Apple Sells Out of Initial iPad Inventory [Apple iPad Orders Placed Today Won't Be Delivered Until April 12th, In-Store Pickup No Longer Available]

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Apple iPad pre-orders have been churning at a steady rate with an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 iPads selling per day during the first week and 7,000 iPads selling per day over the past week. Crude estimates have placed the total number of iPads ordered at a figure as low as 240,000 and as high as 500,000. Whatever the exact figure, the sales have been very brisk and the initial production run of WiFi-enabled iPads has apparently sold out.

From today forward, folks attempting to order an iPad on Apple’s website will be greeted with the somewhat disappointing news that the first delivery date is no longer April 3rd. The new delivery date is now April 12th, nine days after the April 3rd launch. Though orders placed today for one of the three WiFi models will now be delivered on April 12th, the delivery date for the 3G model has not been changed and remains set for an undetermined date at the end of April.

Folks that have been dragging their feet may also be disappointed to find out that Apple has discontinued the reservation program for iPads. You can no longer visit Apple’s online store to order the iPad and select in-store pickup as an alternative to delivery. Folks that have not pre-ordered or reserved an iPad for pickup and really, really want one on the launch date will have to trek down to their local Apple store on April 3rd and hope there is sufficient inventory to score the hottest tablet on the market.

If you want to increase the odds that you walk away with a shiny new tablet, it is recommended that you arrive twenty four hours in advance with a lounge chair, a blanket, an umbrella, and ample camping supplies. Though such extreme measures won’t necessarily guarantee you an iPad, you might win the door prize and get your 20 seconds fame as the picture of your overnight adventure is posted on blogs across the world, just like it was for these poor folks above, who, for historical context, were waiting for the iPhone 3GS. Anyone out there daring enough to try the outdoor, overnight camping thing in order to snag an iPad?

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