Blame Apple for selling a smaller version of the iPad or for cutting the product release cycle to six months. News sites say that the long queues, the euphoria, and camp-outs in front of Apple Stores that beset previous iPhone and iPad launches were absent at the November 2nd launch of the iPad mini and iPad 4. Despite the lack of launch-day crowds, Apple still reportedly ran out of iPad mini initial stock at various stores around the world. Apple is expected to sell up to 1.5 million units of the iPad mini over the weekend, which figures are not impressive by Apple's standards but still to envy for by competitors.
What Else You Need To Know
- The iPad mini and iPad 4 was released in Apple Stores and retailers in 33 countries starting November 2nd.
- Cheaper by $179 than a full-sized iPad but still pricier by $130 than the Google Nexus 7 or the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the iPad mini sports a 7.85-inch screen, a non-Retina display of 1024 x 768 pixels, and the same hardware as the iPad 2.
- Replacing the only 7-month-old iPad 3, the iPad 4 features a new Apple designed A6X chip that offers up to twice the CPU performance of previous model and some marginal improvements over its predecessor.
- In March, Apple sold 3 million units of the iPad 3 in the first three days. Apple has already sold more than 100 million iPads since releasing the original model in March 2010.
Other sources
I think, deep down, everyone knows that the tablet is going to be successful and sell in huge numbers no matter what the competition thinks.- Shane McGlaun, SlashGear
Just pop down to the flagship Apple Store in London's Regent Street and you'll be able to walk right in, purchase your new tablet, and be home in time for tea.- Rik Henderson, Pocket-lint
- Android Central
- Here they come: iPad mini shipping notifications out ahead of tomorrow's delivery
- Mashable
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Hurricane Sandy Won’t Stop the iPad Mini Launch
Although the city's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) transportation has been running limitedly -- preventing many commuters from getting to work and where they need to go -- the company is continuing with the iPad mini launch as planned.
- Mashable
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Meet the Only Guy in Line for an iPad Mini in NYC [PICS]
Amid the rushing passersby outside the flagship Apple Store, one man stood alone Thursday afternoon in the official line for Friday morning's iPad mini launch.
- SlashGear
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Analyst predicts Apple could sell 1.5 million iPad minis this weekend
There may be some competitors out there that hope Apple doesn’t sell many of its new iPad mini tablets. I think, deep down, everyone knows that the tablet is going to be successful and sell in huge numbers no matter what the competition thinks.
- Pocket-lint
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No iPad mini queue in London, you can walk in and buy one
Just pop down to the flagship Apple Store in London's Regent Street and you'll be able to walk right in, purchase your new tablet, and be home in time for tea.
- Business Insider
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Lines For Apple's iPad Mini Are Surprisingly Short (AAPL)
Around 300 people queued up outside Apple's flagship store in Tokyo, some wearing fancy dress, to get their hands on a device the company insists is more than just a shrunken version of its popular tablet.
- TechCrunch
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Apple’s iPad Mini Launch Draws Smaller Crowds Than Previous Product Debuts
Compared to previous device launches this year, the crowds are fairly underwhelming. About 450 people lined up in Tokyo ahead of the iPad 3 going on sale, for instance, and lines stretched into the hundreds at locations around the world. The iPad mini is a new category of device for Apple, and users might not have had time to make up their minds about this novel product yet.
- TN
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iPad Mini Starts Selling During US Chaos Caused by Sandy… Big Crowds Appear
US is a particularly troubled market these days, with Hurricane Sandy causing trouble, but that didn’t stop people from causing chaos at the US launch of the products, as shown in the picture below.
- Apple launches the iPad mini
- Business Insider
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Apple's iPad Mini Launch Is Behind Schedule In New York (AAPL)
Despite the lukewarm response for the iPad mini -- it's a little bit pricey, and the screen isn't fantastic -- I arrived at Apple's flagship 5th Ave cube at 6:45 a.m. to buy one. I wasn't surprised to find that the line had already stretched halfway down the Street.
- More...