The iPad 2 goes on sale Friday March 11 at 5PM. If you want one on the 11th you may want to get in line as Apple is not taking pre-orders for their second generation iPad. Which begs the question, why is Apple not taking pre-orders for one of their biggest product launches of 2011?
Gizmocrunch reports that Apple’s decision not to take iPad 2 pre-orders may stem from the recent Verizon iPhone launch. When pre-orders began for the Verizon iPhone, there were so many orders that it took both the Verizon and Apple online stores down within two hours. Verizon sold more iPhone 4s during its initial launch than any other phone in the carrier’s history, but that is not what the media reported. The media focused on the fact that lines weren’t long at Verizon stores on the day of the Verizon iPhone launch, creating a false perception that the Verizon iPhone was not a success. In reality lines were short at Verizon stores because most people pre-ordered online.
Apple does not want this to happen again. Apple wants long lines for iPad 2. Long lines for a major Apple product release feeds the Apple hype machine. There is no better advertising for Apple than the free advertising they will receive on March 11 when all the major news networks report that people lined up for hours outside Apple stores to buy the iPad 2. The iPad 2 goes on sale at 5PM, conveniently right before the 6PM nightly news and you can bet reporters will be there to cover it.
Cult of Mac reports that there are thousands of first generation iPads currently being sold on ebay and electronics buy back sites which is another a good indicator that lines will be long on Friday. A quick search for “iPad” on ebay returns over 59,000 listings. On March 11, many who owned the original iPad will upgrade to the newer model, while many others who didn’t get the first generation iPad will be buying their first iPad.
Do you think there will be long lines for the iPad 2 launch? Will you be in line on March 11 to buy iPad 2? Let us know.
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