Apple iPad Pre-Orders Now Available via Apple US Store

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Alex gave you an advisory in the small hours of this morning and now we can confirm that the Apple iPad is now available to pre-order from Apple’s US web portal – that is if a tablet that lacks multitasking and Flash support interests you and if other (frankly superior) tablets such as the HP Slate haven’t already swayed you to think again concerning opting in for what is, ultimately, a somewhat disappointing offering from Apple.

Don’t get me wrong. I genuinely have nothing against Apple. Indeed I have great respect for them – it’s really hard not to have. But, all said and done (and whether you like it or not) the iPad is not the groundbreaking tablet that so many of us hoped it would be. In fact if that mantle is going to be placed anywhere, its going to be with the likes of the HP Slate (personally, my money’s on the Slate), the JooJoo (which we just posted about again today) or the Adam (somewhat of an outsider right now, but don’t rule it out) – all of which offer Flash support.

Of course the lack of Flash support isn’t the only disappointing factor when it comes to the iPad, but, arguably, it’s not an issue that one can just cast aside and overlook, not if you’re wanting a tablet that offers a true web experience anyhow.

What does bother me mostly, however, is that I don’t doubt that the iPad will sell in enormous numbers and that it’ll do so in no small part due to it being an Apple device – and, of more concern, it’ll do so at the expense of other tablets, such as the HP Slate (primarily) which, on paper, clearly is the iPad’s equal and, if you really want me to put myself on the line here, is superior in terms of ‘the overall package’.

If you are looking for a tablet and you are not immediately swayed by all things Apple, then I would seriously hold back right now. Judge the iPad later when the competition’s out there, then make a consumer choice. Or, if you really cannot wait, check out our postings concerning the iPad, the HP Slate and the JooJoo then decide (to, in many cases I suspect, opt for the iPad regardless).

If you are clued up with what each of the aforementioned tablets bring to the table then your mind will doubtless already be made up. If, however, you are not especially clued up I would urge that you judge all the above mentioned tablets based on their own merits. If iTunes and the App Store mean nothing to you, or just don’t interest you, take my advice here – think very seriously before making a gut decision. You could regret it.

[Apple via Geeky Gadgets]