I Pad Mania

Thousands of die-hard Apple fans mobbed shops worldwide on Friday as the iPad, called a revolution in personal computing by some and limited and overhyped by others, began its global launch.

Long queues of customers snaked outside Apple shops in Australia and Japan hours before the opening and similar huddled masses turned out at stores in six European countries, including Britain and France.

The iPad — a flat, 10-inch black tablet — also went on sale in Canada as part of a global roll-out that was pushed back by a month due to huge demand in the US.

One million iPads were sold in 28 days in the US after its debut in early April despite mixed reviews from consumers.

Hundreds of people queued outside the Paris Apple store hours before it opened at 8am.

In Britain, a few dozen enthusiasts waited outside the Apple store in central London at 3am to get their hands on the iPad when it opened five hours later. Staff escorted the first group of customers one by one up to buy their iPad after they opened the doors, whooping, chanting and cheering.