Apple to open retail store in San Antonio, Texas

Too bad I'm still in California. I love San Antonio but I always run away from the summer heat. I'm so happy that finally San Antonio has an Apple Store. I do mac consulting and also try to get people to switch to the mac when they are at the end of the rope with their Windows PCs. Having a beautiful store that showcases all that is Apple can only make my task easier. I should be back in SA by the end of the month. macsanantonio@mac.com

I got in line for the opening around 8:30 in the morning. There were approximately 15 people in front of me. (A far cry from the crowd I expected from previous Apple Store openings in other cities.) In any case, by 9:30 the line had grown to approximately 250 people. (No need to worry about a shortage of T-Shirts. When they finally let us in, it was in cotrolled groups, preventing the store from becoming overcrowded (ie, out of trouble with the fire marshall). I was obviously among the first group admitted. (Also among the first to enter was Former Spur Center - NBA Great - Spurs Center - David Robinson. I overheard him discussion the configuration options for an iMag G5 that he was purchasing. Shortly after entering, my vingage "Apple - The power to crush the other kids" SNL spoof t-shirt earned me an interview with the local news-talk radio station. Overall I was very happy with the store. While San Antonio obviously did not merit a two-story store with theater and all the works (Such as in SOHO or San Francisco) It appeared to me that it was considerably larger to stores I have seen in Houston, Las Vegas, and elsewhere. I was certainly interested in "The Studio" a new offering to Apple stores, which provides a more intimate version of the Theater seating seminars. Approximately 10 people can gather around a circular Kiosk, where products are displayed, demonstrated, and explained. A schedule of software / hardware to be covered is displayed at the store, as well as on the web. For my own part, I purchased an apple Pro Care service contract; which basically allows me to schedule appointments with the Genius Bar personnel at a pre-determine time - up to 7 days in advance. At the time, I had a number of questions regarding Apple Remote Desktop; which I am attempting to set up, as a means of providing technical support to my Mom. (After 5 +years of her owning a Mac, I have grown tired of trying to explain what it means to open a finder window, empty items into the trash, create an alias, etc ... I have launched my head through the wall in frustration too many times.) In any case, a brief conversation with the techs at the G-bar ended with me getting a printout of Internet ports utilized by Remote Desktop, and instructions to make sure that routers at both ends of the controll session had the ports opened. This is something that would have caused me hours of grief and frustration, without the assistance of the G-Bar. All in all, I have to say that they did a fantastic job with this new store. The Genius bar alone will have me back - as the best source of technical assistance for any computer on the market today (IMHO). Apple - Welcome to San Antonio - What took you so long.

I went. I saw. I got the t-shirt. Let me tell you, the t-shirt was a huge disappointment. Instead of putting "San Antonio" on the t-shirt, they put the name of the shopping center. A name that really means very little to anyone--even the people who live in San Antonio. What an insult. We're the eighth largest city in the nation. We're the #1 tourist destination in Texas. Yet, we're always sucking hind teat on the retailers' "go to" list. Apparently we're the Rodney Dangerfield (may he rest in peace) of major cities. Anyone that has the slightest clue about San Antonio knows that we do indeed have an unhealthy amount of civic pride. If I may presume to speak for my fellow San Antonians, this is an insult. We're supposed to proudly wear the name of a shopping center that's not-so-remarkable?

Don't get your hopes up for the contest if you aren't a resident of the area. I was visiting Portland last month when their new store was opening and was informed that only Portland/Vancouver residents could enter the drawing and thus as a Sactown resident, I did not qualify.

And speaking of stars... do you guys still give those out?? I've been stuck at 2 for the past 6 months, I think. Who do I have to start bribing?

San Antonio... what a great city. Wish I could get down there for the open and make a day of it. If Apple is killing off the mini, wouldn't they, in theory, be trying to unload those suckers in giveaways and sales? Have the Apple stores lowered the price on minis?

Ack! A Friday? I'm so not doing the Austin to San Antonio morning traffic. Sorry guys. I can only take so much time spent sitting in a car and then sitting in line...

Dammit! Two weeks before I'm gonna be in San Antonio and Apple goes and does this. I swear, Steve Jobs must hate me or something.

It's about time SA got an apple store, as a student it's frustrating to have to go all the way to austin.....just to look at the cool stuff.

Nick, oddly enough, the page says "mini." Perhaps they've got some extra stock to burn through? To tell you the truth, I'd be wanting a Nano if it were me.