Locals line up for iPad

<p>Time will tell whether the new iPad, which debuted at stores in Santa Rosa and across the country Saturday, will revolutionize wireless communication.</p><p>But one thing is certain. The iPad, which resembles a giant tablet version of the groundbreaking</p><p>iPhone, made countless consumers happy Saturday.</p><p>At the very least, their electronic-reading, Web-surfing and video-watching experience just got a lot bigger.</p><p>The iPad's arrival was met with cheers and applause from about 75 people waiting in line at Santa Rosa Plaza, ending months of anticipation for the latest Apple invention.</p><p>Alan Fink of Cloverdale, dressed in a white button-down shirt and business tie, was the first to buy the iPad at the Apple Store. People cheered as he walked out.</p><p>"I just had to have it," Fink said as he rushed to his sales job at Freeman Toyota. "I've owned every product Apple has ever made. It's a game-changing device, no question about it."</p><p>The iPad, a handheld device that fits somewhere between the iPhone and a computer, allows users to view movies, browse the Web, play games and read e-books. Its competition includes e-readers like the Amazon Kindle and tablet PCs like the yet-to-be released HP Slate.</p><p>After the initial unboxing and lengthy syncing process came the first few minutes of play. On blogs and on Twitter, users began to echo the common refrain, "It's cool."</p><p>Edgar Abadines, a local mobile applications software developer and owner of Petaluma-based e4c Solutions, got his iPad when it was delivered to his home by a UPS driver Saturday afternoon.</p><p>Abadines has developed an app for the iPad called Pad Math, a learning tool designed for elementary school students. The application, he said, takes advantage of the "real estate" provided by the iPad's large screen, which comes in handy when doing long division.</p><p>At the mall, many waited in line with their iPhones, scrolling their tiny touch screens, snapping pictures of other customers or simply calling mom. The sheer number of people with iPhones and touch-screen iPods gave a hint of who the first iPad customers were.</p><p>"I'm not expecting it to save the world or cure cancer, but it looks like a fun gadget and a fun toy," said Dan Bell, a Web developer who lives in Santa Rosa.</p><p>Bell, who was talking to his mother on his iPhone, said he was buying an iPad as a gift for a friend.</p><p>"I'll probably get the next iteration of it for myself," he said, adding that he'll wait until Apple ships the iPad with more extras, such as a camera and more software capabilities that he can use for work.</p><p>Shortly before the Santa Rosa Plaza store opened, customers did a 10-second countdown. The first iPad customers were greeted by a small platoon of store employees who wore blue shirts with "iPad" in white lettering.</p><p>About 10 minutes after the store opened, Rebecca Babcock of Windsor arrived and got in the back of the "reserve line." There was a separate line of "walk-in" customers waiting anxiously.</p><p>Her iPhone in hand, Babcock said she was picking up an iPad for her husband, who had to work Saturday morning. She said he has both an iPhone and a laptop.</p><p>"I have no idea why he wants it," she said. "He likes his electronics and his fun stuff."</p><p>Abadines thinks the iPad will bring something new to the tech world.</p><p>"I'm really excited. It's different," he said. "There's obviously things I wish were included. But I'm pretty excited, it's new territory to explore."</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.</p>