If you don’t purchase an iPad online or in-person at an Apple Store, you may be able to walk into some Best Buy stores come April 3, reports suggest Friday. About half of the electronics giant’s retail location could have Apple’s tablet device available next week.
The retailer’s “Store-within-a-Store” locations, which comprise about half of Best Buy’s 1,000 stores, will become the first to offer the iPad outside purchases through Apple, according to MacRumors. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has indicated as much in emails reported earlier this week. As to where iPads will be sold, Jobs reportedly responded: “Initially at Apple Retail and online stores and Best Buy.”
Friday’s report mentions four Best Buy SKUs, although Apple has unveiled only three Wi-Fi iPads set for April 3. MacRumors speculates the fourth product could indicate the retailer could display a demo of a Wi-Fi + 3G iPad expected in late April.
In related news, Apple reportedly has begun charging the credit cards of customers who had pre-ordered the iPad. The credit card orders being processed also include those requests for the 3G iPad, the reports add.
