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I wonder if the fact you can ask to have it engraved/gift wrapped means that stock will not be a problem. Engraving was not available for a while for the iPad 1.
 
Best Buy Online In-Store Pickup

I wonder if we can order it online through Best Buy Friday morning, select "In-Store Pickup" and be assured it will be available at 5:00 PM for pickup. Anyone heard anything on this? I've searched all over and can't find any information. I'm willing to wait in line, but I'm not waiting in line if I'm not guaranteed the model I want with the case I want is in stock.
 
I wonder if we can order it online through Best Buy Friday morning, select "In-Store Pickup" and be assured it will be available at 5:00 PM for pickup. Anyone heard anything on this? I've searched all over and can't find any information. I'm willing to wait in line, but I'm not waiting in line if I'm not guaranteed the model I want with the case I want is in stock.

I've wondered this as well and if this the case it would be no brainer for me. My job is 15 minutes from both the Apple Store and Best Buy.
 
For me, part of the overall experience of getting a new Apple product is going to the Apple store on Launch Day. I get a big kick out of hanging out in line, chatting with the people on either side of me, feeling the excitement building..... It's particularly cool when the store employees remove the black drapes that have been over the windows and we all get our first look at whatever the new product is. Usually there's a collective "WOW!" as we all gaze at the shiny thing(s) now on display. Next best part is when the store employees all come out, clapping, hooting and cheering, and parade around the line and the mall -- how can anyone not feel the excitement by then? A moment or two of suspense as the store employees go back into the store and position themselves in a sort of "receiving line," then the doors are open and the line begins to move as at last, those who have been waiting so patiently in line can enter the store, high-fiving it all the way with the store employees..... Then comes the moment when one actually can see and touch the new product, marvel at it for a moment or two before announcing to the helpful employee which version, capacity, or color one wants.....

Snap up accessories, hand over the credit card and the new product is at last launched into your eager hands, ready to go home with you.......
 
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Is it possible to order the iPad as soon as it goes on sale on the 11th (3:01 AM EST) and choose next day delivery, and have it delievered on Saturday the 12th?
 
For me, part of the overall experience of getting a new Apple product is going to the Apple store on Launch Day. I get a big kick out of hanging out in line, chatting with the people on either side of me, feeling the excitement building..... It's particularly cool when the store employees remove the black drapes that have been over the windows and we all get our first look at whatever the new product is. Usually there's a collective "WOW!" as we all gaze at the shiny thing(s) now on display. Next best part is when the store employees all come out, clapping, hooting and cheering, and parade around the line and the mall -- how can anyone not feel the excitement by then? A moment or two of suspense as the store employees go back into the store and position themselves in a sort of "receiving line," then the doors are open and the line begins to move as at last, those who have been waiting so patiently in line can enter the store, high-fiving it all the way with the store employees..... Then comes the moment when one actually can see and touch the new product, marvel at it for a moment or two before announcing to the helpful employee which version, capacity, or color one wants.....

Snap up accessories, hand over the credit card and the new product is at last launched into your eager hands, ready to go home with you.......

+1

Part of the reason I buy Apple products is for the experience. Lame to some I know but I love it. I'm debating going to the Apple store or Best Buy but leaning towards the Apple store for above said reasons.
 
I'm going to be getting a 3G 64GB so I doubt I'll have issues. I'm going to show up at 3:30-4 at an Apple store. If that doesn't work there is a BestBuy across the street.
 
I'll be hitting the Apple store. I'm going to be buying the 64gig 3G version, so I have little doubt that there will be units available. Most of the demand (IMO) will be focused on the 16gig configurations.
 
For me, part of the overall experience of getting a new Apple product is going to the Apple store on Launch Day. I get a big kick out of hanging out in line, chatting with the people on either side of me, feeling the excitement building..... It's particularly cool when the store employees remove the black drapes that have been over the windows and we all get our first look at whatever the new product is. Usually there's a collective "WOW!" as we all gaze at the shiny thing(s) now on display. Next best part is when the store employees all come out, clapping, hooting and cheering, and parade around the line and the mall -- how can anyone not feel the excitement by then? A moment or two of suspense as the store employees go back into the store and position themselves in a sort of "receiving line," then the doors are open and the line begins to move as at last, those who have been waiting so patiently in line can enter the store, high-fiving it all the way with the store employees..... Then comes the moment when one actually can see and touch the new product, marvel at it for a moment or two before announcing to the helpful employee which version, capacity, or color one wants.....

Snap up accessories, hand over the credit card and the new product is at last launched into your eager hands, ready to go home with you.......

Definitely agree with you there! The experience makes up for an awful lot of their product launches, as well as using their products generally.

Being in the UK, and having an Apple Store in my city (Liverpool), I'll be heading down at 4am-5am if they do a morning launch like normal and grabbing myself a 32gb WiFi and 16gb WiFi.

Having sold my iPad 1 a couple of days ago (and having an email from the guy thanking me and telling me how much he's loving it), I'm starting to count down the days!
 
I'll check in store (target/walmart) after work, if nothing then I'll grab it online and wait patiently
 
online but what time friday will they go on sale will it be midnight thurs. night california time? the first ipad i waited like a week after it came out and ordered it
 
Online. Discover Card has 5% discount on Apple store purchases. Since I'm in California, I see only 3% over sell price that has to go to the new governator.
 
It depends on when I can get out of work, but I think I will try Best Buy first. If they are sold out I'll go get the kids and head to the mall and check the AT&T/Apple store.
 
I wonder if we can order it online through Best Buy Friday morning, select "In-Store Pickup" and be assured it will be available at 5:00 PM for pickup. Anyone heard anything on this? I've searched all over and can't find any information. I'm willing to wait in line, but I'm not waiting in line if I'm not guaranteed the model I want with the case I want is in stock.

Would love to know if this is possible at Best Buy (or Walmart). I work until at least 5 and don't really want to wait in a long line (or worse, wait in line only to have them sell out). Even ordering packages and having them delivered for me is a pain because it gets accepted by my leasing office who is usually closed when I leave in the morning and by the time I get back at night.

Plus, ordering online would get me an extra bonus through American Express Bonus Points Mall; also Discover has 5% cash back.
 
Guess again, ipad and ipad 2 are excluded from 5% offer...

confirmed. i'm going white 16gig online. I'll probably head to best buy after work to play with a floor model though. i wanna see this smart cover thing, too, before i decide to get one or not.
 
For me, part of the overall experience of getting a new Apple product is going to the Apple store on Launch Day. I get a big kick out of hanging out in line, chatting with the people on either side of me, feeling the excitement building..... It's particularly cool when the store employees remove the black drapes that have been over the windows and we all get our first look at whatever the new product is. Usually there's a collective "WOW!" as we all gaze at the shiny thing(s) now on display. Next best part is when the store employees all come out, clapping, hooting and cheering, and parade around the line and the mall -- how can anyone not feel the excitement by then? A moment or two of suspense as the store employees go back into the store and position themselves in a sort of "receiving line," then the doors are open and the line begins to move as at last, those who have been waiting so patiently in line can enter the store, high-fiving it all the way with the store employees..... Then comes the moment when one actually can see and touch the new product, marvel at it for a moment or two before announcing to the helpful employee which version, capacity, or color one wants.....

Snap up accessories, hand over the credit card and the new product is at last launched into your eager hands, ready to go home with you.......

It's odd, i don't mind queuing up at a carrier store for the new iphone, because i know they won't do all that stuff. It makes me cringe really bad when they do all that cheering and stuff, it is almost embarressing. I think that is American thing, i don't think many british people like it. Maybe not, it might just be me ;)

If you like all that, sweet. But i really don't. So i hope they do the 5pm launch here, i'll head down to PC World and see if they're selling them. I'm 17 and can't drive yet, though - so i need to find a kind friend :D I don't fancy taking the bus home with my fancy new iPad 2.

If not i will order online. But if i don't end up with one, get home to find a 2 week backlog on the Apple Online store i will be really annoyed.
 
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