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

[QEII Student IT]

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.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think on Jan 27th, Steve originally said Worldwide Simultaneous Wi-fi launch 60 days after the keynote, which didn't happen.

 

[jonnyb]

OK just to throw mud in the water and make more confusion. So I've made my offer (waiting to hear from Seller and if accepted will go ahead regardless), however out of curiosity I rang the Apple online stores Irish free phone number from the website. There was a specific iPad section from the automated options. So I spoke to an Apple Rep (with an American Accent) and he said that Ireland would be included in the UK | Worldwide launch and he still said mid-late April but had no other information about specifics, price or actual date.... So I'm dubious and more confused than ever.

Why are they being so aloof ?

The Republic of Ireland was never in the list of second wave countries though. The American guy you spoke to might not have been aware that Ireland was not part of the UK. Alas, geography doesn't seem to be lots of people's strong point.

I hope Ireland gets a date too though, obviously.

 

[jonnyb]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think on Jan 27th, Steve originally said Worldwide Simultaneous Wi-fi launch 60 days after the keynote, which didn't happen.

No he didn't, he said the following countries were in the next lot :

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

 

[QEII Student IT]

didnt they have "late march" on for about 2 months until the very last minute before the US launch?

Yup, not just the US launch, that date was meant to be worldwide

 

[QEII Student IT]

Well, here we go. The iPhone event is starting imminently

 

[JonnyIreland]

The Republic of Ireland was never in the list of second wave countries though. The American guy you spoke to might not have been aware that Ireland was not part of the UK. Alas, geography doesn't seem to be lots of people's strong point.

I hope Ireland gets a date too though, obviously.

Exactly. When I called Apple last year (my MacBook got lost in transit!) and asked for the Northern Ireland courier's contact number, the Apple rep STILL gave me the number for the Republic of Ireland courier even though I tried to avoid this mistake by spelling out the difference between UK/Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

And, if you check back several pages, I already stated that the R of I was NOT included in the list of countries to get a late iPad release.

 

[cal6n]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think on Jan 27th, Steve originally said Worldwide Simultaneous Wi-fi launch 60 days after the keynote, which didn't happen.

I stand corrected, although Steve actually said "about 60 days" which wasn't far off. I'm not sure when that estimate was amended but the Apple UK homepage still states "late April".

I'm a little concerned that the Apple Store website is still up, though. Maybe my optimism was misplaced...

 

[emotion]

What do you reckon to the Arndale queue then? I live round the corner and was hoping not to have to be out of bed at an ungodly hour to queue. Just got to hope for pre ordering as I don't like the idea of being in the Arndale any longer than I have to.

I figure you'll get one at a reasonable hour. There's a lot of people who don't see the point in the iPad. The first iPhone was different (and even then it was easy).

 

[JonnyIreland]

So, are we all glued to the Engadget OS 4.0 blog right now?

 

[drewbwfc]

fingers crossed!

I need info now

 

[QEII Student IT]

So, are we all glued to the Engadget OS 4.0 blog right now?

You bet!

 

[limesmoothie]

Here we go....lets hope for the best!

 

[QEII Student IT]

JOBS IS TALKING ABOUT IPAD IN HIS UPDATES! Only mentioned US success so far though

 

[JonnyIreland]

SJ talking iPad.
*butterflies in tum.. come on UK!

 

[limesmoothie]

Yes, Steve, we've all downloaded apps....now where are our freaking iPads!!

 

[JonnyIreland]

I believe the list of 'late April' release countries came from the later press release that had the US preorder and release date info.

 

[drewbwfc]

come on come on tell us!

I can't believe how sad my life has become

 

[LOLcakes]

boys and girls. all hope is gone, they are onto the iphone now =/ we lose the game.

 

[ryanbridgwood]

Yep, that's it Steve you move onto the iPhone - don't tell us when your going to sell the damn iPad outside of America!!!

 

[ollybutch]

He's moved onto iPhone...Nothing!

 

[jamies90]

Very disappointed!

 

[drewbwfc]

f**ks sake.

 

[-Ryan-]

Maybe he'll mention at the end.

 

[JonnyIreland]

And that is that?
He has moved on to iPhone.
These guys really don't give a **** about anything outside the mighty US&A, do they?
No announcement=no iPad purchase by me. Ever. Done with this crap.

 

[limesmoothie]

How annoying - UK store still up too. No hope for a MacBook refresh either?