Apple faithful have already begun lining up to collect their iPads, one feeling it necessary to bring a bodyguard in case the Thursday night Sydney CBD crowd becomes too rowdy.
Many who were early to pre-order are already receiving their iPads but now that new orders aren't slated to be delivered for a few more weeks, many are expected to brave the cold outside Apple stores nationwide in the hope of collecting one at 8am tomorrow morning.
In Sydney, most of the action is expected to take place at Apple's George Street store and a new store in Bondi Junction, which will be officially opened tomorrow.
First in line is Rahul Koduri, a 22-year-old aerospace engineering student at UNSW and Telstra shop employee who has been sitting in his fold-out chair in front of the Sydney city store since 2am this morning.
He's buying two 32GB 3G iPads, one for himself and the other to sell on eBay at an inflated price if stocks run out.
"I could have pre-ordered but there's a different feel to it when you line up outside an Apple store - the whole experience of it," he said.
Koduri, an Apple diehard, said he was second in line to buy the iPhone 3GS and about 6th in line to buy the original iPhone.
Michael Batty, 22, joined the queue in second place at around 5:30am, with a burly bodyguard in tow. The bodyguard refused to give his name or be interviewed.
Batty is an Apple fanatic but, as the "ticket man" for the Kyle and Jackie O Show, he's being paid to brave the wind and rain.
"I do all the stunts and street activity for Kyle and Jackie O - [my brief is to] stay here until the shop opens tomorrow and buy an iPad," he said.
Isn't a bodyguard a bit over the top?
"Have you seen the city on a Thursday night? It's mayhem," Batty responded.
"I'm not staying ou t here alone, it's suicide - plus, I want to get out of here safely with the iPad."
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