HYDERABAD: The new iPad has brought good news to Apple lovers but as usual, as anything to do with Apple India, there is bad news too. Apple has slashed the prices of iPad2 by Rs 5,000, but if anyone of you out there is dying to get your hands on the sleek gadget, the shocker is that most of the outlets in the city have put up a “no stock” notice! And further, iPad 2 may not be available at all, if speculation on the worldwide web is anything to go by.After the slashing of prices, the 16 GB wi-fi version of iPad 2 costs Rs 24,500, down from Rs 29,500, and the 32 GB comes for Rs 30,500 down from Rs 34,500. Similarly, the 64GB is available for Rs 36,500. The 3G version with an inbuilt 16 GB memory is priced at Rs 32,900 down from Rs 36,900 and the 32 GB at Rs 38,900 from Rs 41900 and the 64 GB at Rs 44,900 from Rs 46,900. Happy with the fall in prices, a good number of people like Amogh G, an IT professional from Cognizant Technology Solutions, are itching to buy an iPad. “This will lead to an addition to my collection of pricey Apples. I already own an iPod and an iPhone, so I am hooked to the Apple software.”Retail outlets in the city like Aptronix, iStore by Reliance Digitals, Croma and Tirumala Music Centre have updated the new iPad 2 prices following a number of enquiries from the city’s tech-savvy crowd. But the problem is the stores do not have enough stock. Naveen Kumar, Apple Solutions Consultant at iStore by Reliance Digitals, says, “Since the news broke out, a lot of customers have been inquiring a lot about iPad 2. But, we do not have enough stock.”Hitherto, due to the high cost, quite a few in city have been opting for other tablets like Samsung and Motorola whose basic models start from `24,500. Now, the good news is due to the price war, these competitors might slash prices too. There are some, however, who believe there’s no point in buying iPad 2 anymore. Sudeep D’Souza, founder CTO of Inforica India, a Microsoft gold certified software Services Company, says, “The iPad 2 is a very good tablet but the new iPad should be the preferred tablet any day. With the price cut, it makes a very good buy directly in India because in terms of price and features, it’s a better device.” An iPad user Vivek Calvin Vesapogu, owner of Vcube Studios, says, “It is a remarkable product and is a class apart. I own a 64 GB iPad which I bought for `37,000, a couple of months ago at Aptronix. I’m a photographer, and it helps display my products very quickly. I am definitely going to buy the new one.” Not all, though, can afford to buy two iPads within a few months and some like Disha Bhandari, a techie, are cursing the price fall. She says, “I am so disappointed as I bought, iPad 2 3G + wi-fi for about Rs 47000 as I am an obsessed Apple gizmo fan. There is no way I can replace my existing piece with the New iPad since its launch in India may take time. As a customer, I’m happy with the new innovations Apple strives to bring in with every product but I already feel outdated using the iPad2!”
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