There’s a shortage of iPad 2 in the market today and because of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, the shortage will not be solved in the near future. Five iPad 2 parts are from Japan and Apple is having a hard time to look for alternate sources. The five parts are NAND flash, electronic compass, DRAM, battery and the touch screen overlay glass.
Apple could get NAND flash memory and DRAM for the iPad 2 from other sources but the glass overlay, compass and batteries are irreplaceable. The iPad 2 battery pack is assembled in China but the battery is produced in Apple’s Japanese factories. This is because the technology for manufacturing the thin batteries is only found in Japan.
The iPad 2 display is much thinner than the original Apple tablet and it is reported to use Dragontail technology that is supplied by Asahi Glass Company. The same company suffered damages to two of its three factories.
Apple buys component parts in bulk as part of its long term contracts with the respective companies. It would mean that Apple has a supply buffer before it runs dry. It could survive the Japan disaster better than some of its rivals.
Who would ever imagine that the iPad 2 production will be affected by the tsunami? I just hope that Japan and Apple can work things out so people can continue to enjoy their iPad 2. This incident is a blessing in disguise for Motorola Xoom.