The launch of Apple iPad in Canada shows that Red Deer area consumers are eager for the latest high-tech gadget to come from the computer giant.
Stores reported brisk sales, although less chaotic than larger centres like Calgary where 200-some people lined up outside the city’s Apple store to buy the Apple tablet.
Theo Horsdal, computer buyer for London Drugs head office, said the Red Deer store sold out of its iPads on the first day, as they did across many of the chain’s 72 locations where computers are sold. Strong interest was also shown for the accessories, he added.
“Although we don’t have stock, we’re expecting our next shipment from Apple I believe Wednesday or Thursday,” said Horsdal from Richmond, B.C., on Monday.
Horsdal said every store received at least two to three models. The next shipment, although smaller than hoped for, will give every store the ability to have four or five models.
There are six models in total, ranging in price from $549 to $879.
The iPad is a touch-sensitive tablet that allows users to access the Internet and email, share photos, read electronic books, play games and buy music. Since being launched in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia on Friday and in the United States a month ago, the Apple tablet has recorded two million sales.
Several people were seen trying out the iPad at the Future Shop in Red Deer late Friday morning, with a number of salespeople circulating around answering any questions the potential customers had.
Brennan Tallack, senior salesperson for Computer Trends, a smaller computer retailer, said he ordered the iPad online and was told it will be shipped out sometime in June. He already has a netbook, laptop and a desktop computer.
“I am a gadget guy,” Tallack said. “It makes sense for a lot of the things it can do.”
For instance, he can sit down and watch TV while easily browsing the web.
“It’s kind of awkward doing that on my netbook computer because the screen is small and it’s down on my lap,” Tallack said.
Tallack said the iPad is being compared with the netbook, the smallest version of a laptop computer.
“The biggest complaint that many people have with the iPad is that it won’t run your standard computer applications,” Tallack said. “It runs its own applications, or iPhone or iTouch applications.”
Tallack downplayed this criticism, saying the iPad is a purpose-built device meant for the touch screen.
He suspects electronic readers, like the Amazon Kindle, will also take a hit in demand due to the iPad.
“Most e-book readers these days are in the $400 to $500 range and the iPad isn’t that much more expensive and will be functionally able to do a lot more.”
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com