For prospective iPad 2 buyers looking to avoid the possibility of long lines Friday, Apple is opening up the floodgates for online orders beginning overnight into early Friday morning.
As a result, the iPad 2 can officially be ordered at least twelve hours before the 5:00 pm launch of iPad 2 sales at phsyical retail outlets Friday evening.
Apple says online ordering will kick-off overnight at 1:00 am Pacific and 4:00 am Eastern. Of course, if you want the tablet immediately without waiting for shipping, you have no shortage of retail options available. In addition to 236 Apple retail stores in the US, Apple is joined in the March 11th retail roll out by AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
It should be noted again, however, that Friday’s launch is for the US online. The international arrival of the iPad 2 will take place later this month. According to Apple, on March 25th, the 2nd generation iPad will hit Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
