httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1r4KbXndJF8
Today is new iPad day in the rest of the world. At 8AM local time in additional countries across Europe, Mexico, New Zealand and even Macau. As in the US and the other countries in the first wave of launches,. there appear to be plenty of iPads to go around.
I arrived at the Barcelona Apple Store this morning at just after 8AM and joined the line of around 200-300 people in front of me. Right away a couple of blue-shirted Apple Store people asked me which iPad I wanted and peeled me off a business-card sized ticket. I was in. There appeared to be a whole stack of cards still in the two boxes on the trolley (one box for black, one for white). I opted for the 64GB 4G in white, if you’re asking.
Apple store employees ran loops around the line, which itself was formed in a big square thanks to the shape of the Maquinista mall in which the Apple Store sits. And they also jumped, cheered and high-fived every customer as they were led into the store one-by-one by their own assigned assistant. Every time I visit an Apple Store I’m more and more impressed.
Interestingly, the only way to get an iPad today was to visit the store. There has been no pre-ordering for the new iPad, and online ordering switched on this morning at the same time as the stores opened.
We have done our reviews here at Cult of Mac, so I won’t say much about the iPad itself, other than yes, the screen is great, but like the retina display on the iPhone it doesn’t hit you right away. A glance isn’t enough, but when you start using it you really notice how clear it is.
Also, there’s a warm spot on my iPad, but it really isn’t very warm at all, let alone hot. As to the battery, if you want to use it while it’s charging, plug it into a wall. Even the USB port on my 27-inch iMac can do no more than stop the battery from draining.
So, if you live in one of the following countries — Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — and want an iPad today, you can probably still pick one up at the store.
