iPad 2 could sell at Toys 'R' Us outlets

iPad 2 is already a certified hit. Now comes news that the tablet computer could be sold at Toys 'R' Us stores nationwide.

The iPad 2 – a machine given top marks by even the sticklers at Consumer Reports – will soon be sold at Toys 'R' Us outlets nationwide. That's the report from the folks at the tech site modmyi.com, which today posted an Apple iPad 2 "product knowledge sheet" apparently disseminated to employees of the retail giant.

"We received a tip this morning from a Toys R' Us employee that the venerable children's toy store will begin selling the iPad 2 next month," writes Michael Essany of modmyi.com. "Although there have been rumors in the past about Toys 'R' Us possibly carrying the iPad at some point in the future, this is the first we've heard from an actual employee that an iPad launch at the toy store is imminent."

So is the rumor for real?

As Kit Eaton of Fast Company notes this afternoon, it would make "tremendous sense for Apple to sell iPads alongside Barbies and board games. Toys 'R' Us already sells computing devices like Playstations and Nintendo's DS games console range – the iPad is seeing increasing use as a powerful games console, so it basically fits right in," Eaton added.

In related news, investment firm Piper Jaffray has released the results of a new survey of 4,500 American high school students, and surprise, surprise – Apple remains one of the most coveted brands on the market. According to Piper Jaffray, 22 percent of the polled students had a tablet computer in their house, and another 20 percent expected to soon buy one. Odds are, that tablet will be an iPad 2.

IPad user? Drop us a line in the comments section. And in the meantime, to stay abreast of all the latest tech news, sign up for the free weekly Innovation newsletter, which is emailed out every Wednesday.

ALSO SEE: 10 most intriguing tablets of 2011