Apple Sells 300,000 iPads on First Day

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 5, 2010 | Kerry Grace Benn

[myknowledge]

Apple Inc. said Monday it sold more than 300,000 iPads in the U.S., including preorders, on the first day the device was available.

The company didn't give a precise figure, but the tally was below the estimates of some analysts.

Buyers flocked to stores starting Saturday after weeks of publicity about the tablet-style computer.

Apple hadn't offered iPad sales forecasts, but over the weekend, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster more than doubled his initial first-day sales estimate to between 600,000 and 700,000 units, including preorders, based on longer-than-expected lines at stores and high expectations for online preorders. He had also lifted his 2010 forecast to 5.5 million units from 2.8 million.

[dayglored]

Hey Swordmaker, you might find this one interesting.

[throwback]

So speed isn’t a problem if you’re withing proximity of a WiFi source I take it? Is the availability of free WiFi kind of hit and miss, and do you really end up paying for it to access it at most locations? I’m just curious as to whether the cost of the device is really incidental, and the real money is made on the service, i.e. just like cell phones?

[myknowledge]

Thanks to Steve Jobs...

[for-q-clinton]

You sound like a SOCIALIST -- "Down with the high-priced high-quality products of Apple! Everything should be cheap, lower quality, and less expensive so that ALL the people can buy it!!"

Wow... you really are defensive for apple aren't you? Since when is wanting cheaper goods socialist? If anything socialist want to set one price for goods that keep people employed. Just look at communist nations and even the US during WW2 when we tried to set the prices of goods (like cars) and we wanted to set them substantially high enough. This isn't milk and water here...this is a luxury item and in socialist economies prices of luxury items are set extremely high...so if anything you are the socialist.

But enough name calling...I see you resorted to that pretty quickly. Well they say if you can't attack the message attack the messenger. You and the liberals in America have a lot in commmon.

[ikka]

I bought one on behalf of someone who is not in an area with an Apple Store, then shipped it to that person.

While there I played with one - if I did not already have a netbook (that I paid $420 for at BestBuy), I would buy one.

The thing is fast, lightweight, has a great screen, and the touch interface works well.

However, what I REALLY REALLY want is one of these:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/notion-ink-smartpad-comes-with-tegra-aims-to-be-first-pixel-qi/

Larger screen, switchable between grayscale (ebook) and color mode. Has a fast CPU plus builtin hardware decoder for video.

[Sprite518]

One of the best things about this iPad is that it’s reasonable price. Like the iPhone when it first came out... I am going to wait until they work out some of the issues people already have with it. For instance, unable to multi- task and there is no camera (not that I really care for this feature).

I have an iPhone 3GS. I love it, but right now I do not see any use for the iPad. To me it’s basically apple’s net book. Translation for not to tech savvy people. It’s half way between a smart phone (blackberry, iPhone) and a Lap Top computer. Don’t consider it a replacement to your PC.

However, if you like to just surf the web, check e-mails, download songs and books. Then this maybe just up your alley.

[Sprite518]

To be honest with you. I think it’s a good idea and be a big hit with kids.

[dayglored]

> Sure it’s overpriced. Just because SOME people are willing to pay doesn’t mean I don’t find it overpriced. And I believe a MAJORITY will agree with me.

You're exactly right. You find it over-priced. Read what I wrote about the price the manufacturer charges, and the price a customer is willing to pay. You are just saying what I already said.

So you can wait for the Wal-Mart version to come out. That's fine.

APPLE IS A HIGH-END-MARKET COMPANY. How bloody difficult is that for you to grasp? Just like the high-end automobile companies, etc.

You should be posting about how Jaguar and Ferrari should lower their prices so that a "majority" can buy one.

Please try to understand Apple's business model. THEY DON'T SELL TO THE LOW-END, where the majority of the buyers are. Got it?

[for-q-clinton]

I see it being used in your own home more than on the road. But you could use it at starbucks and McD’s where wifi is there. The device that was sold this weekend didn’t even have the 3G stuff in it...that comes out later.

[ColdWater]

I’m just curious as to whether the cost of the device is really incidental, and the real money is made on the service, i.e. just like cell phones?

Apple doesn't sell cell phone service. The iPhone costs ATT about $600 each.

Apple does, however, make millions off of iTunes.

[dayglored]

I didn't call you a socialist, I said you sound like one, with your demand that a high-end capitalist company should produce lower-priced products so that the masses (majority) can afford them.

Listen to yourself. You sound like a Democrat. Do be more careful, please. :)

[for-q-clinton]

THEY DON'T SELL TO THE LOW-END

Wow...then I guess all those iPhones I see in the not so rich kids hands aren't really iPhones.

But seriously you need to take a chill pill. Go back and read all I wrote in this thread and tell me where your anger comes from. Did someone piss in your cereal today or something?

[for-q-clinton]

Really, Where did I say apple should sell it cheaper.

In fact I said I hope someone can make a better version for cheaper.

I have the feeling I’m debating with a 10 year old on the Internet. There’s really no point in it as you’re really not smart enough to have have an intelligent ADULT conversation over this topic.

[for-q-clinton]

BTW: wanting a company to sell it cheaper is not the same as demanding that they do.

[hennie pennie]

What The Critics Are Missing About Apple's iPad MaisonBisson.com http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/14216/the-ipad-serves-a-new-demographic/

.....It's just a bigger iPhone, complain the privileged tech pundits.

They apparently missed the recent Pew Internet Project report on internet usage by demographic.

While it shows white users most frequently access the internet from home, black and hispanic users more frequently get online from mobile devices. Further, internet use by hispanics jumped dramatically in recent years, far exceeding the growth among whites.

The report further notes that while 83% of US adults have cell phones, only 60% use the internet from home. I've said it before: our notions of what a "computer" is have to change.....

The Pew stats show our computers as historical artifacts of a different age, built for a different purpose. The iPad is built for the ubiquitous social internet. The iPad is built for everybody who enjoys mobile internet access and the remaining 40% of users who don't have any, though I'm quite certain that experienced internet users will eventually fall in love with the device too.....

Apple's plan with the iPad is to dramatically expand the market for internet connected devices. Do you really want to bet against them?

[dayglored]

> But seriously you need to take a chill pill. Go back and read all I wrote in this thread and tell me where your anger comes from. Did someone piss in your cereal today or something?

It's not anger, just frustration. I see thread after thread, comment after comment, on FR from people who think that Apple should price their products lower. They don't get the business model that has made Apple one of the few outrageously successful American technology manufacturers of this difficult economic time.

I'm not defensive about Apple, BTW, I don't have any interest in defending Apple. What I was doing was trying to point out what should be obvious to any tech observer of the last two decades, which is that when Apple tried to sell to the masses (late 80's-early 90's) they damn near died, but since they sold to the mid-to-high-end (late 90's and 2000's) they are doing great.

People who want Apple to lower their prices fall into two categories -- 1) people who want their products but can't afford them, and 2) people who want Apple to fail (typically Microsoft fanbois). There's an amazing coincidence, eh?

Anyway, I'm out of time, nice chatting with you, and thanks for the concern about my attitude. :) Have a great day!

[dayglored]

> BTW: wanting a company to sell it cheaper is not the same as demanding that they do.

Point granted.

[hennie pennie]

Don't be silly.

600 bucks for a iPad is infinitely cheaper than any iMac.

[hennie pennie]

Hi there — see my post #35 -— I agree with the blogger who points out that only 60% of American adults access the Internet from home, while over 80+ percent of them have cell phones. The iPad is infinitely cheaper than an iMac or a pc.

[Vision]

Customers lined up in San Francisco Saturday to purchase the lastest gadget to help them avoid reality.