18 (EIGHTEEN!) Models of iPad 2.

[DoFoT9]

Nope, your wrong. The point is Apple is going to have to stock 18 different boxes of iPad, there won't be Apple geniuses at the store changing a black to white for you when the whites are sold out.

hehe, we are talking 2 different angles here. i was more from the factory point of view, where you are coming from the end user (sales) point of view. ah well. you are right technically i guess.

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Do we know for a fact that there are actually different models for GSM and CDMA?

Yes. From the Apple website:

Select the model that corresponds with the carrier you'd like to use for 3G service. The iPad you choose is configured to work only with one carrier.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/start/select

 

[deeddawg]

Also, there were three different models sent for FCC certification. Wifi, AT&T, VZW. No need for that if the 3G model was dual-mode.

 

[mac jones]

We got a counter folks

It means they are confident in sales. ....at least I think that's what it means......

 

[profets]

I was thinking about this yesterday as well.. Not like Apple to have so many SKUs of one product to worry about. I'm really surprised they didnt have one 3G model considering they have the hardware to handle it. They're excellent with supply chain and retail so I'm sure they have something figured out.

Also should note, outside of the US they probably don't need to ship any of the 6 CDMA models, so that reduces international models to 12.

 

[PCClone]

Maybe they ship them without the bezel and when you buy they snap on the white or black one.

 

[Michael CM1]

They already have a year's research into which capacities people buy and whether they choose the 3G model.

I think that'll change this year with Verizon and AT&T offering mobile hotspots on iPhones. It costs you the same amount to do either one, and the mobile hotspot method will keep you from spending $130 extra. The only downside to the WiFi-only model is no GPS, but there's a $99 device that plugs into an iPad that gives you a GPS signal. Since I will probably just need it on occasion for things like using Star Walk in the middle of nowhere, I'm going to go that route. I could just use Star Walk on my iPhone, but that's no fun. Maybe I can find a non-jailbreak way to use my iPhone's GPS through the iPad.

 

[DoFoT9]

Maybe they ship them without the bezel and when you buy they snap on the white or black one.

hehe. that would be a cool feature, but i dont think so

 

[vrDrew]

Considering that Apple is probably going to sell forty million iPads in the next year, that they will generate more than $20 billion in revenue, the various models of iPads probably have better than 98% parts commonality, and that Apple probably maintains a negative inventory cost (ie. Apple gets paid by consumers and/or resellers for the iPad before they have to pay their suppliers for making them) - its not really a big deal.

 

[mickbab]

This might be a stupid question but where on Earth is the SIM slot on the iPad?
And will the Verizon iPad lack this slot? (not that it matters to me as I am in Australia, just wondering)

 

[rdowns]

Maybe they ship them without the bezel and when you buy they snap on the white or black one.

This is Apple, not Mattel.