Queues form outside Apple stores 24 hours before iPad goes on sale (Geek alert!)

Daily Mail ^ | April 2, 2010 | Claire Bates

[C19fan]

Queues have begun forming outside Apple stores across America as gadget fans eagerly await the launch of the iPad tomorrow. Apple has skillfully notched up the hype in the run up to launch. Earlier this week they published 11 guided video tours of the iPad and its software.

This was followed by the iPad appearing in an episode of the popular ABC series 'Modern Family', as a sought-after birthday gift for one of the characters.

[NurseZac]

Apple is boycotting Glenn Beck. I wrote them to make sure they know I won’t be buying those 2 I-Pads I wanted now.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

ping

[exPBRrat]

Thank you for doing that...I wished more folks would vote with their pocketbook and let ‘em know why too.

[gallandro]

I wouldn’t buy one anyway, it’s just a giant Ipod Touch, and doesn’t support Flash. HTML 5 is a wonderful technology, but it is years away, FLASH is the web standard... since this is supposed to be a portable media device, you would think Apple would break down and support the most common form of media format on the web.

Yancy

[martin_fierro]

Meh. Wake me when Generation 3 or 4 arrives.

[Boogieman]

Triumph the Insult Dog really needs to do an on-location for this one :)

[Swordmaker]

Queue's form for iPad purchase at Apple Stores 24 hours in advance...PING!

Apple iPad Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[discostu]

In this modern Amazon home delivery age anybody that waits in lines that long to buy something is an idiot.

[Swordmaker]

Apple is boycotting Glenn Beck. I wrote them to make sure they know I won’t be buying those 2 I-Pads I wanted now.

And your evidence of Apple actively boycotting Glenn Beck is? Apple does have ads on Fox Channels... just not all. This report originated on a very liberal network, you know, and Apple, I believe, has not made a statement one way or the other... they just have not made any ad purchases on Fox News Channel.

[Mr. Blonde]

It seems the iPad is moving companies to HTML5. Others are developing iPad apps to play videos. It will work out pretty well I think.

[NurseZac]

“And your evidence of Apple actively boycotting Glenn Beck is? Apple does have ads on Fox Channels... just not all. This report originated on a very liberal network, you know, and Apple, I believe, has not made a statement one way or the other... they just have not made any ad purchases on Fox News Channel. “

I read it here. I am sure you will clear it up for us however. http://townhall.com/columnists/HumbertoFontova/2010/03/31/apple_boycotts_glenn_beck%E2%80%94promotes_che_guevara!

[stripes1776]

It seems the iPad is moving companies to HTML5. Others are developing iPad apps to play videos. It will work out pretty well I think.

I think you are right. The iPad will make tablet computers go mainstream. There will be lots of other tablets on the market, but no other vendor with have a tablet as well made as Apple's. The iPad will have lot's of appealing features that are easy to use. And no, I won't be buying one, but I think the iPad will set the standard for others to follow.

[itsahoot]

and doesn’t support Flash.

And that is a good thing. With apologies to Martha Stewart.

[antiRepublicrat]

I'm sure two people are happy to hear you won't be buying them. That's two more of a limited stock available for them.

Me, I won't be buying until version 2. I never do for a new Apple product. But if I did get one, one of the main reasons would be to be able to use this accessory:

[NurseZac]

LOL that was funny!

[Yardstick]

Okay, I have to admit that’s pretty awesome. They even have woodgrain on the front.

[Richard Kimball]

I’m with you all the way. A significant number of my browser plug-ins are specifically to block Flash (I got way too tired of trying to get to a web site and if you mouseovered a Flash ad it would expand and block what you were trying to read, and also of loading 5 meg of flash ads in order to get to three paragraphs of content.)
I looked at Balmer’s introduction of the HP Slate, and it’s been funny to hear people declare a winner on either side when neither product was in anyone’s hands.
In order to get ahead of the curve, though, here are my thoughts on the iPad/Slate debate:

MS did their presentation earlier, even though their product won’t be ready for launch until a couple of months after the iPad. They did this cause they’re getting tired of being accused of ripping off Apple and wanted to get in a “me too” ahead of the iPad launch.
The devices show the different strategies of MS and Apple. MS throws everything they can think of in a big bucket and lets the consumer sort it out, even if some of the implementations aren’t very good. Apple shoots for a consumer experience, and spends a lot of time thinking about what shouldn’t be there.
Apple went with a mobile OS, MS went with Windows 7. Everything else, in terms of philosophy of how the device will work, flows from those decisions. MS went for raw power. Apple went for finesse. The iPhone OS is designed from the ground up for a touch screen. Windows 7 is a mouse and keyboard architecture with some support for touch. The iPad does not have mouse support, but it will support a bluetooth keyboard. The Win machine supports both. However, this creates the question of why even have a Slate if you’re going to haul a keyboard, mouse and something to prop it up around with you? With the iPad, you don’t have to have either, as it’s touch from the word go.
One of the big questions is going to be about battery life for the Win machine. Early tests have shown that Apple wasn’t kidding when they said ten hours of battery life. If the Win machine, supporting Flash (which works processors a LOT) and a more power consuming video and CPU can’t punch out a strong battery life, I think the Win machine is in trouble.
I’ve already seen several articles declaring WIN for the Windows machine because of the USB and Smart Card readers. Those are good points, but I think the final analysis will come down to implementation. If the Windows machine can draw good battery life and a satisfactory touch experience, they’ve got the upper hand with the additional features. If the Slate ends up being something you have to keep plugged in with an accessory keyboard and mouse, you lose the advantages of having a Slate computer, and it will fail.
I keep reading about the “Steve Jobs reality distortion field” but let’s face it. Jobs and Apple put together terrific presentations, and Microsoft presentations are amateur hour. With the press, which is substantially about presentation, that means a lot.
When Jobs presented the iPad, for the gaming segment, an Apple VP came out and played a couple of high frame rate games that he obviously knew how to play. One was a motorcycle game and he had his avatar doing backflips. Balmer, in demoing the Slate, played Frogger. That’s right, Frogger. Why in the world would you introduce what is supposed to be the next big implementation of forward technology and demo it by playing a game you could get on the Atari 2600 in 1981?

[antiRepublicrat]

And it works, too. The joystick, buttons, 1 or 2 player work, and it has built-in speakers and subwoofer. $150. The makers of it will have a large number of classic games available for download.