Apple dates the iPad

By Robert Purchese Published 5 March, 2010

US on 3rd April, "late April" elsewhere.

Apple's given the iPad a 3rd April US release date. Other countries will get the tablet device in "late April".

Pre-orders begin next Friday. Only a week to save!

Note that only the standard Wi-Fi model has been dated. The 3G model will follow.

The iPad starts at $499, although there's still no pound sterling or Euro price on the Apple site.

Apple boss Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad in January to a media frenzy. Will it change the world? Will it change gaming? We'll have to wait and see.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (73) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wizlon #1 2 years ago

    ^ I concur

  • MiniAmin #2 2 years ago

    How convenient for the iPad to arrive around that time of the month.

  • Jackface #3 2 years ago

    There's no international pricing because they're waiting until April to announce it. Says so in the press release.

  • Spuzzell #4 2 years ago

    iFad.

  • b00n #5 2 years ago

    Maybe i'll consider one in a year or two. When all the opinion leaders have done the beta testing for us all.

  • Eraysor #6 2 years ago

    Should be released on April 1st in order to better relate to customers.

  • chiz #7 2 years ago

    Will it change the world? Will it change gaming?

    Will it fuck.

  • captain_Carl #8 2 years ago

    *mothball*

  • neilka #9 2 years ago

    I dated an iPad once, made a hell of a mess of the touchscreen.

  • RexRunti #10 2 years ago

    I just asked this in the Sony thread because I missed this but what is an iPad actually for?

  • clearblue #11 2 years ago

    Its going to be fun seeing all the sillies try to fit their ipads into their recently-bought trendy ipod docks. oops!

  • Zapatero #12 2 years ago

    I won't be buying one, but I'm looking forward to playing around on the one that my boss will inevitably buy on day 1.

    I hope it's as revolutionary as Apple hope it will be, but to me it's to the Ipod Touch what the XL is to the DSi (and I'm sure I'm not the first to say that either) ;)

  • andromeda #13 2 years ago

    could care less

  • JohnnyWashnGo #14 2 years ago

    How badly will it flop?

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #15 2 years ago

    I think it's a necessary evil to legitimise the tablet PC / multitouch screen laptop market that's been struggling to life for the last 8 years or so. But I think it's competitors are more ready thus time than MS, Nokia, Google, Palm, RIM and the Koreans who were knocked flying by iPhone, and have taken years to respond,

  • ignatiusjreilly #16 2 years ago

    The iPad is a long, long way from a tablet PC. This and, for example, a Dell Windows 7 tablet, would have a totally different market.
    Edited by ignatiusjreilly at 05/03/10 @ 16:56

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #17 2 years ago

    "I missed this but what is an iPad actually for?"

    it's for lounging about at home, surfing the net, Reading ebooks and playing casual games.

    And, you know, being Magical.

  • Vlad27145 #18 2 years ago

    Cool, but when will they announce what it's good for?

  • ignatiusjreilly #19 2 years ago

    It will be a pretty good portable web browser for sure (I know, it's missing Flash, but apart from that).

  • RexRunti #20 2 years ago

    it's for lounging about at home, surfing the net, Reading ebooks and playing casual games.

    And, you know, being Magical.

    So a tablet/slate PC without the PC?

  • Vlad27145 #21 2 years ago

    @RexRunti,

    what Mentalist(air) is saying is that we only know what they told us, but aside all the PR talks the only answer we can give to your question is: We have no comments at the moment.
    Edited by Vlad27145 at 05/03/10 @ 17:03

  • MasterNameless #22 2 years ago

    "So a tablet/slate PC without the PC?"

    Yeah, but it can only run one app at a time, like the iPhone, and doesn't support Flash or Java, which effectively cripples it as a browser too. So as others have been saying, it's pretty much a big iPhone. :/

  • sneetch #23 2 years ago

    @MasterNameless
    Yeah, but it can only run one app at a time, like the iPhone, and doesn't support Flash or Java, which effectively cripples it as a browser too. So as others have been saying, it's pretty much a big iPhone. :/

    Big iTouch surely?

    As a "first draft" it's fine, but I'm damned if I'll buy one. I hope this drives some more tablet PCs, I'd quite like one but they tend to be quite expensive currently and without Flash and Java the iPad is just no use to me at the moment.

  • riz23 #24 2 years ago

    The games will be good on this. That is all.

    Go on neg me. We'll see who gets the last laugh :)
    Edited by riz23 at 05/03/10 @ 17:40

  • Markusdragon #25 2 years ago

    The iPad seems like exactly the kind of thing that I could use.

    As I'm a skint, cheap, socio-phobic shut-in, I think they may have missed their usual target market by a fair amount.

  • Pac #26 2 years ago

    if it get's really cheap it could be a good first PC for my baby daughter.

    Perhaps that what they are aiming for.

  • man-of-steel #27 2 years ago

    iPad = iFail

  • space_ace #28 2 years ago

    yes, and the grandparents, which is not to be underestimated. and it's generally awesome, for people who don't care about chips and ram, but getting work done and enjoying it

  • Eraysor #29 2 years ago

    Much better news: Portal 2 announced on Steam! The ARG continues!

  • AOFanboi #30 2 years ago

    Based on the general reaction, this will fail the same way the iPhone did - that was derided in the same fashion. Or even the iPod which was also dismissed back in the day - it could not hold a candle to Creative or iRiver's products according to the then "pundits" in the tech press.

    So I yawn in the direction of the naysayers because they have not learned from history.

  • Beano #31 2 years ago

    @man-of-steel : Yes you did :)

  • SleepyMagpie #32 2 years ago

    The Ipad is simply a piece of tech I don't need or want.

    As with the Ipod, because that has an inferior sound fidelity compared to certain other mp3 players, and the Iphone, because I really don't like the touch screen.

    Combine that with my general aversion towards the church of Apple, they'd have to make something pretty damn special to make me care/buy.

    The mooing public doesn't prove us naysayers wrong, it only proves for certain that they continue to moo with the herd.

    That the majority thinks something ace doesn't necessarily make it so.

    And no, I'm not being elitist here either, I just really think Apple products are overrated, overpriced, and often unnecessary.

  • hiddenranbir #33 2 years ago

    iPad won't fail. They've got so many people now with the iPod and iPhone this will become the next fashion gadget.

    We're in a new generation of technology. Solutions to problems we don't have.
    Edited by hiddenranbir at 05/03/10 @ 18:44

  • MasterNameless #34 2 years ago

    I agree with hiddenrabir, I reckon it'll do really well regardless of whether it's any good or not. It is very fashionable. The number of people I know with stupidly expensive Macbooks, and all they do is surf the net and send emails with the bloody thing.

    On the plus side, Apple will effectively market HP's tablet at the same time, as they do look fairly similar at face value. With the exception that HP's tablet will have usb and firewire ports(unlike the iPad) and be able to run Windows 7, which will actually make it, kind of useful.

    @sneetch

    Yeah, a big iTouch would be more accurate. Although, the idea of a huge iPhone makes me think of Trigger Happy TV;

    "HELLO? I'M ON A HUGE IPHONE!"

    "NO... IT'S SHIT!"
    Edited by MasterNameless at 05/03/10 @ 19:25

  • canIdoyabombsforya #35 2 years ago

    Apple are getting as fashionable as Burberry lol. That cherished little Apple logo, is the chav symbol of the future.

  • Jackface #36 2 years ago

    I think it's brilliant that so many people are queuing up to slag this off and watch it fail. I was massively turned off by the announcement, but the more I've thought about it, who it's actually aimed at (hint: pretty much none of you lot), where it's heading, what it's capable of and what could be done with it given some proper imagination and skill on the part of developers, the more I want one.
    Edited by Jackface at 05/03/10 @ 20:44

  • gjgjg #37 2 years ago

    go away ipad

  • UncleLou #38 2 years ago

    The iPad is a long, long way from a tablet PC. This and, for example, a Dell Windows 7 tablet, would have a totally different market.

    Just like the Blackberry and the iPhone.


    Oh.

  • macmurphy #39 2 years ago

    I think it will do ok. People love fucking about on t'interweb and this will make it easier to do. There are a lot of people with desktops or laptops with wank batteries that would love the chance to just have a handy PC they can use on the sofa, or check facebook in bed with. I know a few people that carry laptops home from work who could buy one of these to watch i-player in bed with instead.

    It will be very shiny, and really convenient. The thing is, almost everyone would probably take one - it's a handy thing to have. I just cannot see that many people buying one, because it's an expensive luxury. I've got an iphone - it's a bit more expensive than a regular phone but the cost is diluted by monthly repayments. It also adds a lot of functionality that my old phone didn't have - having the web out and about, playing Peggle, listing to music. But most of all, it completely replaces my old phone.

    Where as with an ipad, I know typing will be a ballache, I can't watch certain files, I can't multitask. So it won't replace my laptop. So instead of an improvement and a replacement like the iphone was, it becomes an addition. It will be really nice, but it's not £500 woth of nice. And that's why I think it will do ok, but only ok.

  • GamesConnoisseur #40 2 years ago

    PSPGo epic fail or just wee fail?

    All is just speculations but find it hard to imagine people all rushing out to get iPad. Can't see it and I love my iPhone to death.

  • Arwin #41 2 years ago

    My wife wants one, and I think I want one too. I love the iPod Touch and have been thinking I'd really want something like that in a bigger size. Voila iPad, which comes iwth included office applications as well. I can really see this as a perfect device to make presentations on, read email, etc. And it's much more portable than most devices that can do similar things.

    I can definitely see this work.
    Edited by Arwin at 06/03/10 @ 08:34

  • peterfll #42 2 years ago

    Given Apple's track record it would be foolish to write it off before it's even come out and you've have opportunity to see, play and touch.

  • bdaggers #43 2 years ago

    Apparently this is more eagerly anticipated than the iPhone was, according to those who know these things.

    Its for people who need easy Internet browsing and light computer usage. Ie technophobic grand parents and mothers in law. Buying books and Reading magazines.

    Its gonna be fucking massive, but not with us. A bit like the DS (recently), really.

  • ianegg #44 2 years ago

    "could care less"

    What in the fuck does that even mean?

  • CMcK #45 2 years ago

    It's amazing how many people don't understand the market for the iPad. It's for all the people that don't understand computers. That being most of the planet.
    The iPad removes the whole mess of filesystems, drivers and WIMP GUI which most people don't get. Your typical home computer user uses a browser (or Google as they call it), maybe uses an email client, downloads photos from their camera and maybe uses iTunes. And not much else. These people don't know what the C: drive is or what a driver is for let alone where to find one.
    These things combined with the simple iPhone like UI make the iPad appealing to a lot of people. I think it will be a big success.

  • Jackface #46 2 years ago

    Typing on it is the biggest problem I see with it. Otherwise I think it will become pretty powerful and ubiquitous in time.

  • alcides #47 2 years ago

    I've heard all the pros and cons... I played games on the iPhone..

    Not a gaming machine.

  • Stoatboy #48 2 years ago

    "I just asked this in the Sony thread because I missed this but what is an iPad actually for?"

    Tedious attention-seeking Apple-Fanboy FuckMonkeys mainly, I think.

    It's good - it's like a service. If you see anyone using one in public, you'll know there's a very good chance that the user is someone you don't want to know.

  • Tangled #49 2 years ago

    "US on 3rd April, "late April" elsewhere."

    And "elsewhere" means Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Rest of the world - who knows when?

  • mowgli #50 2 years ago

    Stoatboy couldn't afford all the cool toys at school He will be bitter about it till the end.

  • Stoatboy #51 2 years ago

    @Mowgli. Nah, just don't like Apple products (and the unquestioning loyalty and preachy smugness of some of their users). I actually had an Ipod Touch for a while. It had some nice features which I ended up not using after the first couple of days, and I hated having to use the awful iTunes to get my music on it*, so I got shot of it and got a Zune instead. Less flashy stuff I don't want, better at doing what I do want (and much more HD space to boot).

    Also I had an Amiga back in the day, and got sick of Mac Users wrongly bleating that they had the best operating system. Like most miggy fans I'll probably be bitter about the death of the Amiga until the end though, so there's some truth in what you say. ;)


    *I understand there are ways around this now.

  • UncleLou #52 2 years ago

    Tedious attention-seeking Apple-Fanboy FuckMonkeys mainly, I think.

    Tedious attention-seeking Apple-Fanboy > tedious anti-Apple marketing victims who like to hear themselves talk

    Can't have any conversation about Apple on this site because every thread is brim-full with anti-Apple retards immediately.
    Edited by UncleLou at 06/03/10 @ 16:47

  • WJF #53 2 years ago

    It'll be a success...not as market-destroying as the iPhone (let's face it, it really kicked the other phone manufacturers up the arse with their UI, design and software with that one), but once people hold it in their hands/see others with it in real life, the desire-o-meter will rise, as with all Apple products.

    Love 'em or loathe 'em, their products are always very aesthetically pleasing...since the iMac anyway.

  • SleepyMagpie #54 2 years ago

    "Can't have any conversation about Apple on this site because every thread is brim-full with anti-Apple retards immediately."

    Conversely, UncleLou, you can't say a negative word about the Church of Apple before the zealots arrive. In my view anyhoo.

    That said, I don't really care much for Stoatboy's wording, for example, no need to bring it down to that level.

  • Stoatboy #55 2 years ago

    T'was a joke UncleLou, just a joke. I saw a nice opportunity to subvert the question and couldn't resist. Sorry, I'm sure it's very tiresome (like Apple fans often are to those of us who're somehwat less-keen).

    Not sure about the "tedious anti-Apple marketing victim" tag though. Not sure how I'm a victim of anything when I've chosen not to buy products that don't do things the way I want them done, or don't allow me to do them at all. As I said in my later post I tried the Ipod Touch, and whilst the interface is absolutely lovely I really didn't get on with the thing, so I now have a slightly clunkier Zune that does more things the way I like.

    As to iPad it looks like a lovely piece of kit that I'd like to have a play with, but like the Touch, most of what makes it cool I don't need, and the stuff that remains will likely irritate me in lots of little ways. The larger form certainly makes it more attractive though. I looked into buying a tablet PC a few years ago, but the concensus at the time seemed to be they were all a bit crap, so never bothered.

    @SleepyMagpie: I feel it's one of those jokes that works best if you put the boot in, otherwise it's all a bit half-hearted and wishy-washy (even if you don't actually care either way much). Anybody who feels aggrieved by it will take it just as badly even if you do pull the punch, so you might as well just go for it and to hell with the consequences. :D

    And I did say "mainly" tedious attention-seeking Apple-Fanboy FuckMonkeys, so if anyone's miffed just assume I meant all the other people who want one and not you, if that helps any...

  • Lunatic4ever #56 2 years ago

    i pass...

  • EmiliasHorse #57 2 years ago

    I can see lots of people buying into the idea of iPad. Nice viewing size not too heavy with zero wires or cumbersome mouse, free to surf the web while watching Eastenders. Sounds good.

    I do not need it yet but my gadget lust magnet will no doubt force me in time. I bought a Wii a few weeks ago for heavens sake.



  • penhalion #58 2 years ago

    A lot of the gripe has been that it does only one thing at a time. Er well on a small screen pc i tend to do only one thing at a time. I've tried doing two or more but, the screen real estate simply makes for a cluttered desktop and nukes my productivity. As for not having flash. I'm one of those people that see that as a good thing. I can't even begin to count the number of browser crashes that flash has caused or the horrendous slowdowns some sites have while using flash. Has anyone tried viewing a flash site on an android phone for instance!

    I probably will buy one for my living room, to surf the web but, I have a really bad feeling that a month or so after I do Apple will introduce an iPad Mac air with full on OS 10.x. After all, the macbook air with a touchscreen would already be exactly that!
    Edited by penhalion at 07/03/10 @ 11:07

  • Ryboy #59 2 years ago

    iPointless.

  • Velios #60 2 years ago

    Well, I looked at the video for iPad on the apple website and thought they look cool, and will probably end up getting one :) Apple products in general are a real joy to use i find.

  • Velios #61 2 years ago

    Also, if the internet is free on it then it will be perfect for presenting websites to my clients on the move without needing a laptop :) pretty damn good i think.

  • Jackface #62 2 years ago

    Internet requires either WiFi or you need to buy the more expensive 3G version and then sign up for one of several monthly deals that as-yet-unnamed mobile network providers will offer. They likely won't tie you into long term contracts though. You could literally just buy a months worth of access at any time - at least you can in America. Hopefully here too.

    And of course your websites would have to not use Flash - but even large corporations are now starting to take Flash off their sites as it's increasing the amount of iPhone traffic they get. Virgin Air is one, they've removed it from their online check-in section.
    Edited by Jackface at 07/03/10 @ 20:56

  • Greebo #63 2 years ago

    "A lot of the gripe has been that it does only one thing at a time. Er well on a small screen pc i tend to do only one thing at a time."

    Generally I'd agree, but not being able to listen to last.fm or Spotify whilst I surf is already frustrating on my ipod touch and no problem at all on my HTC Hero.

    I quite fancy this for the armchair surfing and a spot of portable telly action, but the lack of multitasking will likely force me to wait for version 2 or a decent competitor.

  • Wyrm #64 2 years ago

    'I've heard all the pros and cons... I played games on the iPhone..

    Not a gaming machine. '

    Exactly what games did you play then? My many hours of joy playing Peggle and Doom as well as lengthy train journeys passed playing Scrabble with a friend suggest otherwise. Angry Birds, Cannabalt, Trundle... I could go on.

    Did you try and play FIFA or some shitty racing game?

    On a portable system, I can't be arsed playing cut down versions of home console games like you do on say, a PSP. If I want a lengthy game experience, I'll do it when I'm home. As for the DS, it's a similar market, quirky, innovative titles, but on the iPhone, the games are 1/10th the price.

  • cherryuk #65 2 years ago

    Why is this even on Eurogamer, ipad is NOT a gaming device!

  • Bulbatron #66 2 years ago

    Surely it will be as much as gaming device as the iPhone and iPod Touch have turned out to be.

    I do love my iPod Touch - which I use to store some of my audiobooks on and go on the internet if my computer is switched off for the night or if I'm in the living room.

    But being partially sighted, having a device like my iPod Touch, but bigger would really be ideal for me, so I reckon that just for once, I am going to be an early adopter.

    Does this make me a fucking clown?

  • Diabeu #67 2 years ago

    ""could care less"

    What in the fuck does that even mean?"

    who cares?

  • kangarootoo #68 2 years ago

    I hate to swim upstream in this thread..... but can anyone name me a product released in the last ten years by Apple that has "failed"?


    And @Stoatboy

    The gentleman seriously doth protest too much. The iPhone is probably the most popular single model of phone in the western world - would you really label ALL those people in such harsh terms?

    Ok, so maybe you COULD afford all the cool toys at school, but then you got to college and some girl dumped you for a guy with a Macbook? ;)

  • kangarootoo #69 2 years ago

    @Velios

    The web access almost certainly won't be free. Apple have yet to confirm a provider, but I imagine there will be some mobile "broadband over 3G" type deal for the 3G iPad model.

    Edit: I should add that most iPhone providers give you access to BT Openzone and The CLoud in the uk, which does you a pretty decent range of internet access points out and about. I would expect the iPad to follow suit. To me though, it doesn't seem like a device you would generally carry around with you (not saying never, but not day to day the way you would be expected to carry a phone).
    Edited by kangarootoo at 09/03/10 @ 23:58

  • Les #70 2 years ago

    "but can anyone name me a product released in the last ten years by Apple that has "failed"?"

    Apple TV, from a financial perspective at least. And whether it always was a pet project of Jobs or rebranded as such after it didn't really catch on is hard to tell but as I'm a skeptic, it'll probably be clear which theory I support... ;)

    "I have a really bad feeling that a month or so after I do Apple will introduce an iPad Mac air with full on OS 10.x. After all, the macbook air with a touchscreen would already be exactly that!"

    Don't think there's much danger in that. ;)

    The desktop version of Mac OSX isn't designed to work with a touch screen so just adding that wouldn't make much sense. And while the MacBook Air is definitely in need of a refreshment, the last thing I'd expect Apple would do close to the launch of the iPad is release a brand new version of its ultra-portable laptop and thus confuse consumers & steal the iPad's thunder.

    But ultimately, I do believe that the Air will move more in the direction of the iPad than the other way around as the touch interface has proven to be very intuitive to users.

  • kangarootoo #71 2 years ago

    @Les

    Nuts. I'd forgotten all about Apple TV. That was indeed a good idea 5 years too late.

    .... so can anyone name me TWO idea's from Apple in the last ten years that have failed. Les has got you started.

  • Les #72 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    The Power Mac G4 Cube is another one... ;)

  • peteersimmons #73 2 years ago

    Apple's UK website still gives a March launch date for the wi-fi only iPad (see below), with the 3G iPad slated to arrive in the UK in April. However, according to a press release from the company today, both devices will now arrive at the same, albeit slightly later, time.

    memory stick