So it won't surprise anyone that on Saturday morning the Kaysville man became the first shopper to enter Utah's inaugural Apple Computer retail store at The Gateway in Salt Lake City. Oliverson and two companions camped out overnight in subfreezing temperatures, watching "The Incredibles" on a laptop.
"This is not just your average store. This is an Apple store," explained Oliverson with the wild-eyed devotion the California-based company inspires in its growing legions of fans. "This will really put Apple on the map in Utah."
By dawn Saturday, several dozen Apple devotees had gathered outside the store. When the store opened at 10 a.m., more than 500 shoppers stood in a line that snaked around the corner, past the Living Planet Aquarium and across a parking lot to the north. Apple store clerks in red T-shirts led the crowd in counting down the seconds until opening, then cheered and high-fived each customer who came through the door.
Store clerks handed out free T-shirts to the first 1,000 customers, most of them men and many with white iPod earphones dangling around their necks. Security guards allowed only about 75 shoppers in the store at a time, leaving the rest waiting outside in anticipation. The line finally dissipated during the Utah-BYU game.
Apple operates more than 100 retail stores in 31 states plus Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Store openings typically attract big crowds - in Tokyo, almost 2,000 lined up - including Mac groupies who sometimes journey long distances to attend. But a cursory survey at the head of the line Saturday revealed no shoppers from out of state.
"The locals beat 'em if they're here," said Kelly Dumont, an Apple fan from Riverton who operates a blog called theeducationalmac.com. Dumont was fourth in line after arriving shortly before 1 a.m. but said he probably wouldn't buy anything. "My wife sent me here with a very limited budget. I'm here for the free shirt."
Apple retail stores sell some 500 products, from desktop computers and laptops to iPods, printers, digital cameras, software and accessories. But since most of these items are already available on the Internet or at such large retailers as CompUSA, why stand in line?
"It's the whole experience," said Dumont. "You get people who are really knowledgable about the product. And they give you time to play."
Inside, the store is sleek and uncluttered, with a white-and-gray color scheme reminiscent of, well, an Apple computer. Background music ranges from Smashmouth to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," not unlike an iPod on shuffle. Dozens of display computers and iPods sit on counters and tables, wired and ready for shoppers to try.
Customers are encouraged to surf the Internet and even send e-mail. Steve Swensen of Bountiful used a desktop to chat online with his sister in England. A Salt Lake City man, who gave his name only as Gary, downloaded a photo of the store from his digital camera and posted it on an Apple fan site.
Nearby was a low-slung children's table where a future generation of computer wizards used desktop computers to play games.
"She's good at the mouse, but she's not so good at the clicking yet," said Spencer Nance of Salt Lake City, gazing down at his daughter, Mackenzie. "She just barely turned 3."
The store will offer free workshops for people interested in learning how to use Apple software such as iMovie, which allows people to make and edit digital videos. The store also has counters where customers can ask tech-support questions or bring defective products under warranty for free replacements.
Through Dec. 19 customers also can enter a grand-opening sweepstakes for a chance to win a desktop computer, an iPod and other prizes.
The sweepstakes might be the only way Snow College freshman Ashley Smith can get an iPod for Christmas. Smith drove 2 1/2 hours from Ephraim, in central Utah, to stand in line for Apple products she cannot afford.
"I have no money. I'm a college student," she said moments before entering the store. "I'm just going to look and covet. And dream."
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Contact Brandon Griggs at griggs@sltrib.com or 801-257-8689. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
