Apple opened two retail stores this morning — one in Chandler, AZ and the other in Northridge, CA.
Not surprisingly, there was a lot of interest in Apple’s Titanium PowerBook G4 and iBook at the stores today — the two portables were refreshed earlier this week with a speed bump and other options. The portables weren’t the only big-ticket Apple products leaving the store — Desktop G4s and 22-inch Cinema displays were also popular items with buyers.
Both stores had a couple of hundred people waiting in line this morning, continuing the phenomenon that seems to be unique to Apple retail openings. Mac users also seem to be willing to go to great lengths to outdo their fellow users to be first in line at an Apple retail opening. Today was no different in Chandler, but it didn’t quite work out as planned.
Blain Weiss of Tucson was the first person in line outside the Chandler store, but Blain didn’t show up until 6:45 am. As it turns out, Blain got lucky and picked an entrance that was open early making him the first in line, ahead of Stephen Barta, who arrived at 2:30 am. Apparently, the entrance Stephen was waiting at didn’t open until some time later.
The stores are still packed as of this story, with people waiting in line to make their way inside. The Chandler and Northridge stores mark the 12th and 13th retail outlets Apple has opened this year, on their way to the promised 25 by the end of 2001.