First NYC iPad line sitter also camped for first iPhone: a legend is born (video)

Greg Packer, we salute you. Sure, the weather in New York City is a lot finer now than it was back in the sweltering summer of 2007, but we still feel the need to tip our hat to someone who'd camp out three whole days at Apple's Fifth Avenue store (read: "The Cube") for an iPad. Tipster Tom dropped in the image after the break at around 3:15PM ET yesterday, and after a short nap in Penn Station, Mr. Packer is freshened up and holding down his spot yet again. We aren't anticipating iPhone-esque lines this coming Saturday, but considering that new pre-orders aren't being fulfilled until April 12th or later, we reckon this guy is following that whole "better safe than sorry" thing to a T. Check out a brief video captured on the streets (thanks, Zoltan Kaprinay!) by tapping that 'Read More' link, and head on over to Switched if you'd like to relive a similar interview from the iPhone campout.

We'll leave you with a few choice quotes from Mr. Packer on why exactly he's doing such a thing for such a product:

Question: "So, nobody took your place?"
Packer: "No, nobody... nobody."

Question: "So, you are the first one?"
Packer: "So far, yep yep!"

Question: "So you're going to be the first one to buy one, also?"
Packer: "Yep, yep!"

Question: "Do you have any number?"
Packer: "Huh?! Yes, yes. Well, first come, first serve! They don't give you a number, you queue up for a number."

Question: "Do you have something in your bag, to eat or drink?"
Packer: "Just mainly a change of clothes. Nothing to eat, nothing to drink."

Question: "Why do you want [the iPad] so desperately?"
Packer: "Because... it's like a mini laptop! I mean, you just... you know, click it on, just like you click the iPhone on. And you don't have to open it up, and you know, go through, you know, go through everything. "

Question: "So, you need to have it?"
Packer: "Yes! "

[Thanks, Tom and Zoltan]

Greg Packer camping out for first iPad in NYC

See more video at our hub!

[Peanut123 Posted Apr 1st 2010 9:43PM]

@dish ...ditto

[Peanut123 Posted Apr 1st 2010 9:41PM]

(1:31) The camera man actually sounds like Borat. lol

[DOMO Posted Apr 1st 2010 9:47PM]

Poor Sucker

[DOMO Posted Apr 1st 2010 9:50PM]

it's like a mini laptop! I mean, you just... you know, click it on, just like you click the iPhone on. And you don't have to open it up, and you know, go through, you know, go through everything. " LOL

[TCrimson05 Posted Apr 1st 2010 10:16PM]

c'mon.....even you apple diehard can be objective and say this guy is lame. lol

[bludhound Posted Apr 1st 2010 10:56PM]

Hopefully he has a cap to collect the spare change he'll need to get his iPad.

[tome0124 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 12:44AM]

There's a guy now camping for Halo: Reach in front of Gamestop. He probably quit his job and going to camp for 5 month. That's more impressive..

[Amusednow Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:41AM]

Wow who would have thought a apple linesitter would be a round mound with a bad stache? Keep on thinking different cultists....

[sutekiii Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:33AM]

Sad.. Just sad.

[Bobot Posted Apr 2nd 2010 7:22AM]

Man! That's awful! He doesn't even know for what reason he wants to buy it...another brainwashed consumer...

[mr unverified Posted Apr 2nd 2010 12:40PM]

what a hot piece of gadget

[soren121 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:35PM]

If he didn't bring any food, what will he eat and when?

[cameronsipod Posted Apr 2nd 2010 7:17PM]

why hate? no one complained when the pants on the ground guy got famous for being ridiculous.

[bricktop Posted Apr 2nd 2010 7:35PM]

He's just doing it for the attention, not for the iPad..

From wikipedia: He has been quoted in more than 100 articles and television broadcasts as a member of the public (that is, a "man on the street" rather than a newsmaker or expert)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer

[cobaltboy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 10:33PM]

Why would anyone sit and wait for an iPad. I can think of a million better things to do then set and wait for something I really don't need anyway. He must not have a job!!

[dropyours Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:28PM]

If I was Steve Jobs I would be wondering where all the other Apple drones were. What! only one guy waiting in line! And only for 3 days! Who dropped the ball? I would be hiring a bus load of spring breakers to stand in line and hype this thing like the it's a tele-porter or something. I would have every Apple Store in LA and NYC lined up with 100 stunt buyers at each store. What about all the ebay resellers. What happened to the American spirit of enterprise? I think I may have to take matters into my own hands and find me an Apple store to go sit in front of.

[dropyours Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:45PM]

@dropyours Oh yeah and this guy did not plan his camp out through at all. He has on a bright orange coat with no advertising! I would be decked out like a race car driver and I would be changing my ball caps when being interviewed so all my sponsors got air time. I would have my responses rehearsed like "I would not be able to sit here in this bitter cold if it were not for my brand x jacket and I would like to thank brand y folding chairs for making my sit so comfortable." This guy could have made some cash. I know I would have sponsored him if I knew about him before tonight.

[MrGuzz Posted Apr 3rd 2010 12:04AM]

..........Be an iLosser.....Priceless !

[bullishnyc Posted Apr 3rd 2010 12:20AM]

Where does this guy get the cash? He's obviously a bum.

[gOLFER348 Posted Apr 3rd 2010 1:31AM]

If you Google Greg Packer you will see he is a Media Hound, he finds his way to the front of the lines or where the cameras are and has been interviewed hundreds of times as the "Regular Joe" Man on the Street....he's met three presidents and has been interview by Ann Coulter...he is retired...and has made a lot of money....but plays the regular joe....

[MrGuzz Posted Apr 3rd 2010 6:12AM]

Well like I say before:

.......Be an iLosser.....Priceless !

Greg Packer as been Bumped from the first position of the queue due to not having a reservation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer