Ipad 2 queue is still alive and kicking at Apple launch

YESTERDAY'S magnificent seven have turned into a fabulous fourteen outside Apple's Regent Street store here in London with a further 350 patient fanbois eagerly waiting around the corner.

The INQUIRER popped out to check up on the lengthening queue for the Ipad 2, though we were worried they might not have made it through the night. In the last 24 hours since we first went down the queue has extended from seven to about 350, give or take a dozen fanbois.

The fabulous fourteen have been given 'Team Apple' T-Shirts and their own, what can only be described as a pen, by the door of the flagship store. The rest of the Apple fanbois are in a security guarded and fenced queue that winds its way from Regent Street to Saint George's Street.

We briefly spoke with some people in the second part of the queue who arrived at 5pm yesterday to get their hands on Apple's latest gadget, one of whom had previously failed to get the device in New York.

A fleet of Apple staff are on hand down the length of the queue, giving out bottles of water to keep the punters hydrated, and they will be taking orders prior to the 5pm grand opening. Apple told The INQUIRER that the store will be closing at 3pm for a quick makeover, and that it will then reopen at 5pm for the eager customers to stream in and part with their cash for Ipad 2 devices.

Many people in the queue told us they already own the original Ipad, which most of them had on hand for entertainment during the long wait. One man told us he plans on buying two and putting one of them straight on Ebay to make some extra money, or more like subsidise the cost of the one he's keeping.

Strangely not a single person was queuing outside the Orange store on Great Marlborough Street where Orange is giving away ten Ipads to the customers dressed in the best costumes resembling their favourite Ipad app.

The INQUIRER will be heading down to the Apple store once more to witness the madness at 5pm. µ