possible ipad 3g shortage?

[macpluslaptop]

I've gotten contradictory responses from Apple employees about whether or how long supplies may be constrained. They say they can't tell what supplies will look like until they process all the preorders. So this is my question: could this become a Wii-like shortage? If so, how long might it last? I'm not too antsy, but I do need to purchase this before late June for various reasons.

Can't believe Apple didn't think they'd have a hit on their hands.

 

[wombat888]

Are you worried based on anything?

You'll most likely be able to buy one on April 30.

The odds of needing to wait past late June are practically zero.

To the extent there will be shortages, it'll be due to bottlenecks on components, most likely the screen.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I don't think you can say "can't believe Apple didn't think they'd have a hit on their hands." A statement like that suggests that you believe Apple should have been able to fully project sales of a new product, how well can you project sales of say unicorns? Aren't they also magical?

Supplies of 3G units will be tough to gauge as they're not quite out yet. How long until we see all units in stores collecting dust? Who knows. My guess is that within 90 days from the shipment of all overseas orders is a good guess.

 

[leomac08]

If they run out on April 30th.....wait 1 week!!!!!!

and then they will have more iPad's! May 7-8

 

[leesweet]

I can't decide if the *WiFi* is/was constrained. We've seen many threads here about can't see any at Best Buy, this and that Apple store doesn't have them. But I walked in and got one after waiting 20 minutes on the day after release (that Sunday). So, WTF? Were the 20 people in line with me in Reston, Virginia just lucky?

Or did it become a bigger hit so quickly that it then became a sell-out? The online orders obviously hit some threshold, as they bumped them to, what, ten days later than the original preorders? I've forgotten.

So, my point is, there could be the same deal with the 3G. Go Friday or Saturday and you might get one. Or, on the other hand, since the WiFi has been out there for this long, and now people know 'all about it', there is no lag time for demand this time.... who knows. The 3G is a sort of different beast, since (1) it has the WiFi 'breaking people in', and (2) It's the one people really should want (unless they have a WiFi/3G phone AP) in order to use it everywhere....

Bottom line: It's different enough that we won't know if it's really 'constrained' until we know.

 

[ZombiePete]

All I know for sure is that mine will be here Friday. Glad I took the day off work!

 

[gwynne]

I can't decide if the *WiFi* is/was constrained. We've seen many threads here about can't see any at Best Buy, this and that Apple store doesn't have them. But I walked in and got one after waiting 20 minutes on the day after release (that Sunday).

The out of stock threads didn't really get rolling until about 1 week after release, so your experience is not surprising. It seems like there was about a 7-10 day period after the posts started where outages were reported all over the country (and I can confirm they were gone from all apple and bb stores in my metro area), and then the threads gradually died back down. So I've been assuming store stock has been better in the last week.

 

[Lotus Esprit V8]

The 3G release will be nothing like the one on April 3 was. I don't expect to see people camping out or anything like that. I suspect that anyone will be able to walk in to an Apple or Best Buy and purchase them all next week.

 

[shady825]

So I've been assuming store stock has been better in the last week.

I still have yet to see one available for purchase in store. (Best Buy & Apple)
I did a in store reservation at Apple on Thursday. I am really hoping it finally gets here tomorrow.