Apple iPad Pre-Orders Hit Estimated 120,000+ On 1st Day

A round-up of this weekend’s iPad pre-order news.

This past Friday night Hong Kong time was the official date for the pre-order for the Apple iPad. You still have to wait until April 3rd to have it delivered but the buzz is out of control, as usual with various reports coming in from different sources.

Brainstorm Tech says Apple sold 120,000+ in the first day:

• Customers preferred the cheaper WiFi version (the 3G one doesn’t ship until the end of April)
• Orders were split over the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models.
• Apple made US$75million in one day on a product no one can touch yet.

CNN’s initial breakdown within its first few hours of the iPad being made available:

The 48 orders (for 54 iPads) reported to AAPL Sanity by Friday afternoon break down as follows:

• Wi-Fi-only: 37 units (69%)
• Wi-Fi + 3G: 17 (31%)
• 16 GB: 21 (40%)
• 32 GB: 15 (28%)
• 64 GB: 18 (33%)

Apple Rolls Out iBooks Feature Page

Apple Details iPad 3G Service Sign-Up and Management
This is interesting, it shows that the 3G service is built in to the iPad – another reason why it is delayed in other markets perhaps?

Apple limits iPad preorders to two per customer

And a few news bits to go along with the iPad pre-order frenzy:

• iPad ‘Mute’ button magically turns into ‘screen rotation lock’
• Dead battery? Apple will give you a new iPad for $99!

For us in Hong Kong, the official word from Apple is that the iPad will be available “later this year.” If that means Summer, Fall or Winter is still up in the air.

For now though if you do not have a US mailing address, Sinapore-based e-commerce site OneNow.com can help you to order it at cost and you just pay the shipping to Hong Kong via DHL.

We are going to be making some available at the Neonpunch.com store – so drop us a line if you want to reserve one with us.