iPad pre-orders start at 5:30am PT. Got your credit card ready?
All right Apple fans, time to set your alarms for 5:30am PT tomorrow (March 12th), because that's when Apple begins taking iPad pre-orders, according to TUAW, who got the word from Apple PR. So that sounds pretty official. The first run is expected to be limited to the Wifi models; 3G equipped iPads will follow later in April.
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So who's ready to throw down $500 to be one of the first to own this "magical" device? Personally I was pretty excited during the initial reveal, but since then my enthusiasm has cooled some, and I'm going to wait a bit and see how things shake out. Have you read the Computerworld article "ARM sees over 50 new iPad-like devices out this year" yet? That's a lot of competition. Have you seen the new HP Slate ad (embedded below) that mimics Apple's iPad ad? Today Engadget ran a story about a $92 Android tablet! Granted it only has a 4.8" display but still... heck even the JooJoo is showing signs of life. Back to Engadget again for a story on how the FCC has outed the Joojoo's innards. That would indicate they're nearly ready to launch.
This market just feels too dynamic, to me, to be one of the first in line for an iPad. Even accepting that Apple usually nails the hardware design, it isn't too far-fetched to imagine that the initial iPad prices won't hold up over time. Remember, the iPhone was $600 when it launched and the price dropped to $400 so quickly that Apple had to give out $100 gift cards to early adopters. If some of these competing devices can come out a price lower than the iPad, and with Flash support (we love Hulu and Facebook games, after all) it could drive Apple to cut prices sooner rather than later. An iPad costs Apple ~$230 to build, so they definitely have the wiggle room for a price drop.
So for now I'm waiting. How long my willpower will hold out once I get the chance to play with a demo unit in a store...well that's another question. What about you? Any of you readers ready to pre-order first thing tomorrow morning?