New iPad launches in US to long lineups
updated 10:15 am EDT, Fri March 16, 2012
Thousands gather outside NYC Apple Stores
A few short hours after Asian and European debuts, Apple has begun the day's US launches of the third-generation iPad. In New York City, the Grand Central Apple Store alone is said to have seen about 500 people in line. Similar numbers were seen at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store (see video below).
Lineups were smaller at some other Apple Stores, like the Domain location in Austin, Texas (see photos), but still stretched into the dozens. A variety of third-party retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target also started selling the device, but anecdotes suggest much smaller lineups, or even non-existent ones in some cases. Walmart did have the advantage of a midnight launch, but is carrying far fewer units than Apple.
[Fifth Avenue, New York City]
[The Domain, Austin]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2009
stores vs online
I don't know how many were ordered on-line, maybe 1M, but with >300 Apple Stores, plus Best Buy, Target, and (ugh) Walmart adding to the list, Apple finally has a large enough distribution channel to get a large number of devices to a large number of people at the same time. The lines weren't as long but there were more lines so total them up and I'm sure Apple is selling a ton of them. Of course, analysts will read these headlines and say Apple is doomed because half the world wasn't in one line to get an iPad.