iPad 2 pandemic hits Klang Valley

They've waited outside Machines since 6am and some slept there

MOVE aside Justine Bieber, it's iPad 2's turn to turn Malaysians into frenzy mode. Apple did it again this time as thousands of iPad die-hard fans thronged its distributors around Klang Valley early Friday morning to get the first batch of iPad 2.
The 10-inch touch screen device, that was first announced in the US on March 2 by Steve Jobs, has once again proved that it's still the king tablet computers in the market. Despite the hush-hush tactic adopted by Apple on the exact date of the launch, these fans somehow knew from a week ago that April 29 is the day, and some hardcore fans had camped outside Machines stores in two malls, Mid-Valley and Sunway Pyramid, to ensure they get the first iPads from the first batch.

One hour before Machines opens

It was an unusual sight in shopping complexes with Apple authorised distributors on Friday morning as fans had gathered as early as 6am, despite the stores' opening time of 10am.

By 9am, about 300 people had already formed a long circular que at Mid Valley's Machines outlet, patiently waiting for the store to open.

Machines in Mid-Valley was reported to offer 600 units of iPad 2 on Friday while Harvey Norman on the lower ground floor offered 50 units, all snapped up within an hour after the stores opened.

The first to be there was Internet marketer Wilson Lim, 26, who had booked a spot right in front of Machines in Mid Valley from 9pm last Thursday.

"I've been waiting for iPad 2 even since iPad 1 was available and I want to make sure that I'll be among the first Malaysians to own it officially," he said.

Lim and a bunch of other hardcore iPad were lucky as Mid-Valley mall's management had granted permission for iPad buyers to camp outside Machines the night before.

"I run a blog on iPad and have been following closely rumours and forums on this device and got the actual date of the iPad 2 availability," he said, adding thatt he will use his new 32GB Wi-Fi version iPad 2 for reading e-books, playing games and blogging.

Another early bird, Swee Wai Hoow, 25, an iPhone application engineer, started to camp outside Machines in Mid Valley as soon as the store closed its doors on Thursday night. He was there with three other friends, all iPad and iPhone applications engineers, from the night before.

"Originally we plan to go to Singapore to get the iPad 2, but since the availability of the products for these two countries fall on the same day, it's better and easier for us to just get it here," said Hoow.

"Malaysian were lucky too as the iPad 2 models here are cheaper than the ones in Singapore," he said.

For instance, a 16GB Wi-Fi version in Singapore costs S$728 (RM1,674), the same model here costs RM1,499. All the iPad 2 models are also cheaper by RM100 compared to iPad 1.

iPad 2 now in white frame too

Hoow said he's looking forward to experience the faster processor, longer battery life and faster graphic processor.

"Apple claims that the iPad 2 graphic processor is nine times faster than the previous version, and we're hoping to utilise this feature to develop more advance games for this platform. The the dual-cameras is also useful as we can also implement some ideas to make new games and applications," he said.

Meanwhile, sisters Siti Hafsah Mohd Hashim and Siti Hanizah Mohd Hashim came all the way from Sarawak to get their first iPad 2.

Wilson Lim"We've been following online forums and related Apple websites to know the exact date of the ipad 2 availability here and once we knew that it will be on Friday, April 29, we booked a room at the Gardens Hotel to ensure that our quest for iPad 2 will be a fruitful one," said Siti Hafsah.
"What I like about iPad 2 is the big screen size and thin form factor. This will make it easy for me to read e-books and online articles," she said.

The iPad 2 madness does not just hit the young generations, but also senior citizen as there were a few of them who joined the que on the early morning in Mid Valley.

One of them, Marcus LG Teoh, 56, said he's been watching his friends playing with iPad 1 all this while.

Wilson Lim spent the night in front of Machines to get the pole position

"I looks interesting and I tell myself that I am going to get the iPad 2," he said. Teoh was there at Machines queuing up from 7am.

"It's worthy it. Now I finally can feel and play with this elegant device," he said.

"My friends have been telling me that iPad games will be good for enhancing ones' hand co-ordination and reflex, and it is also a good way to keep senior citizen like me occupied and stimulate our minds," he said.

Teoh, who is still working as sales manager for a medical equipment company, said the iPad 2 will be a good device for business presentation.

"The ability to blow up pictures and graphics with your fingers seems attractive," he said.

Finally, close friends, Fadly Hashim, Izzat Zumairi and Roszaimy Yaakob have decided to get the 16GB Wi-Fi versions and in white.


"The white one looks really outstanding to me and I think people will straigh away know that we're holding iPad 2," says Fadly.

The three of them knew about the launch from chat forum on the Internet.

"The faster processor and longer 10 hours battery are a plus to the users. For example, I can run more applications faster and take the device out and use it the whole day without having to worry about charging it," says Izzat.

The launch has also attracted mobile broadband service providers like YES and Maxis to send their promoters at the stores to attract buyers.

There are six iPad 2 models namely the 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (Wi-Fi) and 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (Wi-Fi + 3G) and are priced at RM1,499, RM1,799, RM2,099, RM1,899, RM2,199 and RM2,499 respectively and they come in two colours - black and white.

Among the new features in the iPad 2 include LED-backlit display, dual-core A5 chip, dual cameras, 10 hours battery life, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology and 3G data service.