Slight delay past original claims

Apple has at last set a formal release date for the first iPad models. Wi-Fi only iPads will go on sale in the US on April 3rd, in an unusual Saturday launch. Online pre-orders however are set to begin March 12th, for both Wi-Fi- and 3G-ready tablets. Sales in other countries -- namely Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK -- will only begin in late April, but all regions will have access to 3G models at that point.

The date of the Wi-Fi iPad marks a slight delay past original plans, which called for a debut in late March. The company's manufacturers may in fact be suffering production problems, preventing them from churning out desired numbers. Current levels are allegedy closer to 200,000 to 250,000 units per month, far below the 800,000 to 1 million they may ramp up to. Other sources say that at least 600,000 to 700,000 iPads will be ready before launch.

by MacNN Staff