South Florida residents set on being one of the first to get the new iPad released today didn’t let a little early morning rain stop them.
Kevin Booker, from Hollywood, staked out his No. 2 spot in line at the Apple Store in the Galleria Mall around 9 p.m. Thursday night. That means he spent 11 hours inside the mall, just to get his hands on the newest iPad.
“There is no other piece of technology that is up to par,” Booker said while waiting in line in front of the store Friday morning.
He plans to get two iPads today – one for himself and one for a friend.
Maro Macieo had been at the store since 8 p.m. Thursday and was the first to walk into the Apple Store Friday morning. He was greeted by hollering and clapping Apple Store employees and got a few pats on the back and a hug as he entered the store.
Macieo flew to Fort Lauderdale from Brazil to get an iPad.
“I want to be the first person in Brazil with one,” Macieo said.
Others, like Mark Hollingsworth from Fort Lauderdale, got in line just 30 minutes before the 8 a.m. store opening. He was dressed in a “Windows killer” Apple fan T-shirt.
“This definitely is not my first Apple product,” he said.
Apple Store employees passed out Starbucks coffee and Dunkin Donuts doughnuts to customers in line.
A line formed outside the Best Buy on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale before sunrise. Customers waiting in line collected inside the first set of glass doors to brave the rain. Stores open at 10 a.m.
The new iPad comes in HD and 4G, and starts at $499. Want to know more about Apple’s latest gadget, click here for Daniel Vasquez’s Consumer Talk blog.
Walmart stores started selling the iPad before anyone else at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning, according to a spokeswoman.
The new iPad went on sale at all Target stores at 8 a.m. Friday. Target is offering a trade-in offer to customers who are willing to trade in their working iPad 2. Shoppers who trade in an older iPad can receive up to $350 in store credit. Credit depends on the type of iPad traded in and can be used toward the purchase of a new iPad. Target guests who shop with a Target REDCard will receive 5 percent savings on the purchase of the new iPad.
There’s still time to grab one.
South Florida AT&T stores will open at 9 a.m. Monthly data packages start at $14.99 and do not require a two-year term commitment.
BrandsMart USA stores will only have three new iPads for sale per store, according to spokeswoman, Ellen Stevens. BrandsMart USA stores will open at 9 a.m. Friday and the iPads will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.
Best Buy stores will open at 10 a.m. Managers will begin handing out tickets for available units at 8 a.m. to any customers waiting in line outside the store before opening. Based on the sales of the last iPad, managers are expecting crowds of 50-100 customers per store.