Apple run into production problems with iPad 2

IHS iSuppli have cut their forecast for iPad shipments this year by 9 percent after Apple have failed to meet the demand in the first quarter of 2011. According to their analysis, it appears that Apple will ship around 39.7 million iPad tablet computers this year, down from an initial estimate of 43.7 million in February.

Failure to meet production shipments for the iPad 2 during the first three months of 2011 have triggered the cut, iSuppli said in a statement.

Apple are the largest technology company in the world, going on market value and have been facing some issues with quality concerns over liquid crystal displays and shortages of speakers which has disrupted the supply of tablets.

Problems during this quarter cant be connected to the March 11th earthquake which struck Japan, but it may affect their production in the second half of the year.

Apple have aggressively targeted the components they need, often offering over the odds prices to ensure supply, before their competitors, who may face supply problems before Apple.

Apple are due to keep their dominance in the tablet market until 2012, because of advantages in marketing, content and pricing, according to the researcher. Shipments of other media tablets could reach 111 million in 2012, overtaking the estimated 81 million iPad sales. Still, that's a healthy percentage of the market if it holds true.

KitGuru says: RIM's Playbook and other competing products have failed to excite consumers on release, hinting that this may be a one horse race still for some time to come.

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