Paper iPad 2 sells out in Malaysia for use in afterlife rituals
It appears that Apple isn't the only company having trouble keeping up with the huge demand for the iPad 2.
Throughout Asia, many ethnic Chinese individuals are celebrating the Qingming Festival. During this festival, living relatives honor their dead ancestors by cleaning their grave sites and burning paper replicas of useful and high-ticket items. The idea is that by burning the faux items, they're made available for the dearly departed to use in the afterlife.
Usually, the paper replicas include items like shoes, fancy clothing, designer purses and cars. But a Malaysian shopkeeper reports in a Reuters news post that paper iPads -- both first and second generation -- have been flying off of the shelves of his prayer item store. Jeffrey Te had received 300 iPad 2 replicas from China, which sold out quickly. The paper iPads are sold with a capacity of 888 GB, that number being considered a favorable one in Chinese culture. The price tag on the iPads? About a dollar.
The store also sells some amazingly realistic looking iPhone 4s, as well as replicas of devices made by other manufacturers. As among the living, however, not everyone in the afterlife may need or want a high-tech gadget, so the more traditional items like paper sofas and chests full of fake paper money are still big items in Te's store. There's video on the next page.
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It appears that Apple isn't the only company having trouble keeping up with the huge demand for the iPad 2. Throughout Asia, many...
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JKT,
You are an ignorant, racist,disrespectful moron.
Are you related to Alexandra Wallace?
I am from Malaysia AND I am Chinese.
Whilst I may not burn paper goods to send to my Uncles and Aunts, and Grandpas and Grandmas... but at least I respect those who do.
Ching Chong Ling Long Ting Tong to you...!@
Lolwut, I am Malaysian am god I am shocked to see this news ar TUAW. ROFL, it had spread so far eh?
Yes, I got to know this news from a local Chinese newspaper, but I really don't expect it would appear here at a blog in western countries
And I take my hats off most of you guys here that respect others tradition. Our world will be a better one if everyone learn to respect and not being racist :)
The point of the story is real or fake, dead or alive, the iPad is hot.
April 05 2011 at 5:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow can i say this "IT'S SYMBOLIC" just like taking the wafer/wine at communion as that ain;t christ's blood.
April 05 2011 at 2:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAccording to the Roman Catholic church - still the largest church around - it's not symbolic at all. See Transubstantion.
April 06 2011 at 1:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySince when did a good catholic ever take notice of what the Vatican had to say. In my view it's symbolic so the pope can do one!!
April 06 2011 at 3:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI don't see it as necessarily harmful (maybe except to air quality), especially compared to the religious beliefs that are trying to corrupt education with Intelligent Design, deny my friends their rights because they're gay, and other issues. A superstitious ceremony? Not even on my radar.
April 05 2011 at 2:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's probably worth pointing out that Malaysia is not in China. Unless something major happened I didn't hear about?
The title should read "Paper iPad 2 sells out in Malaysia". The shop is in that country and it is ethnic Chinese he is selling to, as he clearly states in the video...
Makes no less sense than putting flowers on a grave. I mean, what's that all about?
Show some respect for other people's beliefs and traditions.
I just wonder what the data rates are in the after life? You think they're limited to 2gb / month?
April 05 2011 at 2:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replylike most rituals, for some it is more about the comfort of the familiar than about what really happens...surprised that you don't know that...just like putting flowers on graves on Memorial Day...more about comfort for the living than doing things for the dead.
and...it is news because it is unfamiliar to us and our culture...
"thinking before typing is an increasingly rare approach"
Thanks carlwf, you said it brilliantly. :)
April 05 2011 at 2:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"by burning the faux items, they're made available for the dearly departed to use in the afterlife."
Really? REALLY? How many Chinese actually believe this fantasy?
The amazing thing is I'll be chastised for making fun of this, but if the story were about one person burning paper images of iPads to send them to her departed father, she'd be sent to mental counseling. But when 1 billion people do it, it's supposed to be not only accepted but reported 12,000 miles away as "news".
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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