Apple has been coy about the official launch date of the upcoming iPad Pro, but warehouse mega-retailer Sam's Club is now taking preorders for the device, listing a release date of November 13.

Sam's Club is offering 32 GB and 128 GB models with wi-fi only. There is no trace of the Apple Pencil or Smart Keyboard at the retailer's e-commerce site.

Rumors had previously pegged the release date for Wednesday, November 11. Some had questioned the wisdom of releasing the unit on Veteran's Day, a federal holiday in the U.S. (Some may yet question the message sent by releasing the pricey new tablet on Friday the 13th, but we won't go there. Well, actually, we just did.)

The iPad Pro is basically just a larger version of Apple's signature tablet devices, made potentially more usable by creative types with the addition of stylus support for drawing, as well as the continuously increasing sophistication of tablet-based apps from vendors like Adobe and Autodesk, who are figuring out ways to better integrate mobile apps with the workflow on traditional desktop systems. Unlike Microsoft's Surface Pro 4, the iPad Pro cannot run full desktop software. But Apple is betting that will be OK with users who consider a bigger iPad a complement to their notebook computer rather than a replacement for it.

Apple: www.apple.com