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iPad Air goes on sale (pictures)

From Beijing to Manhattan, shoppers assemble in the obligatory early morning lines to get their hands on Apple's latest tablet.

Jon Skillings
Jon Skillings is an editorial director at CNET, where he's worked since 2000. A born browser of dictionaries, he honed his language skills as a US Army linguist (Polish and German) before diving into editing for tech publications -- including at PC Week and the IDG News Service -- back when the web was just getting under way, and even a little before. For CNET, he's written on topics from GPS, AI and 5G to James Bond, aircraft, astronauts, brass instruments and music streaming services.
Jon Skillings
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1 of 15 Seamus Byrne/CNET Australia

Sydney shoppers

Friday, November 1, marks the first day that consumers can get their hands on Apple's iPad Air. In keeping with tradition on launch days for new iPads and iPhones, consumers lined up early to be on hand when Apple Store doors opened. Here you see the start of the line at the Apple Store in Sydney.

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2 of 15 Seamus Byrne/CNET Australia

iPads on display

The iPad Air is Apple's fifth version of its market-defining tablet, the first of which was released more than three years ago. Has the excitement faded over time? At Apple's store in Sydney, the line -- several hundred strong -- was significantly shorter than it was for the new iPhones that arrived a few weeks ago. Apple typically puts up barriers for crowd control at that store, but not this time around.

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3 of 15 Francis Bea/CNET

Apple Store Sanlitun

A continent away at Apple's Sanlitun store in Beijing, all was peaceful for the arrival of the iPad Air. The new tablet is going on sale in 42 countries on day one, the most widespread launch yet for one of Apple's tablets.

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4 of 15 Francis Bea/CNET

Preorders required

At Apple's Sanlitun store in China, a sign tells potential buyers of the iPad Air that they need to preorder online.

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5 of 15 Francis Bea/CNET

Crowding the tables

Shoppers crowd around the tables at Apple's Sanlitun store on the arrival of the iPad Air.

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6 of 15 David Carnoy/CNET

Getting ready

At Apple's store on the Upper West Side in New York, employees get ready ahead of the 8 a.m. opening time.

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7 of 15 David Carnoy/CNET

Dreary weather

Dreary weather greeted expectant shoppers outside Apple's Upper West Side store.

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8 of 15 David Carnoy/CNET

First, you wait

Another look at the encampment outside Apple's Upper West Side store on iPad Air day.

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9 of 15 David Carnoy/CNET

On the move

Once the doors to the Upper West Side store opened, the line moved briskly.

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10 of 15 Erik Weigel/CNET

iPad Air tabletops

Across town at the Apple Store inside New York's Grand Central Terminal, early morning shoppers go hands-on with the iPad Air.

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11 of 15 Erik Weigel/CNET

iPad Air supply

Inventory of the iPad Air at the Grand Central Terminal store seemed plentiful.

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12 of 15 Erik Weigel/CNET

iPad in hand

At the Grand Central store, an early riser comes to grips with the iPad Air.

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13 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Apple's hometown store in Palo Alto, Calif.

The Palo Alto, Calif., Apple Store is one of the closest to Apple's headquarters in Cupertino.

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14 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Quieting down

Despite the lines, the store quieted down shortly after sales kicked off.

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15 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Manhandling

Shoppers toy with the new iPads on the device's first day on sale.

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