The eagerly anticipated iPad has hit the shop shelves, with gadget-lovers getting to see for themselves whether the tablet device is worth all the hype.

The iPad - touted as a bridge between a laptop and smartphone - went on sale at Apple stores across the US from 9am this morning (2pm UK time).

Wall Street is keeping a close eye on the crowds at Apple stores this weekend to gauge whether the device can win a mass following like the iPhone has.

As the tablet computer went on sale, Briton Gary Wheelan was one of first people to get his hands on one after queuing outside Apple's flagship store in Manhattan from 5.30am.

He said: "I haven't opened it yet but I'm hoping it's good. I travel a lot in the UK and it looks like a good device for doing it with.

"I was on holiday over here and when they announced they were bringing it out this weekend I thought 'we'll I'm here so let's go for it'."



Gadget-lovers finally get their hands on Apple's new iPad


Hours before the iPad was released, hundreds of customers lined up at stores in New York, Washington, Boston and San Francisco, in contrast to the thousands that ushered in the iPhone in 2007.

Eleven-year-old Giovanna Mullen said she staked out her place outside the store on Friday afternoon with her mother Jeanney Mullen and her grandmother Tony Digiorno.

She proudly described herself as the owner of an iPod Touch and said her mother owns an iPod and a Mac computer, both iconic creations of the California-based firm.

"We brought food, blankets... so the three generations will say they slept together in the streets of New York," Mrs Digiorno said.


Apple have pretty much nailed it. The interface is stunning to look at and blazingly fast.

Edward Baig, USA Today's tech correspondent
An apparent deluge of early online orders indicated the touchscreen slate-style computers will be another big hit for Apple.

The 24.6cm touchscreen device allows users to watch video, listen to music, play games, write emails, surf the Web or read electronic books.

It also runs most of the 150,000 applications made for the iPod music player and the iPhone.

While Apple has been secretive about iPad supply numbers, analysts estimate the company will sell several hundred thousand of the devices over the weekend and more than two million by the end of September.

It appears there are problems now as it sometimes cannot get add ons and upgrades.Released too early me thinks