httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRo1ZgXVcus&feature=player_embedded
The iPad 2 hits stores today in 25 countries — from Australia to Canada — and Apple fans around the world are lining up just like their U.S. counterparts for the latest edition of the device.
In Sydney, Australia, the line stretched around the block. In Liverpool, England about 20 people started camping out last night to get ready for the 5 p.m. launch today. Some are second-time buyers.
Gavin Moore, 27, Liverpool, was second in the queue at 3.30am.
He said: “I an queueing here to get the new apple iPad2. I sold the iPad1 two weeks ago so that I could buy the new one.”
Alvin, a Cult of Mac Reader, told us that at the Yorkdale Mall in Toronto the line started at 4 a.m. and that Apple offered free coffee to anyone who wanted it so that they wouldn’t nod off while waiting.
Italians hung out Apple stores in Milan and Rome, with one Apple site live blogging the people waiting as an event starting at 9 a.m. on March 24, complete with pics of the pizzas (seriously gorgeous pies) that they ate while biding time.
The iPad 2 is now available — if you’re willing to stand in line or wait three to four weeks for shipping in some countries — in Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. The Japan launch has been postponed.
Lines in the U.S. are still common, too.
“We’re experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the US, and customers around the world have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on it,” Apple Chief Steve Jobs said in a statement. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco freelance writer who heads up Cult of Mac Magazine, our weekly publication available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter and Google+. If you’re doing something new, cool and Apple-related, email her.
10 responses to “iPad 2 Lines Stretch from Toronto to Liverpool for International Launch”
Well, actually only 24 countries got the iPad 2 today.
While Greece was in the 25 countries announced during launch, we won’t be able to get our iPads until tomorrow morning. March 25th is a national holiday in Greece, all businesses are closed today and that includes Apple representative and dealers.
So much for independence day, right? Are people lined up anyway?
Oh wait… No consumers or businesses will be buying an iPad 2 because knucklehead iHaters say that it is a useless toy only bought by iSheep following Steve Jobs’ secret commands. The iSheep community continues to grow. All the brilliant tech-heads are going to be buying RIM’s Playbook because everyone knows that BlackBerry smartphones are for the serious businessman, everyone except Wall Street as RIM got clobbered as it’s future is looking mighty dim.
nicole — you are seriously hot.
I live in Australia and I could pick up an iPad 2 in a local eletronics store without a problem… The same was year ago when iPad 1 was out. No queues and loads of supply.
Maybe it is just apple retail store specific.