Apple iPad launches globally: lines form to the left, gauche, izquierda, hidari... (updated)
By Ross Miller 
posted May 27th 2010 10:04PM
posted May 27th 2010 10:04PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: We've got our first queue pictures popping up and are adding them in after the break. Keep them coming, guys!
Update 2: We've heard direct from Best Buy that the iPad is today on sale in its Thurrock branch, and also in the brand new Hedge End outlet, which opened today in Southampton.
Read - AFP (Australia)
Read - Reuters (Japan)
Manchester, England, in the early hours of the night. Thanks, Manas.
Zurich, Switzerland. This is what the Apple Store's looking 90 minutes after opening. Thanks, Alexandre.
Outside London's Regent Street Store. Thanks, Richard and Matthew.
Toronto, Canada, just before the doors opening. Thanks, Daniel.
@kingofwale How does this make Apple look better? They are just telling us iPad launched in Europe, which is news enough, and asking for our experiences. Big deal.
@kingofwale
I'm not sure how many times you need to hear it to understand, but Engadget doesn't "love" Apple, they "love" traffic. For instance, I saw this story, read "iPad launch" and clicked into just to be disappointed that there wasn't more to read. And I'm not alone. Just look at you.
If they gave all of Apple's products glowing reviews, I'd have to agree with you. As it is, the only bias here is nonsensical musings like yours. The biggest tech company in the U.S. has launched a wildly popular new product category (1 million sold in the U.S. alone in 28 days), and they're finally launching globally even as supply shortages persist in the U.S. It's most anticipated competing products have recently been canceled or gone MIA, and its like suddenly everyone's been caught with their pants down.
It was all I could do to ignore the people pointing and commenting on my iPad while I ate my launch and read my iPad issue of Wired magazine. I think my headphones were the only thing that allowed me to escape an impromptu conversation.
Yes.
This is news. Sorry.
@CleverB
Heh, heh. "Ate my launch". Wow. If that's wasn't a slip.
@CleverB The reason why apple is so successful is because the Mainstream Media LOVES Apple. Their ridiculous "Tech Minute" Segments on Fox and CNN almost always have a story about Apple. And Mainstream Media = Popularity + Sales.... The day when the Media gets tired of Apple is the day Apple dies.... Mark my words!
Just Sayin
@Sizzmo
Apple does a lot of things right in the consumer market but they also do a few things wrongs - generally mainstream media often over looks what they do wrong or make excuses for them - no other tech company gets this luxury.
@pokes
Were either one of you into computer & technology int he 90's? Just wondering. The media had quite a different take on Apple, several publications actually had an Apple death watch. The rest pretty much ignored any news about Apple, unless it was negative. Guess what, they were around then too. Not unitl Windows 95 did Microsoft even come close to the Mac OS experience that had been around for over a decade prior. To attribute Apple's success in the last decade to media hype, or blind customer loyalty, or to ignorant people & 'fanboys' displays just how ignorant you are. Apple deserves every bit of success they are currently receiving & kudos to them for it. It is nothing short of a business miracle what they have pulled off. They certainly have a far superior understanding of what the average consumer wants when compared to other companies. Microsoft only understand what the average consumer wants after another company discovers it. In the next decade you are going to see Apple become even bigger, and you will also see Microsoft losing even more ground. Downrank, mock & troll this comment - but come back in ten years & see who is more on target.
@Joao Cagao I totally agree with what you are saying. When Engadget creates a post relating to Apple, the article usually gets the most comments and response. However, a lot of the comments tend to be negative against Apple, stating how bad Steve Jobs is, and how awful their hardware and software is.
It is clear to see that Apple is onto a winner with the iPad. Apple-haters are just finding it hard to accept the instant success the iPad has enjoyed... worldwide now. A lot of people have been pinning their hopes on the MS Courier, which was a nice concept, but totally impractical for 2010, 2011. People are still waiting for the HP tablet, which I'm sure will be simply a netbook without a keyboard!
At this point in time, the only other tablet available is the JooJoo, which has understandably had hardly any sales. A lot of the Apple haters where raving about the JooJoo, but to my knowledge, no one has admitted to actually buying one.
By the time the competition catches up with the iPad, the iPad will be on version 2. Similarly, now that rivals are catching up to the iPhone (only just), Apple will be releasing the next device.
I'm extremely proud of companies who take the lead in bringing 'real' products to market, and then letting the competition play catchup. First the iPod, then the iPhone, and now the iPad. I wonder what's next?
BREAKING
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
really?
@Uncontrol
28 DAYS LATER!
Not this thing again? :)
when china ?
@littlea
Don't worry, it'll arrive in a flash....
@littlea There is already plenty of the things on sale in HK, not officially though.
@littlea
Foxconn is hiring. I'm sure there's an employee discount when you build your own.
Mann the popcorn.
@N900
with pleasure
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b85/cool_dude100/popcorn.gif
@hated one
... and this is your brain on drugs...
Someone help me out here. I'm trying to figure out what all that mess under uck's comment is.
@Eli Haj I should have did the "@". I was talking about hated one's comment, now deleted.....but lol that's equal mess too!
@yankdez
Well, I know that "Gauche" means left in french, So I suppose the two other words are references to "left" as well.
@Redyz
Izquierda is left in spanish
i prefer a little more pseudo slang in articles, but this one was pretty close.
anyway, i'm goin to pick up now a 56 hanky wanky in a slirpee slurp and brake tha cake in two and a half lol haha rofl!!11
...damn internet
@yankdez
Hidari is left in Japanese.
If only there was some some of global database that offered a convenient way to search these things. :\
So the tale goes something like this. 6 people; all working at the same company. Loyal to their fruit, they purchase the slate. What has become of their lives on the slate? 1 uses the slate to view email in meetings... The other uses it to view porn in bathrooms. The third has an obsession with playing music and videos around everyone else who isn't interested. The 4th has a knack of following number one around, so #4 is essentially #1. #5 Lost it (yes lost it) on the second day. The 6th one returned it because essentially it's an iPhone, only bigger. So why should i get one if i can already do all these things from my smartphone? Huh Steve?
oh my god
first
downrank me you assholes!
@osterzone
gladly. also, type faster next time, you failed quite hard. better yet, don't try again. trust me, it's for your own good.
Got mine, lovin' it! :D
@Almo
Keep telling yourself that over and over. Eventually, you'll believe it....sucker!
@Kelly S
I'm sorry, jealous much? Hah. It's not like anyone who pre-ordered it is stuck with it, you're entitled to a full refund within 14 days if you don't like it and return it. (Not even mentioning ridiculous prices going on eBay). So no, I don't need to convince myself. I am quite happy with it and the multitude of apps I'm enjoying. Let's see how far your jealousy goes.
@Kelly S
You are perfectly entited to choose an alternative device, or indeed, none at all, as you feel suits you best. However your comment blatantly shows a sense of jealousy with underlying irony in trying to convince YOURself that you can not have one & hence no one should. Hahaha. Made my day. :)
*entitled
@Almo Wow almo, turns out you're a sucker for taking an interest and buying a product that may suit your needs. Mad world, eh?
By the time Stevie J takes the stage on June 7th, Apple will have sold A BILLLION DOLLARS worth of iPads worldwide.
@16915V
So assuming an operating income on that of about 300 million then about 40% taxes, that comes to about 180 million. Obama spent more than that on his last date night.
@Kelly S That's still $180M more than Google earned from Android...
lets get magical!
Apple products such as an Ipad is nothing without Adobe... other words FLASH ..right guyz??
I work around the near the Ginza store in Tokyo and there were 1200 people lined up this morning.... one guy queued for like 27 hours! I guess this crushes the "it's just a big iPhone" defense...
@sighclops
* I work near.. (sorry typo)
Shortages in 3.. 2.. 1..
links is left in German
Esquerda, sinistra, левые...
Everyone line up for your Salsa makers, fabricant de Salsa, Salsa valmistaja, Salsa készítő...
@A25i
Oh cool you invented your own language.... that's adorable
I have never posted to Engadget before, but recently I have been tempted to elucidate a pattern I have noticed that is common to most articles which are even tangentially related to Apple.
It goes something like this:
1. Engadget posts article that describes some recent development in an Apple product, or Apple news
2. Swarms of commenters come in to decry the supposed Apple bias on Engadget, and attack Apple 'fans'/Steve Jobs for purchasing Apple products. They will then say something along the lines of, "watch out for the Apple fan boiz who are gonna come in and drool!!!!!!"
3. The Apple 'fan boys' never materialize, at least not in any significant numbers, but the Apple haters continue to come in droves.
Each step of this had its own irony embedded within. People claim Engadget is biased because it posts the Apple minutiae. Here's a hint: Engadget is a gadget blog. Almost everything they post here would be considered by minutiae by anyone not interested in technology. They post just as much Android minutiae, but yet I never hear any Apple 'fan boiz' coming in to assault on Engadget on crooked practices. Even funnier, when people come in and blindly attack Steve Jobs and people who use Apple products, they reveal their own blatant biases. Pot, meet kettle.
Then there are the people who consistently refer to Apple users as members of a cult, or fan boys. Why is it then that there are always far more people on the threads that come to accuse Apple users of the above, than the other way around? It seems to me there are far more people who are rabid about their Android or other products, than the other way around.
It's a fucking product. If you like it, buy it. If you don't like it, buy something else. It's not an important political issue that is going to guide your future. It's honestly hilarious to see every Apple post grabbing 100+ comments, mostly consisting of people hating on Apple. Nobody fucking cares.
@timds
Should have kept to not commenting.
Its a fucking comment section. if you dont like reading them, turn them off. Its not an important comment that will guide your purchasing future. It's honestly hilarious to see someone try to make sense, or referee this place with his 1 comment, mostly consisting of hate for everyone here.
Nobody fucking cares.
Ironic your post has nothing at all to do with the article, in fact adding to the useless posts you seem to hate so much.
@hated one
I agree.
There are a lot of "me too" idiots out there.
@A25i
'Just proves there are a lot of sheep in the world that fall for magical marketing.'
I don't really think I have to say anything, other than just repost that comment of yours. It says enough about you, and your understanding of ...everything.