Ready for launch: The Apple iPad
DEMAND for Apple iPads, which go on sale at 8am tomorrow in Australia, look set to outstrip supply if US sales are anything to go by.
So far, one million devices have been sold in the US, with predictions 10 million of the tablet computers will be purchased by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, Apple had described demand for the iPad as "off the charts".
But so far, Apple maintaining a high degree of secrecy about how many machines will be available to Australian consumers, and whether it expects to be able to supply the demand.
Apple devotees hoping to snap one up tomorrow in Melbourne will have to take their chances by buying one from one of two Apple Retailers at Chadstone and Doncaster shopping centres.
It appears their chances are high, but not guaranteed if they go to an authorised reseller, such as JB HiFi, Harvey Norman or one of many Mac shops.
Apple spokeswoman Fiona Martin said today "select" resellers would stock the iPad, but those details would only be available from tomorrow at www.apple.com/au/buy.
And while would-be Ipad lovers can prebook the machines on the Apple Australia website, visitors must wait for delivery and cannot choose to pick them up from any Apple retailer.
Currently the estimated shipping supply date is given only as "June".
It is understood earlybirds who prebooked iPads earlier this month will still receive them by tomorrow.
Ms Martin said that Australian customers had never been given the option to collect their prebooked iPads from Apple retailers.
Meantime, many buyers are expected to descend on Apple retailers in the hope of snapping up their device.
A snap poll of Melbourne residents found strong support from the young to senior citizens for the light and easy-to-use device.
Moonee Ponds woman Margaret Mogg, 72, loved the machine at first sight.
"Oh gosh that's incredible. Certainly better than what I have at home. I am tempted to buy one, but I have to look at my bank account first. How does it work?"
Telstra and Optus have so far offer much cheaper data rates for iPad users than for many phone plans, while many Aussie companies are already lining up to launch their applications.
Games are looming as a driving force behind the decision of many consumers to buy an iPad, which finally goes on sale around the country tomorrow.
Apple has sold more than a million iPads worldwide since its launch on April 4 and many people have bought their's home from the United States.
The cheapest iPad will retail for $629 and have 16GB of memory, while the cheapest 3G-compatible iPad will cost consumers $799.
This cheaper model cannot be connected to the phone network and users wanting to connect to the internet will need to use Wi-Fi to download data.
Rates announced by Optus and Telstra to connect to the 3G network are cheap by previous industry standards.
Under Telstra's iPad plans, 2GB of mobile downloads will cost as little as $20.
In contrast, the company currently charges a 1GB mobile phone internet pack for $39.
Optus is offering twice that amount of data for the iPad at the same price.
