New iPad creates furor among consumers

Technology analysts have had a field day today, after demand for the next iPad has sent customers clicking the “pre-order” button on Apple’s Web site in droves. In a statement to USA Today, Apple said that customer response to the new tablet has been “off the charts” and confirmed that the pre-order devices have sold out.

As of this weekend, buyers will have to wait two or three weeks to get their hands on the tablet, or brave the crowds at Apple stores. The lines for Apple launches are historically packed.

Because the company is rolling out the devices in Europe and Asia at the same time as the North American launch, the new iPad launch is on track to be one of Apple’s largest-ever device debuts. Apple, which has sold about 55 million iPad devices to date, is expected to sell at least that many by the end of 2012.

Some customers have gone so far as to begin camping out this week in order to buy the latest version of the tablet ahead of any others.

The new iPad, which adds a sharper display, faster processor, access to 4G LTE networks, a better camera and voice dictation to the tablet, will be in stores on Friday, March 16. The WiFi version starts at $499, and the 4G version starts at $629, not including the data plan.

(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com