iPad 4 now in stock at Apple Store
The fourth-generation iPad is now immediately available through Apple, an improvement over the previous estimate of three to five days.
Consumers eyeing the fourth-generation iPad can now buy one through Apple's online store without any wait time.
The Apple Store shows all three flavors of the Wi-Fi-only edition now in stock. The 16GB version goes for $499, the 32GB version for $599, and the 64GB version for $699.
The new iPad's immediate availability is a change from the earlier shipping estimate of three to five business days. The status also is the same for Apple's online stores in the U.S. and abroad, a sign that the supply of the tablet seems to have caught up with global demand.
The Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the iPad 4 is still scheduled for mid-November. That one will run consumers $629 for the 16GB version, $729 for the 32GB version, and $829 for the 64GB version.
Meanwhile, the iPad Mini continues to face demand heavier than supply. The Apple Store still shows an estimated ship time of two weeks.
Apple revealed on Monday that it sold 3 million iPads over the weekend. The company didn't break out how many were iPad Minis and how many were iPad 4 units. But Apple CEO Tim Cook said that "we set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad Minis."
Based on consumer surveys, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes the bulk of those 3 million were for the smaller iPad, estimating from 2 million to 2.5 million iPad Minis sold last weekend. J.P. Morgan's Apple analyst Mark Moskowitz echoed the view that most sales were likely of the Mini.
Does this mean the iPad Mini is stealing customers away from the 4th-gen model? The numbers certainly suggest that, but we'll have to see if this trend continues.