iPad EU News (Abandon all hope, ye who enter here..) ("Are you nuts?!" - Steve)

[cal6n]

I really can't believe the paranoia in this thread.

There may well have been hold-ups negotiating 3G deals with the carriers that mean the 3G pricing couldn't be finalised. There may also be delays whipping the UK's recalcitrant publishing industry into shape, meaning we'll have to wait a bit for the iBooks app, but I see no need to worry about the launch of the hardware just yet.

When Apple announced the iPad, they said it would be available at the start of April in the US and it was, with only a couple of weeks pre-order. They stuck to their schedule like clockwork. They also stated that it would be available at the end of April in some other countries including the UK. Given the smooth launch and lack of shortages in the US, I'll be very surprised if they have any problems keeping to their schedule for the rest of the world.

I am confident that all will become clear this evening, with pricing unveiled and 2 weeks of pre-ordering starting tonight.

 

[MacMarf]

How much time left in hours - minutes?
Neverminds, stupid me didnt check link before asking.

 

[limesmoothie]

I really can't believe the paranoia in this thread.

There may well have been hold-ups negotiating 3G deals with the carriers that mean the 3G pricing couldn't be finalised. There may also be delays whipping the UK's recalcitrant publishing industry into shape, meaning we'll have to wait a bit for the iBooks app, but I see no need to worry about the launch of the hardware just yet.

When Apple announced the iPad, they said it would be available at the start of April in the US and it was, with only a couple of weeks pre-order. They stuck to their schedule like clockwork. They also stated that it would be available at the end of April in some other countries including the UK. Given the smooth launch and lack of shortages in the US, I'll be very surprised if they have any problems keeping to their schedule for the rest of the world.

I am confident that all will become clear this evening, with pricing unveiled and 2 weeks of pre-ordering starting tonight.

Really hope you're right.

 

[iZac]

"First, a little bit of housekeeping, you might have noticed a new product release in the last week ... Response to the iPad has been phenomenal / amazing / incredible / boom … We’re ready to announce an international release date in these countries *clicks to reveals round glossy flag buttons* on a date that is too late for everyone and will spawn a thousand posts of 'that’s my birthday, yay!' for a UK price that most will complain about.”

- Stevie J

 

[amammad]

I am confident that all will become clear this evening, with pricing unveiled and 2 weeks of pre-ordering starting tonight.

I'll be very surprised if this happens.

Has Steve Jobs ever announced UK pricing of any product at an event? Can't recall seeing it.

I think we might see a passing reference to the forthcoming release in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK which will at least give us an idea of whether the late April date is still on target I suppose.

 

[londonmystery]

Will get slated but hear goes

I just called Apple CS about an iphone problem and then probed the guy about iPad info.

He said " lets see what I can tell you".

According to him they have had ipads for training for the last few days. When asked about release dates I stated that rumours were 24th or 30th, he said 24th, that both versions would be released simultaneously. I asked about price, he said he couldn't tell me so I if they would be inline with U.S. he said yes just add VAT and that would be roughly it.

Finally I asked about warranty, I know its been discussed hear alot. He stated that it was an international warranty, like all mac products except the iphone. The iphone is country specific because of the various networks and that the handsets are locked to a specific network when purchased.

So in a nutshell;
24th release for wifi and wifi + 3G, entry level pricing starting at no more than £399 roughly and covered by international warranty.

I know most of you will doubt this info, but I am normally right about this stuff. See this regarding iphone 3gs.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/667252/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/718996/

 

[One Love 1867]

You'll still buy one if it goes over that price.

Almost certainly.

But it would be nice for Apple to let us know so I can stop wondering at least!

 

[colmaclean]

So in a nutshell;
24th release for wifi and wifi + 3G, entry level pricing starting at no more than £399 roughly and covered by international warranty.

You must have a very persuasive telephone manner!

I hope you're right.

 

[tiguk]

I just called Apple CS about an iphone problem and then probed the guy about iPad info.

He said " lets see what I can tell you".

According to him they have had ipads for training for the last few days. When asked about release dates I stated that rumours were 24th or 30th, he said 24th, that both versions would be released simultaneously. I asked about price, he said he couldn't tell me so I if they would be inline with U.S. he said yes just add VAT and that would be roughly it.

Finally I asked about warranty, I know its been discussed hear alot. He stated that it was an international warranty, like all mac products except the iphone. The iphone is country specific because of the various networks and that the handsets are locked to a specific network when purchased.

So in a nutshell;
24th release for wifi and wifi + 3G, entry level pricing starting at no more than £399 roughly and covered by international warranty.

I know most of you will doubt this info, but I am normally right about this stuff. See this regarding iphone 3gs.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/667252/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/718996/

Sounds good to me!

I'll believe you... thousands wouldn't/won't.

 

[londonmystery]

You must have a very persuasive telephone manner!

I hope you're right.

Am just polite and courteous and seem to ask the right questions, lol. we'll Know soon enough..

 

[londonmystery]

Sounds good to me!

I'll believe you... thousands wouldn't/won't.

If it all turns out to be true I promise not to say I told you so.

 

[amammad]

I just called Apple CS about an iphone problem and then probed the guy about iPad info.

I just tried the same tactics and got stonewalled.

Be nice to hear some confirmation. Although I'm guessing that the comment about pricing is guessworkon their part.

 

[Elise]

I wonder if I should ring too, I generally get told that I've got quite a persuasive manner/voice.

 

[nomad01]

I just tried the same tactics and got stonewalled.

Be nice to hear some confirmation. Although I'm guessing that the comment about pricing is guessworkon their part.

I just called the Apple Store and was surprised to find that there's now an option for iPad which gets you transferred through to an advisor.

Seemed like nobody had let him in on the info... he said his gut feeling is that it'll be available to buy at the end of April or possibly early May.

He also said that they don't know if there will be a pre-order or not (he offered this info, I didn't ask about pre-orders) but he personally felt that there would be a pre-order.

Just suggested that I sign up for notifications.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

I'll be very surprised if this happens.

Has Steve Jobs ever announced UK pricing of any product at an event? Can't recall seeing it.

No he hasn't, but why should he? He could just say that sales for the aforementioned countries will commence on a given date and state that pre-orders begin tomorrow. Takes no more than 10 seconds to say and clears everything up! End of the day, we pay what the till or the Apple online store tell us to...

 

[amammad]

No he hasn't, but why should he? He could just say that sales for the aforementioned countries will commence on a given date and state that pre-orders begin tomorrow. Takes no more than 10 seconds to say and clears everything up! End of the day, we pay what the till or the Apple online store tell us to...

Yeah but if you follow what's been said, people are expecting him to announce prices. I said I doubted that would happen.

See?

 

[dalvin200]

why do people keep asking what time the event will be?

i mean.. i'm assuming most have iphones/ipod touches/macs..

iphone - use the clock app and you'll see cupertino.. then add London.. ... you should be able to work it out from that

on the mac, there is a clock dashboard widget.. do the same as above ..

failing that, use google..

<rant over>

sorry!

 

[MRU]

Why all the negativity, does everyone think that Apple can't get their ducks in a row in 2 weeks?

Because it took them 3 weeks to get 1 country sorted. Now they have 7 or so countries and only 2 weeks before expected release. Ambitious doesn't seem an appropriate word

I'm waiting till tomorrow and if no word at all, I'm just going to buy one from the states.

24th release for wifi and wifi + 3G, entry level pricing starting at no more than £399 roughly and covered by international warranty.

£399 ? for 3G + Wifi ? He must have been smoking something.... Not a hope.

 

[colmaclean]

£399 ? for 3G + Wifi ? He must have been smoking something.... Not a hope.

I think "entry level" means wifi only.

 

[KevinM2]

£399 ? for 3G + Wifi ? He must have been smoking something.... Not a hope.

If you read his post, he never said £399 for WiFi + 3G, he said WiFi & 3G having simultaneous release, and £399 for entry level model (my guess would be entry level is WiFi only).

 

[Tulipone]

May I add to the pricing debate? Actually, I don't care. Here is my guess:

16Gb 399.99
32Gb 469.99
64Gb 549.99
16Gb 3g 499.99
32Gb 3g 579.99
64Gb 3g 649.99

All I did was take the base US price, use an exchange rate of $1.50 to £1, add VAT and then raise the price slightly to a UK pricing point (generally less than a tenner).

What do you think?

 

[MRU]

I think "entry level" means wifi only.

If you read his post, he never said £399 for WiFi + 3G, he said WiFi & 3G having simultaneous release, and £399 for entry level model (my guess would be entry level is WiFi only).

Doh miss read it. I still doubt it will be under £400 even by £1.


Just found a 64GB BIN on Ebay for €650

I don't imagine there will be much difference in that price with official Euro pricing. Just PM'ing ebay seller to see if he will put a lower value on customs doc to avoid V.A.T

 

[emotion]

My local Apple store is in the Arndale shopping centre (Manchester), so I often wonder how they handle queues that have formed early - I'm guessing you'd have to queue outside one of the multiple entrances to Arndale and wait for security to open the doors, at which point it'd be a mad scramble to get to the actual store.

I queued in the Arndale for my Rev A iPhone. You queue outside the shop in the aisles they set up. It's no biggie.

The queue for the iPad won't be as big though.

As for prices I initially guessed at the 400-650 range (as someone did above). Purely based on iPod Touch prices. The exchange rate has changed since then so I'd maybe add 50 to each price point.

 

[yegon]

I queued in the Arndale for my Rev A iPhone. You queue outside the shop in the aisles they set up. It's no biggie.

The queue for the iPad won't be as big though.

As for prices I initially guessed at the 400-650 range (as someone did above). Purely based on iPod Touch prices. The exchange rate has changed since then so I'd maybe add 50 to each price point.

Aah right, interesting. I was expecting it to be like when I picked up my Wii on launch day at a shopping arcade in Ashton - a mad dash to the shop for everybody else, while I sauntered in to pick up my pre-order

I confess, I turned up at my local O2 store at 0600 to get a launch 3G. I was first in the queue by about 5 minutes.

 

[Koalaboy]

May I add to the pricing debate? Actually, I don't care. Here is my guess:

16Gb 399.99
32Gb 469.99
64Gb 549.99
16Gb 3g 499.99
32Gb 3g 579.99
64Gb 3g 649.99

All I did was take the base US price, use an exchange rate of $1.50 to £1, add VAT and then raise the price slightly to a UK pricing point (generally less than a tenner).

What do you think?

Most people are guessing around those levels, and I'd agree, although I think they may not put the 3G up so much from the Wi-Fi only...

Those prices are pretty much what I've been 'best offer'-ing on eBay though... strangely, nobody has accepted my offer