The Latest Good E-Reader News is that IPad Pre-sales are making people at Apple very happy as sales figures are starting to come in. Apple had sold iPads on March the 12 on a pre-order basis, estimates were that Apple made a lucrative two million dollars an hour. Apple estimates that hundreds of thousands of iPads have been ordered over their website. At this rate Apple will sell more iPads then they did iPhones in the first three months of sales.
Analysts and forecasters are estimating eight to ten million iPad units are going to be shipped during the entire year of 2010. Apple suppliers are increasing their orders to meet customer demand. Suppliers expect to ship around 2.5 million iPads in the first three months of sales. Apple is anticipating a sales figure of 4.6 billion dollars in 2010 and 2011.
If you are looking on purchasing an iPad you will not be able to purchase one until April 12. The only people whom will be receiving their units on April 3rd are the people who pre-ordered their unit. This fueled a ton of speculation that the demand for the iPad far exceeded all of Apples expectations.
The first three versions of the iPad to go on sale in the U.S. work with all North American and Europeon Wi-Fi networks, and they start at $499. Three more versions will follow at the end of April. Those work with third- generation wireless phone networks and cost from $629.
Most buyers will likely opt for the Wi-Fi versions because they are cheaper and don’t require wireless fees. Research has estimated that 80 percent of all iPads sold will be the Wi-Fi models. Mainly because the WI-FI versions are more cost effective for the customer.
Apples shares have hit a record of $233.87 a share on the strong initial sales.
The iPad will target the growing sub-$800 consumer laptop market, which currently totals 30 million units in the US and 120 million globally. They intend to target anyone who wants to curl up on the couch and tinker with a device. With the iPad able to use any existing application from the Apple Appstore you can be sure that people who have an iPhone will be excited about this device.
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Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
