iPad 2 hits SA tomorrow

[Lydon]

Anyone plan on getting one? They're definitely sexy but I'm struggling to see what I'd use one for...

iPad 2 in South Africa on Friday
Rudolph Muller | 27 April, 2011

Apple’s iPad 2 will go on sale in South Africa on Friday 29 April with competitive prices

Local Apple distributor Core Group today announced that the iPad 2 will go on sale in the country on the 29th of April.

Apple today announced that the iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Japan on April 28 and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE on April 29.

iPad 2 features a new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen.

iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor and two cameras - a front-facing VGA camera and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video.

The iPad 2’s pricing is in line with the iPad’s initial January launch price in South Africa making it far more competitive than many consumers expected.

A 16GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi costs R4,399 and increases to R7,599 for the top of the range 64GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and 3G.

The iPad 2 will go on sale on Friday at Apple Premium Resellers, Incredible Connection and Dion Wired.

Source: MyBroadband


South Africa’s iPad 2 pricing competitive
Rudolph Muller | 27 April, 2011

The Apple iPad 2 will hit South African shelves tomorrow and local consumers will be happy to hear it is at a globally competitive price

Apple announced yesterday that iPad 2 will arrive in South Africa on April 29, and local Apple distributor Core Group announced that the new generation tablet will be available from Apple Premium Resellers, Incredible Connection and Dion Wired.

Core Group also announced the iPad 2’s pricing in South Africa, and good news for consumers is that they will enjoy the same competitive pricing which accompanied the original’s iPad launch in SA in January.

While local iPad 2 pricing is higher than US pricing, it is not fair to compare our rates to the US as Core Group source their Apple products from Apple Europe. A comparison between EU and SA iPad 2 pricing will therefore make more sense.

The good news for South African Apple users is that the country’s iPad 2 pricing compares favorably with its European counterparts.

While SA’s iPad 2 pricing is marginally higher than in the UK, it is significantly cheaper than the European pricing (using France as a comparative country).

Core’s local iPad 2 pricing blasts the pricing of direct importers like the Notebook Company, WantItAll and Kalahari.net out of the water.

The Notebook Company announced two weeks ago that were offering 64GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi & 3G at R10,374 if a consumer allows two weeks for delivery. This price however increases to R11,172 if the buyer wants his iPad 2 on the same day.

WantItAll and Kalahari.net’s pricing also looks out of sync when compared to Core Group’s official South African iPad 2 pricing.

Source: MyBroadband


8ta iPad data deal on iPad 2 too
Staff Writer | 28 April, 2011

Telkom's mobile network will make its iPad data plans available for the iPad 2 from 29 April 2011

8ta today announced that it will extend its iPad dedicated data plans to the next generation iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G beginning 29 April 2011 when the iPad 2 is due to launch in South Africa.

8ta’s data plans for the iPad 2 offers access to its 3G data network and all data plans will be available without a contract, offering the freedom to activate or cancel a plan at any time.

The 8ta data tariffs and features for the iPad 2 will remain the same as that offered for the first generation device.

The iPad 2 is the next generation of Apple's device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and more.

iPad 2 improves on the original iPad by being thinner and lighter, sporting a faster graphical and central processing unit, as well as front and rear-facing cameras, all while maintaining the same 10 hours of battery life.

Amith Maharaj, Managing Executive of 8ta said: “8ta is excited to extend its exclusive data deal to the iPad 2 and remains the only operator in SA to do so. The iPad 2 has been tested and certified for use on the 8ta network.”

The prepaid data bundles for the iPad 2 will be offered at the same rate as the first generation iPad and remains exclusive to iStore sales of the device.

These bundles are as follows:

512MB for R120
1GB for R160
3GB for R299
8ta said that post paid data bundles for the iPad will be offered at a later stage.

Source: MyBroadband

[GetDownAdam]

I'm planning on getting one, but probably from the UK as it still seems like I can get a better deal there. They're incredibly handy in medicine. I know a lot of my fellow students are investing in an iPad because although the iPhone is great for medical apps, the iPad screen is very handy for patient education as well as handling pt data such as lab reports and digital xrays / CT. Hopefully I'll get a decent student discount on it though.

[Pule]

Might get one sometime next year...

[dysan1]

waste of money - its all hype. i got the Galaxy tab and its a better size and functionality to the overpriced and underdelivering iPad. Heck with so many other pads coming out the apple crew look like they might have been first to launch but even this second version is a poor comparison for what the competitors are launching.

[Lydon]

Yet the iPad is still expected to far outsell all competitor tablets. Gotta love Apple hype.

I personally have my eye on a Blackberry Playbook, but considering it's so new there aren't many applications for it.

[Lydon]

The queue in Clearwater Mall



iPad 2 goes on sale in South Africa
Jan Vermeulen | 29 April, 2011

The iPad 2 has gone on sale in South Africa and is set for a big opening weekend

The second iteration of Apple's popular tablet computer, iPad 2, is set to go on sale in South Africa today at prices that compare favourably not only with local importers and import services, but also internationally.

South Africa is among the next 12 countries Apple said would receive the device, with the others including Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Turkey, UAE and China.

The iPad 2 differs from the original iPad in 3 major ways:

It is 33% thinner and up to 15% lighter.
It sports two cameras – a forward-facing VGA camera and a rear-mounted camera capable of capturing 720p HD video.
It has a dual-core processor and a more power graphical processor.
Unlike the original iPad, the iPad 2 is also set to work on 3G networks at 900 MHz, meaning it can be used on Cell C's HSPA+ network.

Is there demand?

Considering that the original iPad was only launched in South Africa three months ago, some eight months after the device made its international debut, will there be any demand for the device?

According to Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, there definitely is.

“Given how late the first iPad was initially released in South Africa, many people will have decided to wait for the new one,” said Goldstuck.

“Releasing early, and at a price that is comparable with anywhere in the world, means that most points of resistance have been removed for those who were still considering the iPad.”

CEO of Incredible Connection, Dave Miller, said that there were queues at some of their stores, but that it wasn't anything they weren't expecting following their experience of the launch of the original iPad in South Africa.

“That said, South Africa's volumes and demand aren't directly comparable to overseas,” added Miller.

Goldstuck said that for those holding back because the price is still perceived as high, this may be a great opportunity to pick up the first iPad at bargain prices.

At the same time, however, we haven't been subjected to the massive "fanboy" hype that is seen in the USA and UK, so people are more practical in making their decisions, Goldstuck said.

“Those looking to the tablet as a laptop replacement will probably wait to see what the other tablets have to offer.”

Tablet competition

According to Goldstuck there are two distinct tablet formats emerging: those with 10-inch displays or thereabouts and the 7-inch displays or thereabouts.

“The two appeal to different users, and we will probably see a tiered market emerge, where for example the PlayBook would have competed with the Galaxy Tab 1 had they been released simultaneously, and the Galaxy Tab 2 would compete with the iPad,” Goldstuck said.

Goldstuck added that in the longer term it is likely that all tablet manufacturers will compete directly in both formats.

“Right now, we are seeing only the beginnings of the structure of a tablet market, with Sony so far out of the frame that they still are not sure what they are doing. Announcing a product six months before it is available smacks of desperation,” said Goldstuck.

Dell and HP's tablets don't seem to have any mindshare at all, Goldstuck said. “They have certainly not communicated their offerings effectively to the media, and that suggests they are still testing the waters.”

Goldstuck said that Apple blundered with the original iPad in waiting so long to release it in the developing world, which meant it lost most potential momentum.

“They were telling countries like South Africa and India that they were the poor relations and there was no hurry to meet their needs.”

They seem to have learned their lesson, Goldstuck said, possibly spurred on by the imminent launch in these territories of the PlayBook, Xoom and Galaxy Tab 2.

“By getting in ahead of these, they will dominate media attention and consumer mindshare, which the other brands will have a hard time overcoming.”

Importers and import services

Until recently, South Africans either had to import the iPad 2 themselves, use an import service, or buy the device from an importer at a premium.

However, the recommended retail pricing of Core Group, Apple's official distributor in South Africa, significantly undercuts the prices offered by these importers and import services.

According to Goldstuck, importers will need to become Apple authorised resellers if they want to compete effectively in the iPad market.

“No delivery-based service will be able to compete with the pricing in the authorised stores, unless they treat it as a loss-leader,” Goldstuck said.

Availability

Incredible Connection's CEO said that they have enough stock to meet the demand for the launch period of the iPad 2.

“We're expecting a good sell-through this weekend,” Miller said.

The iPad 2 is available from Apple Premium Resellers, as well as select Incredible Connection and Dion Wired stores for the same recommended retail price the original iPad was launched at in January 2011.

[Nostra]

Originally Posted by Lydon

Yet the iPad is still expected to far outsell all competitor tablets. Gotta love Apple hype.

I personally have my eye on a Blackberry Playbook, but considering it's so new there aren't many applications for it.

I saw some review about the Playbook, I think it was on CNN, apparently it is really disappointing. No email functionality, essentially it works in conjunction with your Swag-berry. I have my eye on the new Sony Tablets, I think they're going to be killer.

[Lydon]

Not a problem for me considering I'm a Blackberry boy I wouldn't really use it for email anyway, though.

[Nostra]

Fair enough. I do however believe that BB brought out the Playbook prematurely as they just want to get a presence in the tablet market but it's gonna get clobbered when it comes out as it is a 'rushed job'. Just my opinion though...

[Lydon]

It's definitely not going to beat the iPad and was indeed rushed to the market, but 1st week sales estimates place sales above the likes of the Galaxy Tab, so they're doing well considering.

[hsark]

Originally Posted by Pule

Might get one sometime next year...

oh you mean the ipad 3 lol imo: i would wait for the asus honeycomb tablets to come out very good pricing compared to the ipad 2 , though after having a ipod touch ,apple is an amazing company so are their products
source www.myadsl.co.za
iPad 2 model South Africa (Core) Apple US Apple UK Apple EU (France)
16GB Wi-Fi R 4,399 $499 (R3,318) £399 (R4,389) 489 € (R4,773)
32 GB Wi-Fi R 5,399 $599 (R3,983) £479 (R5,268) 591 € (R5,770)
64 GB Wi-Fi R 6,399 $699 (R4,648) £559 (R6,148) 693 € (R6,766)
16GB Wi-Fi + 3G R 5,599 $629 (R4,183) £499 (R5,488) 609 € (R5,948)
32GB Wi-Fi + 3G R 6,599 $729 (R4,848) £579 (R6,365) 711 € (R6,944)
64 GB Wi-Fi + 3G R 7,599 $829 (R5,513) £659 (R7,244) 813 € (R7,940)

[xJamaax]

iPad 2 is useless!If you have an iphone 4 and iPad 1, there is no need to invest in this overhyped gadget!It's better to wait for the 3rd version of the design than burning your cash on this!

[DennisRodman817]

+600

Ipad is just a bigger version of iphone....its overrated

[hsark]

Originally Posted by DennisRodman817

+600

Ipad is just a bigger version of iphone....its overrated

u mean ipod touch

[DennisRodman817]

nope

Lydon how much is the ipad in Sa?
Can you buy me one and ship to me ...i will truly appreciate it ....

[hsark]

entry level

16GB Wi-Fi SA = R 4,399 USA = $499 without tax (R3,318) UK = £399 (R4,389) Europe = 489 € (R4,773)

south africa is just cheaper than eu same price as the uk ,bt if you live in the states it way cheaper even when you add state tax

the price is great for saffas especially when you look at the prices for a mac here and the 1st ipad which was only released officially 3 months ago in sa and only had decent prices just before the ipad 2 launched haha
bt every thing is lekker now wit the ipad2

[Lydon]

Looks like MTN will be launching the Blackberry Playbook here next month, as well as Vodacom.

RIM seem to be addressing quite a few issues with the Playbook, and demonstrated native email, twitter and BBM applications at Blackberry World this week.

But the best is that come June/July it's be able to run Android apps