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OK, here's my anecdotal evidence.

Was at Best Buy today picking up a Magic Mouse for the wife.

Asked the rep there about the iPad 2. Here's what he told me.

On sale at 5PM. Not a minute earlier.
Expects lines. They had 40 of each storage size at launch last year, and they were all gone the first day. With both 3G and WiFi models at launch, has no idea how many of each color, size, etc.
Said he doesn't even know what time they will be delivered on Friday. Could be 8AM, could be 4PM. Or any time between.
Strongly suggested getting there a few hours early, at the least.
 
OK, here's my anecdotal evidence.

Was at Best Buy today picking up a Magic Mouse for the wife.

Asked the rep there about the iPad 2. Here's what he told me.

On sale at 5PM. Not a minute earlier.
Expects lines. They had 40 of each storage size at launch last year, and they were all gone the first day. With both 3G and WiFi models at launch, has no idea how many of each color, size, etc.
Said he doesn't even know what time they will be delivered on Friday. Could be 8AM, could be 4PM. Or any time between.
Strongly suggested getting there a few hours early, at the least.

Where do you live?
 
I believe that if you want one on friday you will get one. Whether you order it online or brave the stores. Online for me.
 
Official and analyst? Umm ok. I have a few stock tips for you buddy.
 
Does anyone know if this will be true this time 'round? I didn't even think about that until you mentioned it. I'm 18 and don't have a credit card. Are they really going to make me go with mommy so I can buy an iPad on launch day? BB or WM wouldn't enforce a 'credit cards only' policy, would they? Did this change anything?

If you have willpower, you should get a credit card and don't abuse it. Start building your credit history. One factor in your credit score is how long you've had credit and how well you handled it.
 
If you have willpower, you should get a credit card and don't abuse it. Start building your credit history. One factor in your credit score is how long you've had credit and how well you handled it.

Who knew you could learn so much about life in these forums... :)
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty responsible; I pay for all of my Apple gear. I could probably handle one. It's just watching the news, and all of the horrible things credit card companies do... it scares me away.
 
I walked into a local Apple Store in the evening on both initial launch days (wifi only and later 3G) last year, no waiting at all and walked out with unit 15 minutes later each time. Considering many iPad 1 owners probably aren't upgrading and over 10,000 store fronts (vs. approx 1200 locations for initial launches) will carry units, I'm guessing there will be lines initially but probably won't have a problem walking in later in the evening (at least at Apple Store since they always have much more inventory), though I'd expect the more popular versions (16 and 32 GB wifi) will sell out more quickly.
 
I'm in Santa Barbara and don't want to pick up an iPad until after finals (next week). Do you think there will be a short of supplies then? I feel that the people who were going to buy them will have bought them by then.
 
I'll go take a walk to Best Buy, but I'm not too worried if they don't have one.

It's available at so many stores, at a weird hour on a weekday, I don't see there being too many issues.
 
They'll always take cash. Worst case scenario is that you have to use the cash to buy a gift card and then use that to purchase the iPad. Always been a completely stupid policy...
 
In NYC there are lines on any given morning when the store opens, even without a product launch. Here there WILL be lines.
 
Who knew you could learn so much about life in these forums... :)
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty responsible; I pay for all of my Apple gear. I could probably handle one. It's just watching the news, and all of the horrible things credit card companies do... it scares me away.

CC companies aren't nearly as bad as telecom companies. Not even close.

There are a number of benefits. First, credit cards offer much more protection than debit cards. I would never pay for anything over the internet with a debit card. Second, you can build your credit history. Third, you can get points -- 3% cash back can add up over a year.

Bad things can happen, yes. But really only if you don't pay it off every month or -- God forbid -- you miss a minimum payment.
 
Who knew you could learn so much about life in these forums... :)
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty responsible; I pay for all of my Apple gear. I could probably handle one. It's just watching the news, and all of the horrible things credit card companies do... it scares me away.

Try for American Express. I was declined for a credit union Visa (fresh out of college), and that made me question myself lol. But I went online and applied for an Amex. Decent rate for a non-bank card, and the extended warranty coverage makes it nice. Pay it off every month and you won't owe them an extra penny. (Blue from Amex has no annual fee or minimum charge).
 
You'll see pics of long lines from a few select stores, but those will be the exception.

It's not the phone. And it's a ho-hum upgrade.
 
I seem to recall the apple site said "fast, free shipping." Now it just says "get free shipping." I have to wonder if the online orders are going to take longer than expected.
 
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