These numbers are staggering. For people thinking this hints at the ipad being a nitche product, you're so lost in the tech world, you have no idea what's coming. The fact is, the ipad is aimed at precisely the demographic which doesn't pre-order tech gadgets. In fact, most of the people who will truly love the ipad probably dont even know much about it's existence right now other than possibly apples new computer.
This device is for people who love to read. Books, magazines, articles on the web, lengthy emails, etc. This crowd of people often like board games, a type of game format which could work exceedingly well on an ipad.
Few of these people realize what the ipad holds for them. They don't usually scour over rumor sites and tech blogs. It's when the hold the thing, play with a friend's or otherwise interact with it, then they will want it. Like the wii, this device is gonna build monentum post launch, not pre-launch.
Before the launch the ps3 seemed like it was gonna print gold for Sony and the droids was the hottest phone ever, absolutely killing the iPhone in hype. Then, after the tech enthusiast got there's, tumbleweeds started blowing through the stores that sell the prodects.