Brace for Apple Store Lines: iPad Faces Manufacturing Delays

A new report warns that production delays may cause Apple to have as low as 300,000 iPads available at launch - a fraction of what the company expected.

Ready to take the plunge on the iPad? Get in line. According to a new report from an analyst group, manufacturing delays on the iPad could make the iPad a rarity at launch, or even delay it by up to a month.

“The upcoming iPad launch may be somewhat limited as a manufacturing bottleneck has impacted production of Apple’s newest device,” wrote analyst Peter Misek with Canaccord Adams. “An unspecified production problem at the iPad’s manufacturer, Hon Hai Precision, will likely limit the launch region to the US and the number of units available to roughly 300K in the month of march, far lower than the company’s initial estimate of 1,000K units. ”

That means iPad numbers could be as low as 30 percent of expectations.

Adams also noted that the production delays could likely stretch into April as well, and that the initial delays could bump back the launch to accommodate. “We believe that the only material impact from the iPad delay could come in the form of frustrated consumers and some modest loss of lustre for the company’s product launch,” he wrote.

In other words, get ready to break out the tent and camp your way to an iPad, or get gouged for one on eBay, because they’re not going to be plentiful when launch day rolls around.