Da5id: would you, as head of a company like Apple, make a definitive statement regarding your computers being in your stores worldwide on the day following your announcement?

Unless you knew with 100% certainty that those machines were ALREADY THERE, I doubt you would. Unless, that is, you were Steve Jobs.

He’s a hack who taints everything he touches, because he believes he can’t be wrong. The fact that he continually *is* wrong doesn’t seem to put him off. I suppose it’s not so much anger as disappointment that he’s gone and done it again.

They had them by 11am this morning in Bellevue, WA.

I see a bunch of crying about simple logistic issues. So many people getting so angry about something that really isn’t a big deal. Wait a couple days (or god forbid, call) to make certain you won’t be making a drive in vain.

I’m assuming James went to the Galleria store. That is indeed puzzling as to why that store wouldn’t have the units in. The Woodlands seemed to have them.

They have them at Briarwood Mall in Michigan. On display too…The thing is so nice. Pictures don’t do it justice. I walked right by a new Macbook thinking it was the Air. An incredible machine.

Mr. Kendrick your carbon footprint must be HUGE.
(just kidding). Maybe Apple Stores can put an Inventory Link in iTunes. Apple logistics can do better than this.

I am just back from the Fashion Valley store in San Diego and they have them in stock. None on the floor yet but there is a semi-line to pick them up. Can’t wait to play with one.

I was in the area anyway so I just dropped by. Sheesh, it’s like I really screwed up or something.

You burned up hydrocarbons without calling to check if they had them first? Wow you must not be a self proclaimed hypermiler….

I went to the Apple Store and they seemed to have everything in stock. What? You went to the Brick and Mortar Apple Retail store? How old-fashioned. In that case, maybe use that old-fashioned telephone to ring them up and ask about inventory? Just saying…

Having scoured the web site and Google, I think you’re right Kevin. No online inventory apart from the iPhone. Still, there is always the telephone…

They do “Think Different”ly over there at Apple, I guess I just assumed that since you can do it for Best Buy, Blockbuster, or even Walmart that you could do it for Apple. Silly me =D

There is no way to check store inventory at Apple stores before heading out. I checked before and they don’t allow you to check that I could find.

I had an even worse experience. I called in advance and was told they had the MacBook Pro in stock, just not on display. I asked if they had the model with the 7200RPM drives and after 10 minutes on hold, they said yes and offered to make me a “personal shopping appointment” to purchase one. I made the appointment and the 40 minute drive to the store only to be told they did not have the model I wanted and tried to sell me the 5400RPM model instead. Even after I said I was only buying the 7200, they brought a 5200 box out to me saying it was all they had and I could take that or nothing. I opted for nothing and left with a very bad taste in my mouth and disappointed that even with prior coordination and calling, they still fd this one up.

This was the Apple Store in Tysons Corner, VA.

Hmm… after two back-to-back “you should have checked online inventory first” comments, I have to ask. Can you check retail inventory on the Apple site for anything other than an iPhone? If you can, that’s new to me and I’d love a link. It would save me from driving every now and again.

er, wouldn’t omne normally check the on-line inventory BEFORE heading out into the rain/snow/sun or whatever?

James – I’m a little disappointed. A geek like you, I would have assumed you’d check the online inventory of your local store before physically going down there (you can do that at apple.com, right?).