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Tablets have proven to be the most popular consumer electronics item on buyers' early holiday shopping lists, with a new research note from Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White citing numbers from the Consumer Electronics Association revealing that 39% of shoppers looking for consumer electronics over the Black Friday weekend were planning to purchase a tablet. Supporting that data, both Walmart and Target highlighted iPads as top sellers on Black Friday.
With Apple's new iPad Air and Retina iPad mini having hit the market in recent weeks, Apple is well-positioned to take advantage of the surge in tablet interest, although the company has been struggling hard to ramp up production on the Retina iPad mini to meet holiday shopping demand. White notes that supplies for Apple's retail stores continue to improve, although 64 GB and 128 GB cellular-capable variants remains in tight supply.
Based on our survey across 38 Apple Retail Stores in the U.S. market, all Wi-Fi only models for both the iPad mini with Retina Display and first-generation iPad mini are readily available. Regarding Wi-Fi + Cellular models for the iPad mini with Retina Display, 64GB and 128GB models have very limited stock, while 16GB models are plentiful. For example, 47% of the Apple Retail Stores that we surveyed sold out the iPad mini with Retina Display 128GB models and 42% sold out 64GB models, while only 29% sold out 32GB models and 3% sold out 16GB models.
The news comes ten days after Apple's retail stores began offering walk-in sales of Retina iPad Mini models, along with a report last week stating that supplies of the tablet are beginning to improve after Apple was reportedly struggling with display yields that limited production.
Overall, in-store availability of Retina iPad mini models has improved markedly for Apple's U.S. retail stores, although availability of Wi-Fi models remains much stronger than for cellular-capable models. Orders placed through Apple's online store are currently being quoted 5-10 business day shipping estimates for all models.
Top Rated Comments
I finally saw someone using a non-Apple tablet in the wild :D
Pics or it didn't happen! :eek:
I think Kindle tablets used solely as ebook readers are quite common.
Maybe but I haven't seen a single one of those.
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Who wants to be caught dead, seen with one of those? :D
But seriously, I still think the MS Surface is a visually striking device, and would definitely consider one, if it didn't run Windows.
Unfortunately the surface is hindered by a couple of things. Extremely poor marketing and Microsoft's arrogance in believing that their late to market offering was just going to sell like hot cakes because it was, well Microsoft. Its probably a very good bit of kit but all their advertising seems to say is how crap every other tablet is without showing me how theirs is better.
LOL, I've been seeing Windows 8 Tablet commercials lately that still can't through the entire ad without mentioning the iPad. Apple keeps rolling along making very nice and classy ads showing the true owner experience and their tablet stays on top.
People always seem to forget that Apple did the exact same thing with their Mac vs. PC commercials.Seen a couple myself on the commute into work but they are very rare. Not sure who is buying them but they don't seem to use them out of the house.
I think Kindle tablets used solely as ebook readers are quite common.