iPad 2 shortages continue, relief 1-2 months away

Apple's iPad 2 is in extremely short supply, with shipping delays from Apple's online store now standing at four to five weeks and customers at several prominent retail stores today going away empty-handed.

But those shortages aren't due to the unfolding disasters in Japan, and likely will be solved in the next month or two, analysts said today.

"Just because Apple's showing four to five weeks does not necessarily mean that's the next time you can buy one," said Brian Marshall of Gleacher & Co. "I expect that Apple will stagger shipments to its retail stores, with the next large one coming Monday, March 21."

As of noon ET Tuesday, Apple's online store showed "4-5 weeks" as a shipping window for all iPad 2 orders. That delay is almost double last week's, when the e-store indicator changed several times on March 11, first from two to three business days, then five to seven days, and finally settled on two to three weeks.

:story: Full story: Computerworld