Excited customers in 9 new countries brave long lines for Apple's iPad

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014
Apple's touchscreen iPad officially went on sale in nine more countries Friday, resulting in long lines and waiting lists for customers in overseas markets, including Hong Kong.



The iPad launch in Hong Kong was described as "crazy" by one local vendor who has been selling the device since it launched in the U.S. in April, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kurt Lo's orders from China and Vietnam increased to between 300 and 400 this week, up from an average of 200 to 300 in previous weeks.



Hong Kong was just one of nine new territories where the iPad launched on Friday. Other new locations were Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore.



Customers were able to purchase both the Wi-Fi-only and 3G-capable models of the iPad at all of Apple's retail stores, as well as the company's authorized resellers. Apple plans to roll out the iPad in many more countries later this year, and pricing and availability have been promised at a later date.



"At an Apple reseller in Hong Kong?s Wanchai neighborhood, instead of a line, shoppers were greeted with a multi-page waiting list," the report said. "The store didn?t expect to have any more iPads available for at least two weeks."







In Hong Kong, vendors like Lo previously imported iPads through "friends" who purchased the device in the U.S. and the U.K., where it has been available for months. But now, those resellers can officially sell the device at their local stores, and also resell them to customers in other countries, like mainland China and Vietnam.



Lo told the Journal that he expected to ship between 10 and 50 iPads to vendors in gray markets in China on the launch day. Vendors like him are expected to become a major supplier of gray market iPads for mainland China, where no launch date has been provided. Recent reports have alleged that Apple is in talks with PC maker Founder to distribute and provide localized content for the device.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 73
    quinneyquinney Posts: 2,528member
    Purchasing pandemonium preceding pandemic prancing.
  • Reply 2 of 73
    brucepbrucep Posts: 2,823member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple's touchscreen iPad officially went on sale in nine more countries Friday, resulting in long lines and waiting lists for customers in overseas markets, including Hong Kong.



    The iPad launch in Hong Kong was described as "crazy" by one local vendor who has been selling the device since it launched in the U.S. in April, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kurt Lo's order ietnam sed to between 300 and 400 this week, up from an average of 200 to 300 in previous weeks.

    na on the launch day. Vendors like him are expected to become a major supplier of gray market iPads for mainland China, where no launch date has been provided. Recent reports have alleged that Apple is in talks with PC maker Founder to distribute and provide localized content for the device.



    AN AMAZING WORLD WIDE TEST to see what all the buyers will decide what uses and what capabilities the ipad will have .



    go apple



    9
  • Reply 3 of 73
    I was pleasantly surprised at the low price.



    For Hong Kong this is definitely a consumer price.
  • Reply 4 of 73
    cgc0202cgc0202 Posts: 624member
    If you were to believe the tech bloggers, the average consumers should not have a use for the iPad:



    ********

    "Just Apple fanboys, who drank too much Kool-aid, that should be buying. And, they have so much money they would buy anything coming from Steve Jobs. A bunch of idiots!" -- they say.

    ********



    And so many all over the world are joining the club! And companies are rushing in too? What crazy world have we become? Hmm...



    CGC
  • Reply 5 of 73
    iPads! Double Rainbow!



    ...sorry, couldn't resist.
  • Reply 6 of 73
    min_tmin_t Posts: 74member
    where are the red t-shirt made in china, designed in CA apple uniforms. would've been cool to see those. guess hk is still independent in spirit.
  • Reply 7 of 73
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cgc0202 View Post


    If you were to believe the tech bloggers, the average consumers should not have a use for the iPad:



    ********

    "Just Apple fanboys, who drank too much Kool-aid, that should be buying. And, they have so much money they would buy anything coming from Steve Jobs. A bunch of idiots!" -- they say.

    ********



    And so many all over the world are joining the club! And companies are rushing in too? What crazy world have we become? Hmm...



    CGC



    You took the words right out of my mouth. Amazing how limited their imaginations were / are isn't it. Mindless trolls.
  • Reply 8 of 73
    postulantpostulant Posts: 1,272member
    Those are obviously manikins as no one would ever buy an oversized iPod touch.
  • Reply 9 of 73
    originalgoriginalg Posts: 383member
    Any info on where the Apple retail stores will open in HK? and when?
  • Reply 10 of 73
    shaun, ukshaun, uk Posts: 1,050member
    Looks like a Michael Jackson appreciation society meeting with so many people wearing those face masks.
  • Reply 11 of 73
    When will they make iPad available in Indian market? When will Apple start taking India serious?
  • Reply 12 of 73
    chronsterchronster Posts: 1,894member
    If Microsoft was only ahead by $300Million, then the ipad going global should push Apple over that hump next quarter.



    When you look at how much money is being made, $300Million isn't that much. I don't see how it's negative for MS for Apple to overtake them (if only for their bragging rights) but if it's important to them, they better do something next quarter to offset the iPad's new global market.
  • Reply 13 of 73
    Can any of the iPad users help improve my listing is of single-purpose devices replaceable by smartphones? Much of it can be applied to iPads as well (although you lose functionality without cellular voice and camera), but you may be able to tell me where you think the larger screen actually helps in replacing other devices.







    Thanks in advance.
  • Reply 14 of 73
    xsamplexxsamplex Posts: 214member
    And I thought the US had cornered the Apple dork market...
  • Reply 15 of 73
    nasseraenasserae Posts: 3,167member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cgc0202 View Post


    If you were to believe the tech bloggers, the average consumers should not have a use for the iPad:



    ********

    "Just Apple fanboys, who drank too much Kool-aid, that should be buying. And, they have so much money they would buy anything coming from Steve Jobs. A bunch of idiots!" -- they say.

    ********



    And so many all over the world are joining the club! And companies are rushing in too? What crazy world have we become? Hmm...



    CGC



    You weren't here one someone insisted that every person who buys an Apple product (specially the iPhone) is an Apple fanboy.
  • Reply 16 of 73
    daharderdaharder Posts: 1,580member
    Given these consumer's expectations are realistic (e.g. the iPad is primarily a media consumption device, not a substitute for a laptop or netbook), they'll find the iPad a pleasant experience.
  • Reply 17 of 73
    cgc0202cgc0202 Posts: 624member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    You took the words right out of my mouth. Amazing how limited their imaginations were / are isn't it. Mindless trolls.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by NasserAE View Post


    You weren't here one someone insisted that every person who buys an Apple product (specially the iPhone) is an Apple fanboy.



    I was reading the recent and archived columns of Dan Lyons last night after John Gruber lambasted him. It was amazing how a journalist -- whose claim to fame was triggered by being the Fake Steve Jobs -- became a tech columnist and an editor at that of Newsweek.



    He does use computers (Macs but now enamored with Windows 7) and telephones (iPhone to HTC Incredible more recently), plus some other gadgets; but that does not make one an expert on technology, to qualify as tech journalist.



    In regard the iPad, he welcomed it in principle before in was formally announced (2009 column). However, immediately after the announcement, someone posted a You Tube video where he was not as enthused. When many of the major newspapers and magazines featured the iPad just before it was launched, both Newsweek featured a frontpage article and a positive column from D. Lyons.



    Then, he gave up his iPhone and replaced it with HTC Incredible because he did not like the "walled garden" of Apple, and did not like some policies if Steve Jobs. His negative columns about Steve Jobs, Apple and the iPhone became more prevalent.



    If I am not mistaken, he bought an iPad. I have not ascertained whether it was before or after he gave up his iPhone in favor of the Inccedible. What is odd though was that if he gave up his iPhone because of the "walled garden" of Apple, what makes iPad different to be exempt from his not liking the i{hone?







    CGC
  • Reply 18 of 73
    feynmanfeynman Posts: 1,087member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MyopiaRocks View Post


    iPads! Double Rainbow!



    What does this mean??!!!
  • Reply 19 of 73
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by xSamplex View Post


    And I thought the US had cornered the Apple dork market...



    It's gone global!
  • Reply 20 of 73
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by striker_kk View Post


    When will they make iPad available in Indian market? When will Apple start taking India serious?



    India is getting it's own Tablet $35.00 less $20.00 government rebate or $15.00.
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