Those hoping to get their hands on an iPad 2 early Friday will have to wait a few more hours. Retailers confirmed today that the next-generation Apple tablet will be available starting at 5pm local time.
"Be the first to get the next iPad. This Friday, March 11, at 5:00pm," Apple wrote in a Wednesday e-mail. "The Apple Retail Store is the best place to experience iPad. Our Specialists will show you around the features, help you choose the perfect model, and set everything up just the way you like. So you'll be up and running before you leave the store."
For iPad enthusiasts who do not live near an Apple Store, Best Buy and Target will also be selling the tablet starting at 5pm.
"The #iPad2 goes on sale at 5pm local time on 3/11/11 @Target! We'll pencil-in downloading the Target app at 5:01 pm," Target tweeted this week.
Best Buy said it will carry black and white Wi-Fi versions as well as Wi-Fi+3G options for AT&T and Verizon. They will be available in-store only; Best Buy said on its FAQ page that a pre-order option will not be available.
The retailer will offer two Geek Squad Black Tie Protection (GSBTP) plans: standard and accidental damage from handling. Both plans are good for three years; pricing depends on the plan selected.
The iPad 2 is also eligible for Best Buy's Buy Back Program. Customers pay $69.99 for a two-year insurance policy of sorts. In that time period, customers may receive up to 50 percent of the product's original purchase price paid in the form of a Best Buy gift card, valid for six months.
If shoppers buy GSBTP and Buy Back at the same time, Best Buy said customers will save 50 percent on the price of Buy Back.
Walmart, meanwhile, tweeted last week that the iPad 2 will be available soon via walmart.com.
This year's iPad launch differs from last year in that Apple is not offering a pre-sale period. Last year, those who pre-ordered the tablet for in-store pickup had until 3pm local time to fetch the iPad before Apple started releasing them to the masses. At the time, however, Apple was only offering the Wi-Fi-only iPad. When the Wi-Fi+3G iPad went on sale on April 30, Apple shut down its retail stores from 4-5pm local time to prep for the launch, before re-opening at 5pm.
Will you be buying? For more, see PCMag's hands-on with the iPad 2, and find out how you can sell your first-gen iPad.
Update: Verizon and AT&T on Thursday confirmed that they too will have the iPad 2 in stock at their retail stores, starting at 5pm local time.