iPad

Here are the iPad 2 prices as announced by Apple during the event (read more here):
———————————
Wi-Fi iPad
16GB – $499
32GB – $599
64GB – $699
———————————
3G+Wi-Fi iPad (Verizon and AT&T ONLY!)
16GB – $629
32GB – $729
64GB – $829
———————————

Anyhow, no price reduction here – for all of you who were hoping to see a $299 and $399 iPad models, I say tough luck. Now, it’ll be interested to see what is going to be happening with the price trends for iPad 1 models – I am sure Apple will cut the price for old models in order to work through the existing inventory. My hunch is that you’ll be able to get one in a $400 to $450 range. Please post a comment if you are aware of any places who might be selling it for less than $499.

Some of the iPad accessories initialy announced by Apple will not be imediately avaliable on 4/3 when the first unit ship. The iPad USB Power adapter, keyboard dock and camera connection kit are not currently available for purchase via apple.com – I can hardly see this becoming a decision factor for any potential buyer – yet, some folks may be disapointed for a month or two… On the other hand check out Amazon store as it currently offers a inexpensive (yet generic) iPad USB charger for less than ten bucks… Click on the similar products link and you’ll be able to see a slew of relating products, some of the accessories are even already refurbished…

This kind of brings me to another point here – it’s amazing how many Amazon sellers are already offering iPad related accessories and jockeying for a slice of a huge Amazon iPad accessories pie that is to be sliced pretty soon… Folks are already selling bags, screen protectors, sleeves, cables, chargers, and god knows what – even though not a single iPad unit has been shipped (what’s even more interesting is that most of the items are on sale with discounts of over 30% – I certainly did not expect such an early discounted and even refurbished product offering). Yet – such a quick accessory offering growth (even though discounted) is, in my eyes, an early indication that the markeplace has awarded it’s approval and acceptance to the upcoming device.