Top Tech News

Want an iPad 2 on Day One? Then you'll hit to move in distinction weekday afternoon, or you crapper visit digit online play earlyâ€"very earlyâ€"in the morning.

The revamped iPad 2 (get the info here, and analyse discover the primeval reviews here) goes on understanding tomorrow, March 11â€"and different last year's start of the example iPad, you won't be healthy to locate a pre-order online.

That effectuation if you absolutely, positively must hit an iPad 2 on start day, you'll hit to go defence in distinction with thousands of other eager (or fanatical, whatever would say) school geeks.

In-store sales for the new iPad module begin at 5 p.m. local time, Apple said, meet in instance for the salutation festinate hour. The beatific news, however, is that there module be many more stores selling the iPad 2 this year—which could stingy shorter lines at any presented location.

In constituent to the 230-odd Apple stores, the iPad 2 module also be on understanding at Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, as substantially as AT&T and Verizon Wireless outlets. So yes … many more choices this instance around, though you'll hit to go to an Apple store if you poverty one-on-one help environment up your e-mail and apps.

If you'd rather refrain the crowds and don't nous waiting a day or two for an iPad 2 to arrive on your doorstep, you crapper ever try arrangement digit online, though you'll hit to meet up lateâ€"or consequence up rattling earlyâ€"to beat the rush.

Apple says it'll start attractive online orders for the iPad 2 at 1 a.m. PT Friday, or 4 a.m. Eastern, and it's promising "fast, liberated shipping."

Of course, no one's forcing you to locate an online iPad 2 visit the fast the play armament goes off, but those who move separate the risk of Apple's servers buckling low the lineage (remember last summer's iPhone 4 debacle?) or seeing the initial iPad 2 shipments dry up.

The iPad 2 ranges in toll from $499 for the 16GB edition to $599 for the 32GB help and $699 for the largest, 64GB variety.

You crapper also intend the 3G-embedded edition at a $130 premium: conceive $629 for the 16GB 3G iPad 2, $729 for 32GB, or $829 for 64GB. Those in the mart for a 3G-enabled iPad 2 module hit to garner a carrierâ€"AT&T or Verizon Wirelessâ€"as substantially as a (no-contract) accumulation plan.

On the AT&T side, you crapper opt for 250MB of accumulation for $15 a month, or 2GB for $25/month. If you bust over your monthly allotment, you crapper ever pay $15 for added 250MB containerful of data, or $25 for an added 2GB. You crapper also go the post-paid artefact with AT&T's 3G iPad plans, with the charge appearing on your monthly AT&T billâ€"and in that case, you'll pay $10 for every player GB on the $25-a-month, 2GB option.

Meanwhile, Verizon offers a quartet of iPad 3G plans: $20 a period for 1GB, $35 for 3GB, $50 for 5GB, or $80 for 10GB. Overage charges allow $20 for an player 1GB on the $20-a-month plan, or $10 per added GB for the pricier options.

Those hunting for a understanding on the example iPad crapper ever analyse discover Apple's (dwindling) cater of refurbished units, with the 32GB Wi-Fi iPad is today $429, compared to $599 for a new 32GB iPad 2.

And if you're skipping the iPad altogether in favor of a competitor, plenty of options are available; analyse discover the makes, models, and specs for the most popular iPad alternatives correct here.

â€" Ben Patterson is a technology blogger for Yahoo! News.

Follow me on Twitter!

Source