Wait for the iPad 3 may get longer

With the Apple iPad 3 announcement scheduled to take place in just under a week, the first hiccup of sorts may have occurred, points a report by Digitimes. The report states that, according to anonymous sources, “Apple may not unable to ramp up the supply of its next-generation iPads (iPad 3), which are expected to be launched at a company event on March 7, due to insufficient supply of high resolution displays” The next generation iPad that is scheduled to be announced at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, in San Francisco is expected to boast of a number of interesting features that include 4G LTE capabilities, an 8 megapixel camera, Siri and the highly anticipated Retina Display.

Can the supply meet demand?

The report goes on to state that their sources have informed them stating, “Although Apple has chosen Sharp to replace Chimei Innolux (CMI) as one of its three suppliers for the high resolution (QXGA) panels - in addition to LG Display and Samsung Electronics, the whole supply chain has failed to substantially ramp up the supply of QXGA panels. As a result, iPad 2 will remain the mainstream in shipments in the most part of the first quarter before shipments of iPad 3 start gaining momentum in the second quarter.”

The iPad 3 is expected to arrive by the 16th of March 2012, according to a related report by The Houston Chronicle. The report further states, “Houston’s newest Apple Store is scheduled to open on March 16, according to a source involved with the store’s opening. That date may coincide with first-day sales of the company’s newest version of the iPad. The store, located in the Highland Village Shopping center at Westheimer and Drexel , was originally supposed to open in January, according to the source, but was delayed. March 17 was originally set as the new opening date, but the source said it was moved to the 16th a few weeks ago.”

If the reports are anything to go by, then it appears that the majority of people may have to wait to get their hands on the iPad 3 from the Q3 of 2012 and not the from the launch date. Apple has a tendency of having vast amount of units sold from the first few days itself. We will have to just wait and see how the whole thing pans out and if Apple manages to meet the initial demand.