Apple delays world iPad launch by another month

Apple has announced plans to push back the launch of the iPad outside the US until the end of May, with pre-order sales beginning on May 10.

It's not just the UK that's affected: customers in other international markets, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Spain are all going to have to bide their time as well.

The official explanation is that the production hasn't been able to keep up with higher than expected demand after the US launch.  Over 300 000 were sold on the first day, and over 500 000 have been shifted so far, leading Apple to make the 'difficult decision' to delay the iPad launch.  It all seems like a case of history repeating itself though … didn't something rather similar happen when the iPhone 3G was launched?

Official pricing will be announced on May 10, but if past launchers are anything to go by, the iPad is likely to be more expensive here than in the US.  So not only do we have to wait longer, we also have to pay more, too. 

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