Analysts have estimated that between 400,000 and 600,000 iPad 2s were sold over the first three days of its launch, with Wedbush Securities analyst Scott Sutherland saying in a Reuters report he "would not be surprised to see Apple sell closer to 1 million iPad 2s in the opening weekend." Though Apple has said demand for the iPad 2 on its opening weekend was "amazing", it has yet to release official sales figures for the device.
A report in Apple Insider quoted Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore as saying the iPad 2 has given Apple an "insurmountable lead" in the tablet market. In light of the early demand for the device, Whitmore said his early prediction of 30 million iPad 2s selling in 2011 now seems "very conservative". To put this into perspective, the device's predecessor, the iPad, has sold approximately 15 million units since its launch in April 2010, according to Apple. The iPad 2 is scheduled to launch in 26 more countries, including Ireland, on 25 March.
Analysts have estimated that between 400,000 and 600,000 iPad 2s were sold over the first three days of its launch, with Wedbush Securities analyst Scott Sutherland saying in a Reuters report he "would not be surprised to see Apple sell closer to 1 million iPad 2s in the opening weekend." Though Apple has said demand for the iPad 2 on its opening weekend was "amazing", it has yet to release official sales figures for the device.
A report in Apple Insider quoted Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore as saying the iPad 2 has given Apple an "insurmountable lead" in the tablet market. In light of the early demand for the device, Whitmore said his early prediction of 30 million iPad 2s selling in 2011 now seems "very conservative". To put this into perspective, the device's predecessor, the iPad, has sold approximately 15 million units since its launch in April 2010, according to Apple. The iPad 2 is scheduled to launch in 26 more countries, including Ireland, on 25 March.