New iPad quietly debuts in China

In contrast to the chaos that has surrounded the release of new Apple devices in China in the past, the third-generation iPad was launched in China today in a very orderly manner. Many credited the serene launch to a new reservation system used by Chinese Apple Stores.

Apple allows customers to reserve an iPad through the Apple online store between 9 AM and 12 PM. They are then assigned a time to pick up their iPad the following day. This has reduced the amount of foot traffic around the six official Apple Stores on the Chinese mainland.

One IT worker who was the first in line at the Shanghai Lujiazui Apple Store, Sun Xufei, expressed surprise over the fact that there was only a short line. "I thought there was going to be a long line so I came over a bit earlier to pick it up," said Xufei.

Back in January, Apple stopped sales of the iPhone 4S on launch day after a large group of customers became unruly after being told that the phone was sold out.

[via AppleInsider]