Diehard Apple fans line up way in advance for N.Y. store opening
The start of the Apple Store line snaking around the front of the store. You can't actually see most of the line, as it's off to the left; security was in the process of crowd control.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)
Fanboy alert! iPod and MacBook Pro spotted in line...
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)It was freezing cold and snow was starting to come down, but at 2:30 p.m. EST there were already several hundred people waiting in line at the new Apple Store on West 14th St. in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, which which opens at 6 p.m. One estimate put the crowd at about 600 people with several hours still to go.
The first person in line, a high schooler, had showed up at 1 a.m. That's not a typo. He told CNET News.com that by 3:30 or 4 a.m., more people started to join him. But the line really started to take off in the early afternoon, as students were let out for the weekend (some schools in the area close early on Fridays) and grown-up Apple fans cleared out of their offices in favor of lining up in the freezing cold.
Yeah, here's the end of the line. With three hours to go.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)Apple events are known for generating long lines well in advance--just look at the lines that formed for the Leopard operating system and the highly anticipated iPhone. But there's no product being released this time--it's just the opening of a new store.
So why wait? Well, Apple's given some incentives. "Come celebrate with us this Friday as we'll be giving away thousands of limited-edition posters and commemorative T-shirts," the store's Web site invited tantalizingly. "You might even win one of several great surprise gifts such as an iMac, a MacBook Pro, or an iPod Touch."
Sweet! Count me in!
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)As we've seen with many launch events that draw lengthy queues, many of the people in line were "tag-teaming" with friends, one waiting while the other went to grab food, coffee, or just headed for an indoor space to thaw up. And one local business was capitalizing on the freezing masses: the T Salon, located in the nearby Chelsea Market shopping complex, was distributing free cups of chai to anyone in line.
Also spotted: An establishment across the street, Comix Bar, was pricing apple martinis at half price for happy hour in celebration of the Apple Store launch. Good to know Jobs & Co. are welcome in the neighborhood.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
water?
That is somebody that needs a life.
I'd rather be in a line for anything than be a forum troll like you. At keast they are getting fresh air while standing in line..
see it. Yes, I stood in line for Leopard here in ATL. When I am in
the area of NYC next summer, I am sure I will visit the Apple
Store. I always visit the Apple Stores on vacation--make a One
on One in advance too.
After 20 years, I still only use Apple.
wrapped around the entire block and extended well down 15th
street. There was even a hefty crowd of people just watching the
line . . . I really couldn't believe the turn out. Store looked great
and I think everyone there (Apple fan or not) was impressed by the
size of this opening event.
iPods were being given away, and a lot of these people weren't so
much Mac fans as they were people looking for free stuff. There
were literally several thousand people who waited to get in.
some real bad crap.
- Waited for hours then disappointed
- by partytildawn-20159620461052270 December 8, 2007 1:01 PM PST
- Yes, Apple fans waited in line for hours, only to find, that many products in the store could ONLY be purchased with credit cards that U.S. currency was no good there. Perhaps they only accept Chinese?
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- Troll
- by Lee in San Diego December 8, 2007 1:33 PM PST
- How many are "many products" and which products?
- Like this
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- Not True
- by cdp1981 December 10, 2007 9:28 AM PST
- I was there and everything is payable in cash except iPHones because people were selling them overseas. The offered the convenience of paying wherever you were in the store but that can only be done with a credit card because cash registers would be too heavy to walk around with
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(14 Comments)