iPad Mini: Pre-orders Pushed To Two Weeks

Apple commenced selling its smallest tablet Friday but within half an hour, the Nov.2 delivery date slipped to two weeks for some models.

Just within minutes of Apple starting to accept the online orders for iPad Mini, the initially announced delivery date of Nov.2 soon slipped to two weeks for some models, CNET has reported.

Apple online stores that were temporarily closed early Friday to handle pre-order rush began accepting orders at 12:04 a.m. PT in the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan to people who were eager to get the tablet as soon as possible and not wait until first models arrived in stores Nov.2.

By 12:27 a.m. in the United States, Apple's stores scheduled date "delivers 11/2" changed to "available to ship: 2 weeks" for 64GB white model, and black iPad Minis retained their Nov.2, delivery date, CNET has pointed out.

The similar story was reported in Europe as at 12:47 a.m. PT in Germany all models in all colors changed to a two-week shipment date as in France and the U.K., white models showed a two-week shipment schedule. While the Wi-Fi models arrive early, the 4G-equipped models hit the stores a couple of weeks later.

The initial shipping date of Nov.2 for Wi-Fi was listed across different countries while the Wi-Fi + 4G models were scheduled mid-November in the United States and November end in Europe.

In Japan, the Wi-Fi + 4G models were not available for order yet. Preorders turn a huge problem as customers siege online stores to get the first models without having to wait in line at Apple stores.

In September, the iPhone 5 pre-orders brought down Apple's online store and those of the carriers selling the product.

The iPad Mini differentiates itself from its predecessors with a smaller size, a lower 0.68-pound weight, and a lower price starting at $329. The price point will sustain pressure on the PC market especially in attracting customers' disposable income during the holiday season.

The Wi-Fi models of the iPad Mini arrive in stores Nov. 2 at $329 for 16GB, $429 for 32GB, and $529 for 64GB. Models that support both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE wireless networks hit the stores Nov.16, at $459 for 16GB, $559 for 32GB, and $659 for 64GB.

The iPad Mini screen measures a 7.9-inch diagonal compared to 9.7 inches for regular iPad. It comes with an Apple A5 processor, the front-facing 720p-capable FaceTime camera, a 5-megapixel back camera, Bluetooth 4.0 and Apple's smaller new lightning connector.