iPad WTF?! People already lined up!!!

[srminton]

Or, more importantly, don't they have a life? A job? Anything else meaningful in their lives except for electronic toys? That's the sad thing here. Otherwise, it's hilarious. Samsung is correct with their TV ads making fun of theses people. . Lines at apple stores give you the opportunity to see a huge collection of knit caps and backpacks all in one convenient place.

There's only one thing more depressing and sad than a line-up at an Apple Store, and it's this: http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/surface-tablet-buyers-line-up-at-california-microsoft-store/

 

[iapplelove]

There's only one thing more depressing and sad than a line-up at an Apple Store, and it's this: http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/surface-tablet-buyers-line-up-at-california-microsoft-store/

lol yup

 

[leenak]

How are they going to get their halloween candy though?

 

[DanTSX]

This is a religion.

Buying new apple products is their sacrament.

And they get to post about it and get hits on their blog or yootoob, duh.

And then there are people that are going to fed-ex the thing overseas to some rich offspring of the upper crust in a third world country and bank $1,000 profit on the thing.

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There's only one thing more depressing and sad than a line-up at an Apple Store, and it's this: http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/surface-tablet-buyers-line-up-at-california-microsoft-store/

yuck

 

[patseguin]

Camping out now is a tad ridiculous. I can see maybe getting to the store at 6am but starting now is just a waste of time when you can order online. The only reason to line up for this is to get it earlier. I will say that lining up for an Apple product is a unique experience that everyone should do once.

 

[bigdaddyc188]

They have their sleeping bags, pillows out and the whole nine...im gonna do instore pick up if it is a viable option. I took the rest of the week off but I wasnt planning on camping out all night.

Did you really take the week off for the iPad?

 

[rtomyj]

Or, more importantly, don't they have a life? A job? Anything else meaningful in their lives except for electronic toys? That's the sad thing here. Otherwise, it's hilarious. Samsung is correct with their TV ads making fun of theses people. . Lines at apple stores give you the opportunity to see a huge collection of knit caps and backpacks all in one convenient place.

It could be the experience? I've been to a midnight release for a game and it was fun. Doesn't have to be that they don't have lives. I would do it if I could just to experience it. The Samsung commercials are obviously them being jealous. What company doesn't want that?

 

[AdonisSMU]

Did you really take the week off for the iPad?

No that would be ridiculous. You don't understand those people camp out at apple stores permanently. You won't be getting an iOS device at an Apple store in NYC. I talked to the security at the Apple store and they were like those people have been camped out for months.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Or, more importantly, don't they have a life? A job? Anything else meaningful in their lives except for electronic toys? That's the sad thing here. Otherwise, it's hilarious. Samsung is correct with their TV ads making fun of theses people. . Lines at apple stores give you the opportunity to see a huge collection of knit caps and backpacks all in one convenient place.

They are scalping the devices. I get it. It would be nice if end users could actually get an Apple device without having to pay a significant premium over what it's worth. Ok camping out for the first day because you are a fan is one thing but for months and months at a time keeping actual customers from buying anything from the Apple Store so middle men can jack up the price is kind of a bad end user experience. It feels like it's gotten ridiculous. In-Store pick up is wonderful solution to this.

 

[AppleRobert]

Snap a picture and post. Maybe they are waiting for a 5S.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Snap a picture and post. Maybe they are waiting for a 5S.

I will on my way to the gym in a bit. I just woke up.

 

[AppleRobert]

I will on my way to the gym in a bit. I just woke up.

I already went to the gym and was done by 7:30am. Tomorrow I will go straight to Best Buy afterwards across the street.

 

[HoosBruce]

There's only one thing more depressing and sad than a line-up at an Apple Store, and it's this: http://www.eweek.com/mobile/slideshows/surface-tablet-buyers-line-up-at-california-microsoft-store/

did Microsoft copy Apple's plan for stores? The glass, the silver bar up top around the logo, the wood floors/furniture, their employees looking like "geniuses"...weird

 

[AppleRocks2011]

Online Reservations

Just wanted to point out that I'm glad that there are rumours about online reservations.....lining up seems outdated, especially when the lines get long! I hope the rumour is true though!

 

[darngooddesign]

I think this gave it away

Unless the new job included a move. You do realize that the NYT has correspondents who don't live in NYC.

 

[Krevnik]

Just wanted to point out that I'm glad that there are rumours about online reservations.....lining up seems outdated, especially when the lines get long! I hope the rumour is true though!

It only seems outdated when you ignore what online ordering of limited supplies (like concert tickets) does. What has been happening there is that scalpers write bots to buy up the tickets within seconds in order to resell at a profit. Making them stand in line with everyone else limits the damage scalpers can do.

 

[AdonisSMU]

It only seems outdated when you ignore what online ordering of limited supplies (like concert tickets) does. What has been happening there is that scalpers write bots to buy up the tickets within seconds in order to resell at a profit. Making them stand in line with everyone else limits the damage scalpers can do.

You realize that it is two per customer...that is what limits the damage not online bots. Plus there is such a thing a reCaptcha. I'm sure Apple would rather charge more money or have people buying additional accessories from the store while they are in the store rather than have them walk away refusing to pay the scalper tax. Last year the scalpers bought up all of the iPad Minis and then they couldn't sell all of them so they came back and dumped them back on Apple...when those could've went to customers right at the jump. Stuff like that is factored into the cost of the device.

 

[sonicrobby]

There is a fine line between excitement over something new, and obsession over it...

 

[darngooddesign]

There is a fine line between excitement over something new, and obsession over it...

People obsessed with iPads also spend time on iPad forums.

 

[AdonisSMU]

There is a fine line between excitement over something new, and obsession over it...

When I'm making a purchase over $500 bucks I tend to obsess over it. I rarely make a purchase that expensive....

 

[bigdaddyc188]

No that would be ridiculous. You don't understand those people camp out at apple stores permanently. You won't be getting an iOS device at an Apple store in NYC. I talked to the security at the Apple store and they were like those people have been camped out for months.

Thats nuts… I guess it is the thrill of getting the device...

 

[AdonisSMU]

People obsessed with iPads also spend time on iPad forums.

Lol! iPad is my favorite computing device ever. So....

 

[darngooddesign]

Lol! iPad is my favorite computing device ever. So....

My post was directed at sonicrobby who implied that waiting in line was a sign of obsession while ignoring that joining and posting on an iPad forum, when not looking for a specific piece of information, is also a sign of obsession.

I've camped out for iPads and iPhones, and I've camped out for concert tickets. Heck, I even camped out for an earlier version of OSX Tiger, and got a cool set of dog tags. I've always had a good time doing it.

 

[Krevnik]

You realize that it is two per customer...that is what limits the damage not online bots. Plus there is such a thing a reCaptcha. I'm sure Apple would rather charge more money or have people buying additional accessories from the store while they are in the store rather than have them walk away refusing to pay the scalper tax. Last year the scalpers bought up all of the iPad Minis and then they couldn't sell all of them so they came back and dumped them back on Apple...when those could've went to customers right at the jump. Stuff like that is factored into the cost of the device.

You just create an arms race that way. I can write a bot to circumvent the 2-per-person limit and get larger shares by using accomplices who risk nothing. Captchas are increasingly under attack and starting to be broken. Making them wait in person, where the risk to accomplices is much greater, or have supply high enough they can't resell is really the best way. You don't introduce exploitable technology into the mix.

Also, keep in mind how much scalping of Apple products is actually to feed foreign markets before the product is launched there. Ain't arbitrage grand? (it isn't quite arbitrage, but the principle is the same)

 

[GoCubsGo]

I worked for The New York Times full time. I just got a new job that pays more than double.

Filed under: Yeah right and who cares.


There are people who really just enjoy sitting in line with other people who enjoy Apple products. I've done it once just to do it and won't do it again. I never camped out there. I'm an adult with actual real life crap to deal with, camping on the sidewalk is not my thing.