Apple’s iPad 2 goes on sale today at 5 p.m. local time across the United States and lines are already forming.
UPDATE: 5:30 pm ET: Readers tell us of huge lines at Apple Retail Stores. For example, one MacDailyNews reader counted 700+ people in line at Apple Store Crossgates in Albany, NY just before the doors opened at 5pm.
If you’re in an iPad 2 line, please send us a photo (webmaster@macdailynews.com) and please note your location and we’ll post them below!
Note that the iPad 2 line for Apple Store Bellueve Square passes right outside the Microsoft Store located in the same mall!
I highly doubt the credibility of any story which says that a woman sold her place in line for $900. That makes no financial sense at all. $50, OKAY. $100, MAYBE. But $900? The cost of 2 iPads? Sorry, this is just a made-up story for the press.
I believe it. The person *behind* me in line was offering $300 each for up to 8 people. She may have gone higher. She needed 16 iPads. These didn’t have to be first in lines, just front enough to get one early. This is in Palo Alto.
Believe it or not, it actually happened in NY. The buyer is a developer. He considered it an investment to promote his products (Apps) thru free media publicity that the offer will generate. And he certainly got his money’s worth. I for one has downloaded a free version of his “Vocalive” app.
Here is more result of that little $900: http://www.businessinsider.com/college-kid-sells-spot-in-ipad-2-line-2011-3
Apple orders started out at 5 am EST. with a 3-5 day shipping timeframe. If you were to place an online order now, you would get a 2-3 week shipping timeframe delay.
Apple expects that by the end of the day, shipping timeframes will be 3-6 weeks, due to huge influx of orders and demand- this from a conversation I had a few minutes ago with an Apple manager in Cupertino.
At this rate they’ll have no more units left for the European launch. They’ll probably have two display units to play with in the Athens store but that’ll be about it. The average Greek is unemployed and can hardly afford an iPad.
Aaron, that was Gene Munster stating to not expect waiting lines for the iPad 2.. Everybody seems to love Gene. F him! He intentionally made that article so people would be unprepared and he’d have first dibs for his iPad! I bet he’s already in line, and MDN has yet to correct him with an iCal as appropriate.
In 2007, after AppleTV and the iPhone debuted, Gene Munster predicted that the AppleTV would be a runaway hit and that the iPhone was at best a niche product, given Apple total lack of experience in the phone business and given the power of the carriers. Munster is just an average guy, at best!
Actually, (if you are talking about the main store on Market St) it was FOUR blocks longs. At 5pm, the line went completely around the city block (Stockton, O’Farrell, Powell, and Ellis); the end of the line was back at the store.
As I was watching (not in line for this one), a few minutes after 5pm, a HUGE Fedex semi pulled up along the Ellis side, next to the back employee entrance. I figured they were unloading some more iPads for this key Apple Store, because the line had gotten so long.
“People just don’t seem to be all that excited about it.”
“I get that once you have seen an iPad an improved iPad is far less exciting,”
“I just don’t think more people are going to get excited about an incremental product over one that was magical”
“This is starting to look like one of Apple’s most challenging launches yet. The company has stumbled a bit on timing and execution, and world events seem to be working against them as well. Apple is a crazy capable company, but it just feels like they are off their game at the moment, and clearly with their CEO under the weather, there are good reasons for that. In any case, the iPad 2 ramp-to-market, which I thought was going to be a walk in the park for Apple, is quickly looking like anything but.
This is Apple at it’s most brilliant. Release at 5pm, just before the 6pm news cycle, when there will still be video of a line even if it’s only 30 people long. They get a free commercial on every single news station in the country. And no pre-orders just means more people will show up at the stores to fuel their big PR move. If there were plenty in stock, there would be no frenzy to get one. So they stream them out in waves of inventory, and the must-have factor goes nuts. The fact that the wait is now 3 weeks online sends the perceived value through the roof. You literally cannot buy this kind of promotion, and it’s not costing Apple a penny. Amazing.
The line at Palo Alto store is huge now. Employees as expecting to sell out and are going down the line asking what people are buying so they can tell people at the end of the line that they might not get what they want or any iPad at all.
You realize that’s always going to be true, right? I mean, until Apple stops making new products the next product will make the previous product “obsolete.”
I just wish Apple could make enough iPads to meet demand. I don’t mind waiting in line but it would be nice to be able to actually buy the thing.
Obsolete is only in the mind of the beholder. I have a 2004 G4 Mirror doors that my son is using. To him, that Mac is anything but obsolete. I have a lot of friends that purchased the iPad first generation, and they are sticking with it. I also bet, that if they wanted to, they could easily get 75% of what they payed for it, at lest.
Line at Stonebriar Apple Store in Frisco, TX was easily 500 people deep. I was about 150 in line and managed to buy a 64GB black WiFi model. All AT&T models sold out before I was even in eyesight of the store. And they started with no AT&T Black 16GB or White Verizon 64 GB models.
We had over 500 at Austin Barton Creek when doors opened. The first two people bought 2 32gbs one each was 3G. We were back exchanging one of the covers an hour ago and there were close to 200 people in line and these were new since early arrivals had cleared out. Calling Gene M…there be lines here.
I wonder how many are in line to sell their spots. Some lady just sold hers for $900.
I highly doubt the credibility of any story which says that a woman sold her place in line for $900. That makes no financial sense at all. $50, OKAY. $100, MAYBE. But $900? The cost of 2 iPads? Sorry, this is just a made-up story for the press.
I believe it. The person *behind* me in line was offering $300 each for up to 8 people. She may have gone higher. She needed 16 iPads. These didn’t have to be first in lines, just front enough to get one early. This is in Palo Alto.
Believe it or not, it actually happened in NY. The buyer is a developer. He considered it an investment to promote his products (Apps) thru free media publicity that the offer will generate. And he certainly got his money’s worth. I for one has downloaded a free version of his “Vocalive” app.
Here is more result of that little $900: http://www.businessinsider.com/college-kid-sells-spot-in-ipad-2-line-2011-3
CORRECTION:
the guy’s app is called “AskLocal” , a local-only location-based communication app.
Standing outside the Microsoft Store in Scottsdale, AZ. There’s no line, but I don’t think they have any 64GB iPad 2s.
crickets chirping
That’s a good one :-). Can somebody snap some pictures of MSFT stores, just for fun? 🙂
Apple orders started out at 5 am EST. with a 3-5 day shipping timeframe. If you were to place an online order now, you would get a 2-3 week shipping timeframe delay.
Apple expects that by the end of the day, shipping timeframes will be 3-6 weeks, due to huge influx of orders and demand- this from a conversation I had a few minutes ago with an Apple manager in Cupertino.
Except i ordered mine at 12:45 PST… or 3:45 EST. (as did others here)
It was 1AM PST when they were to start taking orders online, not 2PST.
Meant 4:00am EST.
At this rate they’ll have no more units left for the European launch. They’ll probably have two display units to play with in the Athens store but that’ll be about it. The average Greek is unemployed and can hardly afford an iPad.
There are no average Greeks!
malikismenos
Feral,
Kala ta les!! Autos o allos einai axristos!!
“When everyone is super, no one will be” Syndrome
As I said the other day “there will be lines”. Too much pent up anticipation for it to be any different.
Apple Store showing 2 – 3 week delivery.
36 people in line at the downtown Portland store at 11:30 am PST.
Didn’t someone predict a “lukewarm” reception for iPad 2 sales wise? MDN needs to check their iCal…
Aaron, that was Gene Munster stating to not expect waiting lines for the iPad 2.. Everybody seems to love Gene. F him! He intentionally made that article so people would be unprepared and he’d have first dibs for his iPad! I bet he’s already in line, and MDN has yet to correct him with an iCal as appropriate.
To be fair, Munster spotted Apple’s ascendence earlier than most, however he’s undershot demand on multiple recent occasions.
In 2007, after AppleTV and the iPhone debuted, Gene Munster predicted that the AppleTV would be a runaway hit and that the iPhone was at best a niche product, given Apple total lack of experience in the phone business and given the power of the carriers. Munster is just an average guy, at best!
Nice big iPad line snakes past the front of the MircoCrap Store
Apple Store in West County Center (St. Louis) just closed; preparing for launch. Line stretches length of mall.
The San Francisco line is 2 blocks long
Actually, (if you are talking about the main store on Market St) it was FOUR blocks longs. At 5pm, the line went completely around the city block (Stockton, O’Farrell, Powell, and Ellis); the end of the line was back at the store.
As I was watching (not in line for this one), a few minutes after 5pm, a HUGE Fedex semi pulled up along the Ellis side, next to the back employee entrance. I figured they were unloading some more iPads for this key Apple Store, because the line had gotten so long.
Anybody waiting at Best Buy or Target or (shudder) Walmart?
I just picked up my 64 gig white iPad @ Best Buy. Line was easily 20 to 30 times longer than for the launch of iPad1!
“Hard data points to sagging iPad 2 hype”
“People just don’t seem to be all that excited about it.”
“I get that once you have seen an iPad an improved iPad is far less exciting,”
“I just don’t think more people are going to get excited about an incremental product over one that was magical”
“This is starting to look like one of Apple’s most challenging launches yet. The company has stumbled a bit on timing and execution, and world events seem to be working against them as well. Apple is a crazy capable company, but it just feels like they are off their game at the moment, and clearly with their CEO under the weather, there are good reasons for that. In any case, the iPad 2 ramp-to-market, which I thought was going to be a walk in the park for Apple, is quickly looking like anything but.
All quotes provided by Rob Enderle.
Yet more proof that Rob Enderle is an idiot.
The biggest idiot of them all.
Thank you for the much-needed levity provided by always-sniveling, always-frustrated Enderle Group of One.
Only 5 units in stock at Smyrna, GA Best Buy. Moving along!
Enderle is a douche, always has been
gets paid by msft to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt
Here in the midwest our local channel partners BB, WM & Tgt only have 5 units at the most
…and 5 at Walmart. What the hell, Apple?!
MicroCenter in Marietta was my best bet, 35 units, but only 9 arrived. Plus the 64GB beauties were not even scheduled. I am iPadless.
What did that fool munster say? Shorter lines. Bestbuy in manhattan, the lines snake around the block.
I can’t find coverage of the lucky people who are going in to stores. Driving me nuts looking online for video. Anyone got a link?
Well over 1000 in Nashville lineup. By far the biggest line I’ve seen for anything, and I’ve been to them all.
Calling Gene Munster…
What was that you said about no lines now?
Only 15 iPads at Chicago Best Buy. 20th in line. Hoping most of these people are here to just accompany friends.
And they’re all gone. Most bought by Worst Buy employees. Oh well.
This is Apple at it’s most brilliant. Release at 5pm, just before the 6pm news cycle, when there will still be video of a line even if it’s only 30 people long. They get a free commercial on every single news station in the country. And no pre-orders just means more people will show up at the stores to fuel their big PR move. If there were plenty in stock, there would be no frenzy to get one. So they stream them out in waves of inventory, and the must-have factor goes nuts. The fact that the wait is now 3 weeks online sends the perceived value through the roof. You literally cannot buy this kind of promotion, and it’s not costing Apple a penny. Amazing.
The line at Palo Alto store is huge now. Employees as expecting to sell out and are going down the line asking what people are buying so they can tell people at the end of the line that they might not get what they want or any iPad at all.
This thing will be obsolete in a few months. Waste of a lineup.
You realize that’s always going to be true, right? I mean, until Apple stops making new products the next product will make the previous product “obsolete.”
I just wish Apple could make enough iPads to meet demand. I don’t mind waiting in line but it would be nice to be able to actually buy the thing.
Obsolete is only in the mind of the beholder. I have a 2004 G4 Mirror doors that my son is using. To him, that Mac is anything but obsolete. I have a lot of friends that purchased the iPad first generation, and they are sticking with it. I also bet, that if they wanted to, they could easily get 75% of what they payed for it, at lest.
Line at Stonebriar Apple Store in Frisco, TX was easily 500 people deep. I was about 150 in line and managed to buy a 64GB black WiFi model. All AT&T models sold out before I was even in eyesight of the store. And they started with no AT&T Black 16GB or White Verizon 64 GB models.
Yeah I was #19 in line there
just got my iPad 2 synced! Noticeably snappy
We had over 500 at Austin Barton Creek when doors opened. The first two people bought 2 32gbs one each was 3G. We were back exchanging one of the covers an hour ago and there were close to 200 people in line and these were new since early arrivals had cleared out. Calling Gene M…there be lines here.