WRAPUP 3-Apple's iPad Debuts Strongly, But Key Tests Remain

http://in.reuters.com/ ^ | April 5, 2010 | Gabriel Madway

[Biggirl]

SAN FRANCISCO, April 5 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it sold more than 300,000 iPads on the tablet computer's first day in stores, a strong showing that roughly matched Wall Street forecasts and mirrored the iPhone's debut in 2007.

[Biggirl]

PING this over to the FRper that takes care of Apple computer/Apple tech issues.

[Sacajaweau]

Have a feling that it doesn’t do enough and is really a downgrade in ability but upgrade in size. Kinda like a paperback edition of a laptop....except it does less.

[VanDeKoik]

The problem is that, from what I heard, is that the 300,000 is a number made up of pre-orders and units they shipped to stores like Best Buy, but not necessarily sold.

So the actual number they sold to walk-ins is much lower.

[jacquej]

Got mine on Saturday, and stood in line for 3 hours.

This will not replace my Laptop for productivity, but boy, it is going to make my life so much easier. It exceeds my expectation by a factor of 1000%, honestly!

What am amazing device, and it has a 10 hour battery life. No need to carry cords, etc, when away from home base for a long day.

[jacquej]

Not designed to be that, Sacajaweau. It is a USB device that allows you to take your productive work on the road without having to lug your MacBook Pro.

At least this is how I am using mine, and I am ecstatic about it. I can take along the books I am currently reading or listening to, stream a tv show or movie if stuck somewhere and have a long wait.

Can take my creative work to meetings with clients, or to classes. Can keep up with the news, my favorite forums, or play a game.

There are many things that people are complaining that it won’t do that a laptop can do. That is a design feature, not a flaw, in my opinion.

[Swordmaker]

Another iPad thread.. PING!

iPad thread Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

The problem is that, from what I heard, is that the 300,000 is a number made up of pre-orders and units they shipped to stores like Best Buy, but not necessarily sold.

300,000 is the number put into the hands of consumers on the first day of sales, VanDeKoik.

[AFreeBird]

You make sound like pre-orders don’t count. Also because of production delays, they had to move delivery of a late batch of pre-orders to the 13th.

[sarasota]

Does the iPad become an iPhone at the end of this month?

[VanDeKoik]

They said they were sold on the first day.

Pre-orders were not sold on the first day, and units shipped aren’t actual sales to customers.

[itsahoot]

Pre-orders were not sold on the first day, and units shipped aren’t actual sales to customers.

Apple is Doomed, I tell you, Doomed.

[SunkenCiv]

How can there be Key Tests — the device has no keys...

[Swordmaker]

Does the iPad become an iPhone at the end of this month?

The 3G enabled iPads start shipping at the end of the month, when the FCC certification is complete. It won't be a phone... but it will be connected via 3G to the internet where ever there is a 3G signal.

[Swordmaker]

Pre-orders were not sold on the first day, and units shipped aren’t actual sales to customers.

Yes, they were... billed to the credit cards and delivered on that day to retail customers.

[SamAdams76]

This will be a massive behemoth of a product that will lay waste to its competitors. I expect hundreds of millions of these being sold over the next few years. Even if Apple only sells 100 million iPads a year, at an average price of $600, that will result in $60 billion a year in added Apple revenue.