Apple fans snap up new iPad, but response muted
JAPAN: Apple die-hards in Asia became the first to snap up the new
iPad Friday, but compared with the scramble at the firm's past launches
the response was muted for a device that is short of new technology.
Those who queued in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore heaped
praise on the improved display, which Apple says is the best ever on a
mobile device.
And few seemed concerned that the much-touted 4G LTE connection would
be largely unavailable outside North America.
Apple's online shop in the US quickly sold out of iPads for delivery
on Friday and began telling buyers they will have to wait several weeks.
Despite the anticipation, the excitement surrounding earlier releases
was largely absent, with the crush seen in Hong Kong for the iPhone 4S
reduced to a fraction and Tokyo's long queue all but gone by
mid-morning.
Some die-hard Apple fans queued overnight, with around 50 camping out
in Tokyo. But in Sydney, where the planet's first sales began, only one
person had taken his place by mid-afternoon Thursday -- and he was being
paid to be there.
Those that did make an effort declared themselves pleased with their
purchase.
Ryo Takahashi, 25, who arrived at the Tokyo store wearing a head band
saying "I am an iPad samurai!" said the new Retina display was a good
enough reason to queue up.
"Once you start using the Retina display, you just cannot go back to
the old one." University student Ryo Watanabe was first to claim his
prize.
"I am so excited. I finally got it. I waited for this for 36 hours,"
he said as he emerged from the store. "I have an iPad2 and use it all
the time at school. I am looking forward to the clear display," he said.
The new tablet is being released in Australia, the United States,
France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Britain and Hong
Kong on Friday.
Anticipation ahead of the launch saw Apple shares briefly top $600
for the first time on Wall Street Thursday before closing at $585.56.
The stock has gained more than 50 percent in the past three months.
In Singapore there were cheers when the authorised reseller stocking
the iPad opened its doors, with staff handing out t-shirts emblazoned
with "I GOT MY NEW IPAD".
At the plush Hong Kong Apple store, which had seen chaotic scenes for
previous Apple product releases, around 200 buyers who had reserved
online were allowed to queue outside.
"I was afraid I could not get the new iPad since I only made my
reservation yesterday but I made it, and I bought two, one for my
boyfriend," programmer Annie, who refused to give her last name, said.
The launch of the iPhone 4S in November saw more than 1,500 fans and
resellers camping outside the Hong Kong store days before release, with
police called in to control the crowd.
Australia was the first place to get the new device -- for which
Apple has abandoned its numbering system, opting to call it simply the
"new iPad" instead of the expected "iPad3".Several hundred people
gathered outside the company's Sydney store when it opened at 8:00 am
local time (2100 GMT Thursday).
However, the hype for Friday's launch was not on the scale seen for
iPad2, when people began camping out up to four days before.
Former truck driver Steve Parkes was the lone early bird, beginning
his vigil on Monday after being offered Aus$950 (US$1,000) by a jobs
site to line up wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the employment
company's logo. AFP |