iPad 2 Release Day: How To Get Apple's New Tablet

The new iPad 2 officially goes on sale Friday, March 11, and Apple has released an announcement with instructions on when and where consumers can buy the tablet.

Users can order the iPad 2 online via Apple.com starting at 1AM PT/4AM ET on Friday, March 11.

The "magical" tablet will be available at Apple stores throughout the U.S. (there are now 236 of them, Apple notes) starting at 5PM local time. Buying the iPad 2 in an Apple store comes with an extra perk: "Every customer who buys an iPad 2 at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPad 2 by setting up email, loading new apps from the App Store℠ and more, so they'll be up and running with their new iPad 2 before they leave the store," Apple explains.

Also starting at 5PM local time, the iPad 2 will be on sale at AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores, in addition to Best Buy, Target, Walmart and "Apple Authorized Resellers."

The iPad 2 starts at $499 (Wi-Fi only) and $629 (W-Fi + 3G).

Critics have just published their reviews of the tablet and they have good things to say. "As of now," Walt Mossberg of All Things Digital writes, "I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers."

Not convinced by Apple's iPad? There are a slew of other tablets available and coming to market soon. We've highlighted 7 iPad alternatives if you're looking for a non-Apple tablet.

Read our review roundup here, then check out our guide to everything you need to know about the iPad 2.

Comments

[kellysans]

05:22 AM on 04/22/2011

It really depends on how you're going to use it, otherwise you might as well stick with the 1st-gen version. http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/ipad-2-release-date-specs-update-2011/

[icposse2000]

02:36 PM on 03/14/2011

I'm no analyst, but my gut feeling is that Apple didn't have as many iPad2 units on hand as they normally do during their launches. I think they rushed the release date by a couple of weeks to (1) make sure the Xoom didn't get any momentum, and (2) to create a shortage of units, guaranteeing buzz and free press.

Another clue that Apple knew the product would sell out and sell out quickly is the fact that it didn't go on sale until 5 PM. They didn't want to be sold out at 10 AM and have to tell customers all day long that there weren't any iPad2s to buy.

[theaustralian]

05:30 AM on 03/14/2011

When i read these comments i know i'm sane for not buying this piece of useless junk.

[Luke Larsson]

01:12 PM on 03/13/2011

It kills the closest competition and looks better doing it. Poor Xoom :(

http://www.9to5mac.com/55884/anandtech-benchmarks-ipad-2-spoiler-its-a-screamer/

[Clyde Pendleton]

10:48 AM on 03/13/2011

All the media is is a tool for advertising and pushing apple products. Let's be honest with ourselves.

[Onutz]

03:29 AM on 03/14/2011

Who doesn't wish they could pull that off?

[indjoe]

06:55 AM on 03/13/2011

i got one as a birthday present for my daughter
and set it up. boy I love it and went back too
get me one sold out. I like it better than my lab top.
It's grate . She going too love it.

[onlythetruthcounts]

01:09 AM on 03/13/2011

iPad 2 is a winner.

[Morgantheaxe]

12:26 AM on 03/13/2011

I have to say, even as someone who LOVES Apple products, I believed a combination of a less than robust economy and a second generation product would combine to hurt ipad2 sales. I believe now after finding out you can not buy an Ipad anywhere in North East Texas as they are completely sold out that sales may be once again stellar for the ipad.

[Alex Mazza]

10:08 PM on 03/12/2011

My family has an Ipad, and it's fantastic. Also I am getting the Iphone so what does it matter to me? thanks but no thanks Apple.

[rainbowblue]

10:03 PM on 03/12/2011

wait a year and the iPad 3 will come out, and six months to a year later the iPad 4 (in a new color!)

If this doesn't make you sick, than our world is doomed. You realize there was no reason why Jobs couldn't have put cameras in the iPad to begin with, he just needed to wait so it could be a "new" feature. I used to be gadget techie freak, but it really is a resource pit. I was planning on getting a tablet later this year, but I don't need one--so why contribute more pollution for something I don't need?

[Onutz]

03:55 AM on 03/13/2011

Wah, wah....

[Gudrun]

02:22 PM on 03/13/2011

Wellll, I have a camera in my phone, and I have a digital camera, so I wouldn't say it was a pressing need for the iPad. If it's something you don't need, then don't buy it.

[HereinDC]

08:17 PM on 03/12/2011

Sold Out here in the DC area.
:(
I have to wait for a shipment on Monday

[AngusC]

01:22 PM on 03/12/2011

Just played with the iPad 2 at Best Buy and it is awesome.
So much lighter and thinner than the 1 it is not even funny.
Boxing up my 1 that I bought last week and taking it back and getting a 2.

[NHBill]

10:34 AM on 03/12/2011

Very Cool Video comparing the iPad 1 to iPad 2 performance.

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/12/browser-comparison-between-original-ipad-and-ipad-2/

The iPad 2 has half a gig of ram.

[SwimUpstream]

09:58 AM on 03/12/2011

Hey cool. Now you can all type on you made in communist china ipad2 about no jobs in the USA and how the unions aren't getting a fair shake.

Note that Intel just invested $5B in a new chip manufacturing plant in the US.

I have no stake in either company, but it's time for Apple to start making SOMETHING in the US

[666dorado]

11:02 AM on 03/12/2011

apple employs 35,000 hard working americans.

as far as building something, that's not apple's job. they are a design company that uses components manufactured by other companies. intel being one of them, who incidentally also has a plant in china.

by the way, name me one computer or electronic device (like the one you are typing from) that doesn't have some or most components manufactured overseas?

i'll bet the plastic in them (as well as the gas you consume) is derived from oil from the middle east whose purchase has funded terror groups that have resulted in deaths of americans.

it's really easy to take self righteous positions, it's another thing to actually do something about it.

[TheSovereign]

01:59 PM on 03/12/2011

Tiawan is not communist

[theaustralian]

05:32 AM on 03/14/2011

neither is china for that matter.

[usamade]

09:07 AM on 03/12/2011

I got the Cadillac version for my husband for a Christmas gift and spent $800. Is it obsolete now? This sucks.

[NHBill]

09:20 AM on 03/12/2011

You'll have to ask him.
But you should be able to recoup the vast majority of your investment on ebay.

[ran6110]

09:43 AM on 03/12/2011

It's not obsolete, apply the 4.3 update and your fine. Well that is if you are not interested in the cameras...

Our Gen 1 iPad will do us just fine for quite awhile longer. Since we have Mac's and iPhones with camera's we do facetime just fine.