An Apple employee shows customers how the iPad works.
It may be magical and revolutionary but the new iPad failed to seduce more than a few Brisbane punters at the Chermside Apple Store this morning.
When brisbanetimes.com.au visited the store at 10am this morning, most of those present said they were merely "browsing" rather than buying despite the enormous hype surrounding the new product.
Despite the best efforts of upbeat staff - resplendent in blue iPad t-shirts - to drum up excitement and "educate" shoppers, it seemed to be more curiosity than consumption that was enticing customers.
A shopping mall security guard said they had been advised to prepare for large crowds but the turn out was much smaller than experienced at Boxing Day sales.
Chermside local Bronwyn Steadson said she had "pretty much just swung by to see what all the fuss was about."
"I was thinking about getting one for my son because his birthday's coming up soon," Mrs Steadson said "But they're so expensive and I don't really understand what the point is to be honest.
"I am interested in maybe getting him a laptop or something because they seem to be a little bit more practical."
Meanwhile, devout Apple fan and serial i-product purchaser Chris Harper, expressed a mixture of joy and nervous anticipation before entering the store.
The Tarragindi resident said he'd been waiting to get his hands on "the pad" since Apple chief Steve Jobs revealed the tablet to the world in January.
"I'd thought about trying to get my friend to buy one from America but it was too complicated so I decided to wait," he said. "My friend [in Sydney] has got his already – this morning.
"I'm glad that it's not as busy here as it sounds like it was down there."
Reports of overnight queues and large crowds across Sydney's central shopping district this morning seemed at odds with the enthusiastic but comparatively subdued reception the Apple gadget garnered in Brisbane.
"We were really busy this morning," said a salesperson at Apple resale store Next Byte,in Brisbane's CBD said. "It's settled down now but we're still doing well.
"And the good news is we've still got a few left," he said, indicating to a pile of boxes stacked in the bustling back store room.
Apple staff and store managers said they were not at liberty to answer questions about how many gadgets had been sold or what models were most popular among customers.
The iPad comes in both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi with 3G in Australia and begins at $629 for a basic 16GB model.
