iPad 2s: Start your engines. On Friday, the next generation of the world’s most popular tablet went on sale at Apple’s Web site at 4 AM ET, with sales at U.S. stores beginning at 5 PM.
Given that the original iPad sold 300,000 units in the first 24 hours, some analysts are predicting sales of more than half a million within 48 hours. In the first three months after the original went on sale, total revenue from the device exceeded $3 billion, making it the fastest selling technology product in history by revenue. When measured by unit sales, Microsoft’s revolutionary Kinect controller holds the title of fastest-selling.
‘A Big Difference’
The physical stores where the iPad 2 will be available include 236 Apple stores, which are closing two hours before the selling begins, in order to prepare. The new version will also be available from more than 10,000 AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target stores.
A key question is to what degree the new features and improvements in the latest iPad will boost sales to current owners of the original who want to upgrade.
Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst with industry research firm Forrester, said that, even though the “improvements in the iPad 2 seem small,” they could prove enticing to iPad 1 owners. In particular, she noted that the weight difference, though small, makes the iPad 2 immediately feel lighter “and that makes a big difference” since tablet owners often carry their device.
She also pointed to the smart covers and new cameras as additions that could increase the appeal.
80 Percent Projected
Epps said that Forrester is projecting Apple will capture 80 percent of the U.S. consumer sales this year in the booming tablet category. Although dozens of tablets from other manufacturers are being released, Epps said there “isn’t enough…