So they're speculating about a delay to a product that has only the vaguest possible release date? On which absolutely no availability or production data is available and which nobody knows the projected likely sales of (well, maybe Apple do, but they're not telling)?

Can I just make my position explicitly clear, for future reference, OK? Analysts get paid to make stuff up.

There. Next time you read something some analyst has said, ask your self one question - 'does this man actually know any more about the situation than I do?'

I think this is the mistake a lot of people are making, they are comparing the iPad to a netbook. I think that is wrong. The iPad is more of an appliance, not a general purpose computer, in the sense of a netbook. People don't complain that a Nintendo DS doesn't run MS Office or multi-task.

It is aimed at a different market to a general purpose netbook...

As was recently demonstrated a school kid could do a better analytical report on technology than some of the reports that are out there.

My opinion is it's made for people who don't even actually want a computer.

+1 I think you are right on this. It’s a non-threatening device, and something I think my grandma could use quite easily.

Does anyone know if the bookstore app thing is going to be available in the UK? Last I heard it wasnt but that was when it was first announced.

Yeah, or something I'd use when I didn't want the hassle of a full PC.

Or something I'd use to pass around my photography portfolio (if I needed to).

What? Oh …
(8+)

Mark

Nothing's been said since then so as far as we know nothing has changed. If you compare http://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/features/ to http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/ you will see the UK version has the ibooks 'feature' missing. That seems pretty close to confirmation Apple don't expect to make it available in the UK at launch.

clicky
Wifi only pad goes on sale in the US on April 3rd, pre-orders from next Friday. Set to go on sale in the UK 'end of April', no sign of pre-orders opening yet, nor any sign of official UK pricing. However we will get both the wifi only and wifi+3G versions one 'day one'.

Looks like june then

*shrug* all the news sources seems to be following the 'end of April' line. Of course, there probably won't be much of a carrier subsidy on the 3G version at that point, so you'll be paying a big lump for the iPad and then probably a fair lump each month for data. Probably work out cheaper to buy a wifi ipad and a mifi.There is still the possibility they'll be 'carrier agnostic' like they are in the states but as far as I know none of the UK mobile carriers will yet sell you one of those odd micro SIMs it uses.

I suspect we'll know beginning of next month. if they hit the 'April 3rd' date in the States then it's probably safe to say they have their supply chain sorted and we'll see it when they say we will. If they miss the deadline, or if supply is very short, then I suspect a further delay for the UK is likely.

By June you'll probably be able to get one free with a contract

I do not want another data contract. The wifi model looks like the best deal as far as I can see. No more further outlays unless you want a wifi contract for out and about.

I'll be gutted if they dont get the book app in the UK. Its one of the main reasons I want it. For me its carrying images around (e.g. to the parents), casual net browsing and to curb/replace my want for an eReader. Pleeeeese sort this out Apple.

This is one of the reasons for me. Though what I want is the ability to read PDF's. I have plenty of PDF manuals and this would be a brilliant way of being able to use them while doing something on a computer or fixing something else.

The main reason for me is so I can watch films in bed or while travelling.