Apple disappoints online buyers of the Ipad 2

THE IPAD 2 goes on sale today in the UK, both online and in stores, but online customers might be waiting a while before it arrives.

The refresh of Apple's highly successful tablet goes on sale at 5pm in stores around the country, giving people just enough time to race from work to the local shop to part with their pay cheque. However some have decided to get in early and queuing for the Ipad 2 outside the Apple storre began at 7.30am yesterday.

Users who have checked out the online stores, however, will find that it's already on sale there. This might at first seem like an early start, but the fact that the devices will only ship today means that the earliest online buyers will see them is next week, if not in two to three weeks time.

Not only that, but many people have reported problems when ordering the Ipad 2 from the UK Apple Store. Sales were intended to go live at 1am, but many people encountered errors which prevented or delayed their purchases going through.

It makes The INQUIRER wonder why there wasn't a proper pre-order system in place, allowing people to pay a week or two in advance, with shipments going out before the UK launch to ensure that they would arrive at the same time others can get their hands on them in the high street Apple stores.

Maybe in this digital age it might be wiser to buy that Ipad 2 in a brick and mortar shop. µ