There was no pre-launch online ordering for the iPad 2. I think online ordering went live when the stores had it. If you ordered online, you got it a week or three after it was first available at stores.
And there's the iPhone 4 effect where Apple and AT&T crash due to online ordering and you can't pre-order online. Maybe that's better now?
And there's the iPhone 4 effect where Apple and AT&T crash due to online ordering and you can't pre-order online. Maybe that's better now?