My iPad 2 Story

In between working through the tsunami coverage here in Hawaii, I was able to pick up an Apple iPad 2.  I got the 64GB AT&T 3G model in white and left the Apple Store at Ala Moana Center a happy man.  But, I had to endure some trying times.

Let me explain:

Last Friday, I left work just before noon and I went home to eat and relax before going to the Apple Store to stand in line at around 2 p.m.  While eating lunch, I decided to ask my Twitter followers how long the line was at Ala Moana Center.  Turns out the line was getting kind of long early and I decided to hoof it over to Ala Moana Center right after I finished eating.  The end of the line put me in the hot, hot sun.  I waited here for the better part of FOUR hours. They did give us umbrellas, though.

We were also given some Jamba Juice as well as some water.  I didn't want to take too much water or I'd have to go to the bathroom.  Although I know the people next to me would be nice and hold my spot, thankfully I didn't have to go to the bathroom.

Now, I found it strange that even when the store opened at 5 p.m., employees were not asking what model you wanted until you were right in front of the Apple Store. Last year, they handed out tickets (pictured, right) so that people wouldn't wait in line for an iPad model they couldn't get.  At the Ala Moana store they DIDN'T do that this year.  And because of that, I almost left empty-handed.

When I got to the front of the Apple Store, they asked me what model I wanted.  I told them I wanted a black 64GB AT&T 3G model.  They told me they didn't have any 64GB AT&T 3G models, much less the black ones.  I told them if I can't at least get the white version, I don't want an iPad 2.  I really wanted an AT&T iPad so I can move over my unlimited data plan.  Yes, I was willing to walk away even after waiting in line for four hours if I didn't get the model I wanted.  I would rather wait for weeks for the iPad I wanted than get an iPad I didn't want.

I was actually walking away and ready to tweet a serious #AppleFail tweetbomb,  when at the very last minute an employee told me that she finally found a white 64GB AT&T iPad 2.  Thank God. I would've kissed her right there and then.  It helped that she was kind of cute, too.

So, I was a happy man.  I got the iPad 2 I wanted, although not the color I wanted.  I have to say  though, the white is very nice and it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would looking at the screen.

I'll post my initial review of the iPad 2 as soon as I can.