Apple Starts Selling Refurbished 3rd Generation iPads

If you like the idea of a retina iPad but have been put off by the price, you might like to know that refurbished models are now available in the Apple Store. Don't expect huge discounts though - it's around a 6-7% discount across the range. You can get a 3rd generation, 16FB WiFi model iPad for just $449 now. If you've been holding out for a cheaper iPad 3, you might want to jump quickly - refurbished models tend to sell out pretty quickly as demand is high (it's not much different from a brand-new model) and supply isn't chosen by Apple - it's decided by customer returns and warranty claims. Don't be put off by the idea of a refurbished iPad either - according to TUAW.com, all devices will have a new battery, a 1-year warranty (exactly the same as a brand new iPad) and a new shell. If you want, you can also buy AppleCare Protection Plan. Most of the time, refurbs come from warranty claims that took too long for Apple to fix so the company gave the original purchaser a new iPad, then fixed the old one, gave it a makeover, and sold it as a refurbished model. At present it seems that all models (WiFi/Cellular, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB) are available.