I was at my regular computer-hardware wholesaler in Sham Shui Po the other day when my attention was drawn to a commotion at one of the stalls.  Turned out that the wholesaler was unpacking it’s quota of iPad2′s.

I didn’t have a camera with me at the time, but caught a story in last week’s edition of the Junior Standard.

While the iPad2 went on sale in the US about 2 weeks ago, no OFFICIAL release date for Hong Kong has been announced yet.  However, some iPad2′s have found it’s way here by way of parallel importing, some hitting the city’s shelves 3 days after going on sale in the States.

Wikipedia defined parallel imports as:

A parallel import is a non-counterfeit product imported from another country without the permission of the intellectual property owner. Parallel imports are often referred to as grey product…

Impatient iPad2 fans jostle for the parallel imported gadget in Hong Kong (Pic: Sing Tao Daily)

A well-known computer center in Mongkok called Sincere Podium has more than 20 shops selling the iPad2.  However, while the gadget retails in the US for between US$499 (HK$3,892) and US$829 (HK$6,466) depending on the model, due to it’s uniqueness (at this stage) expect to pay top dollar to get you hands on a unit ahead of the official release. 

While prices at Sincere Podium vary, a basic 16GB model with wi-fi sells between HK7,000 and HK$9,000.  A 64GB model with 3G features sells for around HK$14,000.

Sellers also expect pre-release prices to increase even more as local stocks decrease.

I know some disappointed folks at the Marco Polo Hotel in Canton Road who had their sights set on picking up an iPad2 this week.

Yes, it’s here but at that price?!

I’ll wait thank you very much. 

Note: Sincere Podium, also known as the Sing Tat Shopping Centre, is in Mongkok.  Almost anything related to mobile phones and devices are available here.  There are also shops selling second-hand devices.

The Golden Computer Centre is located across Exit …… of the Sham Shui Po MTR on the Red line.  The centre is especially popular with gamers especially those into Nintendo, X-Box, etc.  However, it also has many stalls selling computer hardware, computer comsumables as well as camera equipment.

In my opinion, winter is the best time to be trawling the many Hong Kong markets.  In fact, it’s the best time to be doing anything outdoors this side of the noodle-curtain.

If there’s one thing I loath, it’s making my way through the throngs in a market while it’s 35 degrees with 99% humidity.

The family and I found our way to Sham Shui Po for some computer repairs and naturally found ourselves trawling the night market just outside the Golden Computer Centre.  The centre is a famous landmark in the district as anything electronic can be had for cheap in this place.

Anything electronic from $1 can be had at the Golden Computer Centre, Sham Shui Po

As I am typing this, I can see the flashing Christmas decorations covering the buildings here in Tsim Sha Tsui East (near the Kowloon Shangrila Hotel).  This district must have some of the best skyline decorations during the festive season.  Christmas in Hong Kong is therefore well and truly in the air here in Hong Kong.

My neighbourhood of East Tsim Sha Tsui/Hung Hom comes alive during Christmas

That means that street- and night markets are making most of their turnover from selling Christmas decorations and Sham Shui Po is not left out, as we found today.

The Sham Shui Po street market on a regular day

Here is a video clip I shot with my iPhone today:

South Africans visiting the city always ask me where they can buy “cheap electronics” and I always direct them to the Golden Computer Centre in Sham Shui Po.

Sham Shui Po is on the RED LINE of the MTR, the 5th stop after Tsim Sha Tsui (TST).

Take exit D to the Golden Computer Centre.

When you exit on the ground level, the Centre is directly opposite the MTR exit.

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