iPad production may be slowed by touchscreen production woes

If you're an international customer who's waiting for an iPad, you're probably a bit anxious about the lack of a solid release date. The problem might not just be unprecedented demand for the iPad in the U.S., but also production issues with the 9.7" touchscreen displays.

Andrew Rassweiler, an analyst with research firm iSuppli, told Bloomberg News that yields on the displays have been low. That problem is in turn causing a production bottleneck. The displays are made in South Korea by LG Display and Samsung Electronics, and also in Japan by Seiko Epson. The displays are similar to those used on the iPhone, but of course are much larger on the iPad. Scaling up the displays complicates the process of production.

iPads won't be available internationally until sometime in May, and will then appear in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Switzerland. Apple is expected to announce pricing in those countries on May 10, 2010.

[via Macworld UK]

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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/tag/ipad

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If you're an international customer who's waiting for an iPad, you're probably a bit anxious about the lack of a solid release date. The...

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Mike

I can't even get one in the US without a week+ wait. Sucks.

April 24 2010 at 2:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dreamwriter

Since when are the displays similar to those used on the iPhone? The iPad has an expensive LED backlit IPS display, the first portable device to use it.

April 23 2010 at 3:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

heathsnow

I stopped reading at 'unprecedented demand for the iPad in the U.S.'. Has there been precedence for iPad releases in the U.S. before this release? I would say that this is the release that is setting the precedence for future releases, wouldn't you?

:P

April 23 2010 at 2:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

buddi

Why should you trust iSuppli for this information?

Look at the date. April 20. It came out on the same day and prior to Apple's end of the day financial call. I remember seeing this story before the call.

During the call, an analyst asked if there were any "gating" circumstances that would delay the iPad. Tim Cook replied that there wasn't anything but shear demand.

Was Cook lying? Was he obligated to tell the truth? I don't know. But on past financial calls I remember Cook stating if there were production issues (like tight supply of flash ram or some such)

I don't know the truth of the matter, but perhaps some scrutiny by TUAW is in order.

April 23 2010 at 1:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Andy

Who cares about international. It's all about pTriotism p

April 23 2010 at 1:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply