Join the never-ending queue outside your nearest Apple store, or wait a few weeks? That seems to be the only two choices for anyone desperate to bag a new iPad 2. Or is it?
Apple has now opened the online ordering, but there’s a downside. Orders placed today are showing a 2-3 week delivery time, which could be Apple trying to avoid disappointing people by playing safe (with everyone getting a delivery next week), or a reflection of the fact that the priority has been to get products into shops.
We think it’s the latter, sadly.
But, you don’t have to queue outside an Apple store to get one today – and you might even find it possible to get one over the weekend when the stores themselves are almost certainly going to run out.
Unlike the original iPad, anyone that sold the original iPad is going to be able to sell the iPad 2 – and most are. In fact, the only store that hasn’t shown the iPad 2 as being available today is Argos – but that may change by 5pm so keep an eye out. We’d laugh if you got to order one online, then breeze in to your collection point in a matter of minutes!
If you want a WiFi + 3G model, and don’t mind signing up to a two-year contract, you can go along to one of the network stores where you’ll be able to get an iPad 2 at 5pm, with prices starting at £199 for a 16GB model on a two-year contract.
Or there’s PC World, any John Lewis branch that had the original iPad, Best Buy outlets and selected branches of Carphone Warehouse.
In fact, unless you’re desperate to savour the unique experience that only queuing outside an Apple store can bring, you’re probably better off going anywhere but an Apple store if you want an iPad 2 this weekend.
Update: Three has given us a list of its stores that will have the iPad 2 today:
- London, Oxford Street
- Manchester Trafford Centre
- Sheffield Meadowhall
- Southampton
- Bluewater
- Westfield, London
- Newcastle Douglas Way
- Cambridge Grand Arcade
- Liverpool One
- Lakeside
- Manchester Arndale
- Glasgow Buchanan St
- Camberley
- Reading
- Maidenhead
- Ealing Broadway
- Edinburgh
- Wellingborough
- Leeds
- Eastbourne
- Basingstoke
- York
- Gateshead
- Wood Green, London
- Coventry
- Brighton
- Swindon
hi, i visited this store in Chichester – solutions inc. and they said we haven`t any at the moment, and you should wait for Unknown time
and they adviced me to go to Brighton.
i called Brighton store and they said the only way to order or reserve is by going to apple.com and reserve it
REALLY REALLY BAD MARKETING
I went to get my ipad yesterday on the opening evening. I chose to go to a local independent apple reseller ( solutions inc.) in Chichester for it, being as my nearest Apple store was Brighton, and when I called the the store in the morning, there was already a queue forming!
At 3.30 I arrived at the very small queue in Chichester, South Street. I was about 23rd ish in the queue. The sales guys came out regularly with tumblers of water.. and at 4.30 the guy with the tickets came out. I got my first choice of a black 32gb wi-fi and by 5:20 it was paid for and in my hands
Why people choose to go queue at the bigger stores is beyond me!