New iPad Delays: Wait Time For Online Orders Hits 3 Weeks Due To 'Off The Charts' Demand

Two to three weeks: If you buy an iPad online through Apple's website right now, that's how long you can expect to wait for your new tablet to arrive.

Apple has apparently sold out of new iPads, leaving customers who didn't immediately order theirs after Apple's media event last Wednesday seeing waiting times of up to three weeks, according to GigaOM. An Apple spokesperson confirmed the shortage to the USA Today over the weekend, boasting that demand for the new iPad was "off the charts." Eager shoppers can still order the new iPad online, though they won't get the tablet until long after the third-generation Apple tablet becomes available in stores on Friday, March 16 (though there's no guarantee of being able to buy one once it hits the selves).

Long wait times at the launch of a new product have become the norm for Apple in recent years: The iPad 2 saw delays of up to five weeks when it was released in 2011, while eager customers waited up to four weeks for their iPhone 4S back in October.

Meanwhile, you can probably expect shortages of the new iPad at your local Apple store, too: Fans have already begun lining up outside at least one Apple retailer, in London -- tech site Slashgear spotted a pair of line-waiters with folding chairs and warm clothes over the weekend.

The new iPad was unveiled at an Apple event last week in San Francisco to familiar hype. Apple's third-generation iPad packs a high-resolution Retina display screen, an improved processor and battery life, and the option for 4G LTE compatibility on AT&T and Verizon (See our infographic here on how the new iPad compares to the iPad 2).

Rumors leading up to the event anticipated this shortage of iPads, as reports from the supply chain claimed that suppliers were having difficulties producing mass quantities of the Retina display screens for the iPad. There hasn't been any further confirmation that this is the case: A conspiracy theorist or cynic might wonder if Apple is just claiming that demand is so high that waiting times are necessary in order to drum up good press, in which case -- mission accomplished, Apple.

Whatever is causing the delays -- overwhelming demand or marketing magic -- the fact remains that if you are hoping to be among the first to try out the new iPad and haven't yet ordered, you're going to have to brave an Apple store or electronics retailer in order to get one. In the meantime, if you're really desperate, there is no shortage of camping tents available for overnight delivery on Amazon, and you could be the first to claim a piece of pavement outside the Apple store in your hometown today.

Flip through the slideshow to view 11 things you need to know about the new iPad.

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• Show-Stopping Display

  The photo above shows the difference between the iPad 2's 1,024 x 768 pixel display and the new iPad's high-definition Retina display, which has double the resolution and four times the pixels (2,048 x 1,536 pixels). <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features/retina-display.html" target="_hplink">Apple has described a Retina display as</a> "pixel density is so high your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels." And how does it stack up to other tablet displays? <a href="http://twitter.com/ryan/statuses/177548523254988800" target="_hplink">GDGT's Ryan Block said</a> of his first hands-on with the new device: "It's the best display I've ever seen. Anywhere, period."

• 4G, A First For Apple

  Apple's March 7 event marked a first for Apple, the arrival of 4G LTE connectivity on a mobile device. Purchased with a two-year contract from either AT&T or Verizon, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/ipad-hd-apples-next-ipad-_n_1323535.html" target="_hplink">a 4G iPad</a> will, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204603004577267441821060940.html" target="_hplink">according to The Wall Street Journal,</a> "allow users to connect a[t] speeds roughly 10 times faster than current 3G data networks." 4G models will also "work on any 3G network," <a href="http://gigaom.com/apple/apple-ipad-event-live-blog/" target="_hplink">per GigaOm</a>. New iPad models equipped with this unique feature, however, will cost users slightly more than models without 4G. (More on this later.)

• Meatier Specs

  The new iPad may look pretty similar to the old one, but it's packing some serious hardware upgrades within its thin frame. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/new-ipad-vs-ipad-2/" target="_hplink">These include a faster processor</a>, the "quad-core" 1GHz Apple A5X, which Apple claims to offer twice the processing power of the A5 CPU (found in the iPad2) and four times the graphics-rendering power of the Tegra 3 processor found in many Android tablets, <a href="http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/03/live-blog-apple-ipad3-event/ " target="_hplink">per Wired's live blog of the event</a>. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5891158/new-ipad-hd-the-third-generation" target="_hplink">Gizmodo argues</a> that Apple has also probably upped the device's RAM, "if only to handle the new resolution."

• No Siri

  The new iPad did not get Apple standout iPhone 4S feature, the voice-activated virtual personal assistant, Siri. What it did get was Voice Dictation, which will be a blessing for anyone who has ever tried to type on the iPad's tricky virtual keyboard. To use the handy new feature, just tap the microphone icon on the keyboard and start talking. <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/07/ios-5-update-siri-speaks-japanese-voice-dictation-comes-to-new-ipad/" target="_hplink">Current languages supported by dictation</a> include U.S., U.K. and Australian English as well as Japanese, French and German.

• Familiar Look

  While the new iPad offers quite a bit more than the iPad 2 in terms of display, hardware, and connectivity, the outside remains almost identical to its predecessor, measuring 9.5 x 7.31 inches. As expected, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/ipad-3-iphone-5-charger-dock-apple-rumors_n_1304388.html" target="_hplink">the biggest difference between the updated Apple tablet and its predecessor is its thickness...</a>

• A Bit More Heft

  Compared to the .34 inch iPad 2, the new iPad measures .37 inches deep, <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/" target="_hplink">according to Apple's website</a>. In addition, the new iPad has .11 pounds on the iPad 2, weighing in at 1.44 lbs. The 4G version of the new iPad is even heavier, weighing in at a whopping 1.46 lbs.

• Upgraded Photo Tools

  <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/new-ipad-vs-ipad-2/" target="_hplink">The new iPad boasts 5-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera that shoots 1,080p HD video.</a> The iPad 2's rear camera was only .7-megapixels <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/" target="_hplink">and recorded video in a paltry 720p.</a> <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/07/iphoto-on-ipad/" target="_hplink">iPhoto</a>, Apple's photo-editing software, is now available for the iPad. The app can be used for editing, effects, beaming photos between devices and sending finished products to iCloud or social networking accounts. The app also lets users create photo journals, digital scrapbooks into which users can insert maps, notes and weather widgets. <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57392601-1/apple-launches-ipad-app-for-iphoto-updates-others/" target="_hplink">The new iPhoto app costs $4.99 and is available today. </a>

• Personal Hotspot

  The 4G version of the new iPad also comes with a feature called Personal Hotspot, which "can be used to share the fast network connection on your iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB," <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/03/07Apple-Launches-New-iPad.html" target="_hplink">according to an Apple press release</a>. Currently, this feature is available only for Verizon customers.

• Powerful Battery

  Even though the new features like Retina Display and 4G connectivity will be consuming a lot more juice, a larger, more powerful battery will keep the new tablet charged for the same amount of time as the previous model. Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, had the following to say about the battery during Apple's Wednesday event (<a href="http://live.gdgt.com/live-apple-ipad-3-event-coverage/" target="_hplink">per GDGT</a>): "You may recall we claim 10 hours of battery life, and 9 hours on 3G. The new iPad delivers the same 10 hours of battery life, and 4G is 9 hours."

• Price And Availability

  <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/" target="_hplink">The WiFi-only iPad starts at $499 for the 16GB then jumps to $599 for the 32GB and $699 for the 64GB.</a> The 4G version starts at $629 for 16GB and tops out at $829 for the 64GB version. The iPad is available for pre-order now <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/" target="_hplink">and will begin shipping on March 16. </a> [<strong>CORRECTION</strong>: An earlier version of this slideshow incorrectly listed the pricing of the WiFi-only iPad.]

• New Apps

  Along with Apple's announcement of the new iPad came a league of updated apps that will put the device's Retina Display to good use. According to Engadget, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/apple-ipad-3-liveblog/" target="_hplink">all of the stock apps have been updated,</a> optimized, and scaled up so text will automatically be rendered in high resolution. In addition to uniform updates, several native Apple apps also received new features. <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/03/07Apple-Completes-iLife-for-iOS-With-Introduction-of-iPhoto-Major-Updates-to-iMovie-GarageBand.html" target="_hplink">Garage Band, for example, will now allow you to save creations to and easily share them through iCloud.</a> Also, <a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/165730/2012/03/apple_updates_imovie_garageband_iwork_for_ios.html" target="_hplink">according to MacWorld,</a> users will now be able to add an automatic string orchestra to their creations through the Smart Strings feature and fine-tune their recordings with Garage Band's Note Editor. Apple's updated iMovie app will feature more advanced editing tools and will enable sharing of videos in 1080p resolution to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and Apple TV, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/7/2851783/apple-imovie-update/in/2615987" target="_hplink">The Verge reported.</a> The new iMovie will also let users cut trailers while recording video, take advantage of nine different genre templates, and incorporate custom soundtracks from famous composers. In addition to its own apps, Apple also introduced a new generation of apps made specifically with the new iPad's higher resolution and enhanced hardware capabilities in mind. According to Engadget, these apps <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/apple-reveals-next-generation-apps-for-the-new-ipad-infinity-bl/" target="_hplink">came courtesy of third-party developers </a> like game-maker Namco, which previewed its jet combat simulator SkyGamblers, and Epic Games, the developer behind popular role-playing sword-fighting game Infinity Blade and creator of the new Retina display-optimized Infinity Blade: Dungeons. In addition, 3-D design software manufacturer Autodesk showed off its Sketchbook app, which allows for a whole new level of sketch detail thanks to the new iPad's improved display.

• ALSO ON THE HUFFINGTON POST

Comments

[Thalin Lea]

12:10 AM on 03/16/2012

pathetic material world we are living these days

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

02:57 PM on 03/13/2012

Great. The iZombies have struck yet again. Get a life, willya.

[Pectin]

05:52 PM on 03/13/2012

Doing important work with yours, I see.

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

04:22 AM on 03/14/2012

I have better things to do than stand in line for 3 days to buy some gadget I don't absolutely need.

[plasmaorb]

01:28 PM on 03/13/2012

I guess they will have to put up extra nets and security at Foxconn to keep up with the demand, instead of opening up another facility and hiring more workers at a fair wage

[lpham]

01:41 AM on 03/13/2012

Either the story is true or not, I weep for my fellow human beings!

[kinogod]

12:54 AM on 03/13/2012

March 16

[909]

12:13 AM on 03/13/2012

By all means Fanboys, overpay for something that's already outdated.

[Gigity]

11:32 PM on 03/12/2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFzJxGwqpOU&context=C4014ff2ADvjVQa1PpcFNzaW7hoHolaab7SqM9pkMjyNQ0GI7GNK0=

[jimpete]

07:07 PM on 03/12/2012

Marie Antoinette said it Best" let them use Android"

[John Crane]

06:56 PM on 03/12/2012

Are all Apple users whiners? I ordered a new Dell computer through Best Buy, and I am going to have to wait 2-3 weeks for Dell to build it? Big deal. Live with it.

[wonderYrednow]

10:11 PM on 03/12/2012

I ordered 5 of them within the first hour and the Fedex tracker says they are in China.....

[ILoveGreatDanes]

06:37 PM on 03/12/2012

SO WHAT. People will have to use their old tablets an extra three weeks. OMG! Their lives are over!

[thtech]

04:58 PM on 03/12/2012

They simply get more media coverage. As long as that does not change, nothing else will. Most local news outfits only report apple and nothing else. Google could announce they have a working Artificial Intelligence tomorrow, and there would still be 18 apple stories here at HP, or anywhere else for that matter. Looking at all the choices and then deciding is getting more difficult for the average user.

[jdoeremi]

04:43 PM on 03/12/2012

The phrase "sold out" has lost its meaning over the years. In modern marketing 101, it's vital to make a product "sold out" upon its initial release. Apple can manufacture 1 unit of the new iPad and they can honestly say, they "sold out". I know Apple manufactured a lot more than 1 unit but it's become more important for savvy companies like Apple to make sure their products initially "sold out" to whet the appetite of a vast number of customers who may want to buy or those who are still "on the fence". If "sold out" is an earthquake, Apple hopes it's followed by an even bigger earthquake to generate big sales figures they are accustomed to. Apple will take minor "aftershocks" too if that's what they can muster. We'll see the "sold out" scenario happen not just to Apple products but also Amazon products, Google android products and Microsoft products particularly when products are introduced for the first time. Having said that, I believe Apple is getting a bigger earthquake in the next round - not an aftershock.

[JohnTheMac]

07:47 PM on 03/12/2012

so, lets say this is true.
Why didn't Blackberry do this with the Playbook, or Motorola with the Xoom?

Or, a better question. How can they sell out of intentionally small numbers of production, yet announce relatively large numbers of sales for the opening? How do you do both of those things at the same time?

[King7David]

07:59 PM on 03/12/2012

Maybe because no one would believe them.........Blackberry, is just about done.

[jdoeremi]

03:09 PM on 03/13/2012

Motorola doesn't get it. They don't have it down to a science like Apple, Amazon and possibly Microsoft. Its data mining or actuarial staff can't figure out a number that's high enough to be a credible estimate for manufacturing but low enough to make "sold out" an absolute certainty. Then, customers who missed out can watch and drool over their friend or neighbor's new iPad as they tell many people they can't buy one because Apple "sold out". I noticed this happen not only in every generation of Apple's iPhone and iPad but also Amazon's Kindle and Microsoft's Kinect, Products may not always "sold out" but the statistics are suspiciously very high for mathematical probability. If one can look at the functional MRI of a cocaine addict and some Apple customers who missed out on the product they want to buy because it "sold out", I am almost certain there are remarkable similarities. Makes me wonder if this is sheer coincidence or deliberate. Do these companies subscribe to the same marketing strategy or perhaps they all have the best marketing firm money can buy? I do know that there are companies with deep pockets that keep pushing the envelope by funding relevant breakthrough studies, cutting edge marketing tools and also marketing teams that make products more ubiquitous and pervasive in a customer's daily life. The best ones are those that hook customers for life and customers don't even notice it. Now that is powerful.

[King7David]

07:58 PM on 03/12/2012

Excellent comment. I for one, always thought that "Sold Out" line, was a gimmic.

[billnbstn]

04:37 PM on 03/12/2012

Got my order in, I'm a complete Apple Junkie!
I use my IPad2 a gajillion times a day, I use my laptop as a paperweight.

Keep up or get blown away. This technology is moving so fast that a new version could be introed every 6 months!
Get a 32gb, wifi+4G for about $2 a day. Another $1 a day for a good data plan.
Do it!
You'll have it valcroed to your hand in a month.

[Jaybird135]

05:12 PM on 03/12/2012

You must be rich. So you are typing on your ipad right now? I can tell.

[mairs]

05:41 PM on 03/12/2012

I'm tying on my iPad as we sprocket. Can yodel tell? How do you term off the auto-complete?

Just kidding.

[ochaye]

04:36 PM on 03/12/2012

i'm getting 3 playbooks for the price of an iPad. What an arrogant company is Apple.

[mairs]

05:15 PM on 03/12/2012

Don't you think Blackberry was arrogant for having a 7" tablet with a list price of $699?

[argh38]

05:17 PM on 03/12/2012

Arrogant would expecting customers to buy your tablet when you can't even keep your phone system working.

[OneSmartGuy]

04:29 PM on 03/12/2012

And on not so important news... Economy is still down... Unemployment is still down...