Majority of iPad 2 Buyers New to the iPad

Apple’s iPad 2 is attracting first-time iPad buyers,
according to a new survey by analyst firm Piper Jaffray. That could bode well
for the new tablet, which Apple needs to help fend off competition from a
number of high-powered rivals, including the Motorola Xoom and Research In
Motion’s upcoming PlayBook.

“We spoke with 236 people in line for the iPad 2 on Fri.
(3/11) in New York and Minneapolis,” analyst Gene Munster wrote in the survey
results. “Typically demand on Apple product launch days is driven by upgrades,
but our data suggests Apple is gaining new iPad users vs. upgrading existing
ones.”

To that end, the survey found that some 70 percent of iPad 2
buyers “were new to the iPad compared to 23 percent of iPhone 4 buyers that
were new to the iPhone at launch.”

Munster also believes that Apple sold between 400,000 and
500,000 iPad 2 units. “We note that the weekend number for the iPad 2 is
essentially a launch day total because stock across retailers was mostly
depleted by late Friday and not replenished during the weekend.”

While a sample size of 236 people pales in comparison to the
millions of people expected to purchase the iPad 2, it could certainly suggest
certain rough trends emerging during the tablet’s first days of shelf life. The
firm’s survey also found that 47 percent of iPad 2 purchases chose a model with
3G capability. Some 41 percent purchased the 32GB “midrange” iPad 2. Out of all
purchasers, some 65 percent already owned an iPhone, and 24 percent had a
Kindle.

For more, read the eWEEK article: Apple iPad 2 Attracts 70 Percent New iPad Owners: Survey.