A survey conducted at DealNews.com found that iPad tablets are far more popular than other tablets on the market, including the widely-available Android (News - Alert) models. The new iPad 2 is will hit shelves on Friday, March 16 and expects big crowds opening day.

Lindsay Sakraida, Director at DealNews.com, said 78 percent of those surveyed who have yet to invest in a tablet will go for the newest version of iPad within the next year. Half of the other 22 percent without a tablet say they’d pursue iPad 2 as their first one.

The primary reason people choose an iPad 2 over the newer version is price difference. In fact, 60 percent of those surveyed chose price as the main reason iPad 2 would be their first tablet rather than the iPad3. Apple (News - Alert) iPad 2 models are available online for less than $399 depending upon the included features. The newer iPad 3 starts at $499, according to the Apple website.

Customer loyalty is high for current Apple iPad owners. According to the survey, 42 percent of those who currently own a first-generation iPad plan to upgrade to iPad 3 this year. Of those surveyed who currently own an iPad 2, 35 percent say they’ll upgrade to the third-generation iPad by the end of the year.

It’s interesting that just three percent of the people surveyed by DealNews.com said they wouldn’t buy an Apple iPad based on the recent accusation of poor working conditions in Chinese factories producing Apple products.

The iPad 3 offers several major upgrades over its predecessor, including a higher-resolution Retina display, 4G connectivity and improved optics with five megapixel camera and 1080p video capabilities.