Edible Apple

Over the past few weeks, folks looking to make a quick buck were having a grand ole’ time purchasing iPad’s in bulk in the US, and then selling them abroad at insanely inflated prices that often reached into the thousands.

With the recent international rollout of the iPad across 9 different countries, it appears that the days of iPad scheming are over, or at the very least, will be less pronounced. This past Friday, the iPad hit stores in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

In anticipation of the iPad launch, long lines were formed in Japan, the UK, and France. Tokyo in particular experienced an iPad frenzy, with an estimated 1,200 people waiting in line to get their hands on Apple’s “magical” device.

Meanwhile in Australia, an estimated 30,000 iPads flew off the shelves on the first day alone. In an admittedly non-scientific survey, the Australian-based Daily Telegraph found that 65% of respondents believed the iPad lived up to the hype. Tellingly, the survey found that the high-end 64GB/3G iPad was the most purchased model.

In London, 17 year old Jake Lee from Epping, Essex in the UK waited outside an Apple Store for over 20 hours so that he could be the first Brit to purchase the device. Lee, along with other folks waiting in line, were provided with food and drinks by Apple Store employees.

And as the iPad rollout continues, Apple will release the device in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July.