Sales Predictions For 3G on Friday

[Lotus Esprit]

By not making the iPad available in Apple stores until 5 P.M. on the 30th, Apple engineering a lower first day sales number for the the 3G release.

Including pre-orders, I would estimate that total 3G sales for the release day will be in the 150,000 to 175,000 range.

Any other opinions?

[Fat Abe]

I wonder how many people are going to leave work early on Friday, so that they can pick up a 3G iPad. (Not me, my credit card is tapped out.) Nevertheless, I know quite a few people who have a 3G on order or reserve. I'll be conservative and estimate that a quarter million 3G units will be sold by 10 PM on Saturday, given the Friday head start. It's the apps, man. They're the magnet that pulls people into the stores (including Best Buy).

[CCDMan]

Well, mine has been shipped and will be here tomorrow!

As for Worst Buy, I would not give those morons any business if they were the last electronics store on the planet. Check out Consumerist for the many Best Buy horror stories!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Lotus Esprit

Including pre-orders, I would estimate that total 3G sales for the release day will be in the 150,000 to 175,000 range.

100,000-150,000 K is my guesstimate.

I just don't see a super huge demand for 3G compared to the WiFi only models in a larger device like this. I think most are like me and would mainly use their tablet at home, in the office, in coffee shops etc. were Wifi is prevalent--i.e. types of places they use a laptop/pc or netbook currently.

So they really only get the on the go crowd the travels constantly etc.

But maybe I'm underestimating the size of that market.

[CCDMan]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

100,000-150,000 K is my guesstimate.
I just don't see a super huge demand for 3G compared to the WiFi only models

I can't speak for others, but the GPS was the factor for me - no GPS on the WiFi version and I do not have a phone with GPS.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

I can't speak for others, but the GPS was the factor for me - no GPS on the WiFi version and I do not have a phone with GPS.

That's moot for me since I have a Garmin for my car, and I wouldn't walk around town using the GPS on something the size of an iPad as I'd both look ridiculous and be a prime target for a mugging!.

But fair point if that's a feature that matters to you.