Originally Posted by denzil28:
“<big snip>”
I agree in some ways it doesn't make sense (a new one only 6 months after the iPad 2?

), but in other ways it could be justified.
e.g. Cut the price of the iPad 2, and bring in the iPad HD at the iPad 2's current price points. If Apple did that, it'd be game over for their tablet rivals. Why buy a Xoom or Galaxy Tab when you can get a similarly spec'd iPad 2 for £100 less, or get an even better spec'd iPad HD for the same price?
e.g. It would bring the iPad release closer to the more lucrative "holiday season". No longer would some people hold off getting one in the later part of the year because of a new one being due in the Spring.
There are so many rumours about an iPad HD this September... John Gruber, Techcrunch and others, all with "sources" etc. saying they've heard there'll be a new one, that there'll be a "fall surprise", whatever... Other stories with "sources" in the component chain saying Apple's gearing up for a release this year...
Apple will be having an event in September, we know that from previous years when they've used one then to announce a new iPod Touch etc. Given that the iPhone 5 has been delayed past its usual Summer release, it makes sense that that will be released in September instead. But why not release a new iPad too?
However, having bought an iPad 2 in April, I bloody hope there isn't another one this year, whether it's a replacement or a new member of the family!
If Apple did release another one this year, even if it's an addition and not a replacement, I can see it seriously ****ing off a lot of people who've only had an iPad 2 <6 months.
I think it could confuse things too, if an addition, by fragmenting the product line.
And then what happens next year? Would there still be an iPad 3 in March, and if so would it have the "Retina display"? Or would it have the same display as the iPad 2, with an iPad 3HD coming out 6 months later? Two releases per year, or just one?
So much simpler to just stick with one model per year each Spring.