On Trade Me, an iPad 2 boom

UPDATE March 15: US media has reported a huge surge in the number of iPad 2s being sold on eBay - seen as a sign that many are preparing to upgrade to the new model being released this Friday in North American, and March 23 in NZ.

It seems the same phenomenon is happening here, or at least a boomlet.

"We saw a significant lift in iPad 2 listings on Thur 8 March," Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford told NBR yesterday (the new iPad was announced on March 7, or the morning of March 8 NZ time).

"As an example, there were more than 60 listed that day – up 94% on the previous Thursday," Mr Ford said.

"Our analytics crew tell me that looks to have been the peak day – it’s still tracking ahead of the past few weeks now, but growth has slowed since the 8th."

One hook: Many buyers seem ignorant of the fact that as well as releasing the new iPad, Apple has - already - discounted the 16GB wi-fi iPad 2 to $579.

Even this morning, one Trade Me member was bidding $455 on a second hand version of that model.

Meanwhile, a 16GB iPad with 3G and wi-fi - which now costs $779 brand new - was going for $700.

On Trade Me today (above) and Monday (below), a number of iPad 2s are going for premium prices (above) - in some cases irrational amounts given Apple has steeply discounted a brand new wi-fi 16GB iPad 2 to $579, with free shipping. (Click to enlarge.)

iPad shortages loom for NZ

March 12: The new iPad – simply called iPad – is due to be released in New Zealand “by the end of March,” Apple says (retailers have said Friday March 23).

But already it’s looking like the launch will be plagued by shortages.

For Apple fans, it’s familiar territory.

The New Zealand launches of the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2 were farcical affairs, with a handful of units selling out within hours, then a multi-week wait until the actual launch.

In the case of the iPad 2, major retail outlets polled by NBR said they had as few as 30 units.

Already, signs are looking bad for the new iPad (which most expected to be called iPad 3).

The new tablet’s signature feature – “retina” display, which offers four times the resolution of the iPad 2 – may be wowing the critics, but it’s also causing production bottlenecks, acccording to respected market tracker iSuppli.com. The sheer popularity of the new iPad could also be a factor. An avalanche of iPad 2s appearing on eBay (Trade Me is also swamped) indicates many are planning to upgrade.

The retail launch of the new iPad is scheduled for this Friday, March 16.

Apple’s US website previously said the first iPads ordered online would ship March 16. That was soon changed to March 19. It low lists an estimated delivery time of two to three weeks.

In the case of the iPad 2 (launched on March 2 last year), shipment times quickly ballooned to four to five weeks, and did not normalise to one to three days until August.

On Apple’s US website, there is a limit of two iPads per customer for the new model.

iPad 2 kept on as budget model
Apple's NZ website simply lists a “coming soon” message for the new model.

Apple is keeping on the iPad 2 as a budget model, albeit only in a 16GB model (the line previously included 32GB and 64GB options.

On the company’s NZ website, the wi-fi version of the iPad 2 is now listed for $579, the wi-fi + 3G model for $779 (in both cases around $200 cheaper than the previous price).

Shipping time is listed as one to three business days.

iPad "3"  - what’s new

Beyond its "retina display", boosting screen resolution to 2048 by 1536 pixels (the iPad 2 is 1024 by 768; a high definition widescreen TV has a 1920 x 1080 display, and HD movies and TV shows are formated to that resolution). Apple is billing it as the sharpest definition on the market.

The iPad 2's dual core processor is upgraded to a faster model with quad-core graphics.

The rear camera's resolution hs been bumped up to 5 megapixels - still a step down from the 8 megapixels boasted by the iPhone 4S and many high-end Google Android devices.

There is a new microphone button (accompanying the arrival of Siri-style voice command and dictation software to the iPad couple with iOS 5.1 - although Siri itself was not mentioned at the launch event). But otherwise the size and shape of the new iPad closely resembles the iPad 2. It's marginally (0.6mm) thicker and 50g heavier.

This new iPad will also supports superfast LTE/4G mobile data - a boon to people living in some areas of the US, Europe and Australia, but irrelevant to New Zealand where Telecom, Vodafone and 2degrees operate 3G networks, and are unlikely to begin any upgrades within 18 months, if that.

Apple says it will release NZ pricing closer to the official "by the end of March" release.

In the US, the new iPad costs $US499 (about $NZ618)  for the 16GB model, $US599 for the 32GB model and $US699 for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G will cost $US629 for the 16GB model, $US729 for the 32GB model and $US829 for the 64GB model.