iPad Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Survive the Wait - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Best Buy Co (NYSE:BBY)

Planning to camp out for the new iPad? Here's everything you need to survive.

No one likes waiting in line for concert tickets, video game consoles, and new Apple

AAPL

devices. But year after year, we get off our butts, head to the nearest Best Buy

BBY

or Ticketmaster , and endure the cold – and a hailstorm of bad weather, if necessary – to ensure that we get the thing we want most. If you're planning to wait for an iPad this week, Benzinga has got you covered with a list of everything you'll need:

The Basics

If you've camped out before, then you should already know you need these particular items. If not, take note of the following:

Blankets
Umbrella and/or Raincoat
Breath Mints (you don't want your breath to scare off the totally hot checkout lady, right?)
Layers of Clothing (you can always peel off the extra layers if the temperature rises)
Comfortable Shoes
A Flashlight (just in case there aren't any lights in front of the store you're waiting at)
Batteries (to power any devices that don't have a rechargeable battery pack – see the “Entertainment” section below for more)
A Tent (some people like to go all out and have a complete camping experience, but it's not necessary if you're only staying for a day)

Entertainment

This list is extremely important, as you will not be able to comfortably survive a 12-hour or longer wait without a proper dose of entertainment. Thus, you will need:

A Laptop or Portable DVD Player (you can't wait in line for an iPad without watching this classic episode of Modern Family)
Handheld Gaming Device (an iPod Touch or PS Vita will do, but don't forget about the great handheld game machines of the past – Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP, etc.)
Gas-Powered Generator (this is extreme, but if you've got one, you might want to bring it to keep your laptop going all night long)
Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (if you're willing to pay the high monthly fee, this could help you stay entertained all night long)
MP3 Player (chances are everyone who waits for the iPad will have an iPod, but if not, make sure you bring some kind of music-playing device – even an old CD player will do)
Good Books (may I suggest The Hunger Games trilogy? If that doesn't get you through the iPad wait, nothing will)
Pen and Paper (for doodling – it might only shave 15 minutes off your time before you get bored, but it's better than nothing)
Deck of Cards (here's a suggestion: instead of betting with money, write down the names of several apps on a small pieces of paper and divide them up evenly. Then wager these apps in a game of poker. The losers will then have to buy the winners the apps that they've won. Alternatively, you could simply wager a stack of iTunes gift cards.)

Get a Friend to Come Along

For every family, young couple or group of friends I see waiting in line for new electronics, I see one lonely soul waiting all by him or herself. I've been through that as well, and if it weren't for the fact that I'm super talkative and eager to discuss my excitement with strangers, I would have gone crazy. Instead of tackling the iPad wait alone, I strongly suggest that you grab a friend or relative and share the

fun

with another human. If they're reluctant to come, offer to pay for breakfast afterwards, or promise to let him/her use the iPad that day. You could also promise to return the favor someday. Having a friend will make the wait much more bearable. And if it means you'll have to pay back that person by enduring something awful down the road (like a My Chemical Romance concert or a romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl), so be it.

Don't Eat or Drink Too Much

If you're waiting with a friend, this might not be a problem. He or she can hold your place while you take a bathroom break. But if you're waiting alone, heed my advice: do not consume too much food or drink too much water before or during the wait! I don't think I need to explain the reasons why, but let me just say that there are few things more painful than having to use the bathroom and knowing you won't be able to for several hours.

Things You Don't Need

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually things you

don't

need in order to survive the wait for the next iPad. They include:

A Shower (it would be nice if everyone showered before waiting in line to get an iPad. Regardless, chances are most everyone will smell by the time they leave. So why waste the extra water by showering in advance?)
Clean Clothes (again, you're probably going to smell by the time you leave anyway, so…)
A Pillow (if you're not planning on sleeping, it's not worth taking up space in your backpack)
Fast Food (it might taste good going in, but trust me when I say you won't want to deal with a sudden evacuation)

Get Plenty of Rest

Before embarking on your iPad journey, make sure you get plenty of rest. While it might be fun to kill time sleeping, what will you do if you get in line exhausted but

can't

fall asleep? That would be the worst.

Follow me @LouisBedigian

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