But many buyers of Apple's iPad may be wishing they had stayed at home and saved their money.
They have complained that the £326 device - which combines elements of an iPhone, electronic book reader and tablet computer - cannot connect to the internet, rendering many of its features useless.
Hundreds have posted comments on Apple's website saying they cannot get a wi-fi signal and that they are having problems re-charging the battery and uploading applications.
Others complained that their devices were overheating and the screen was showing a message that read: 'iPad needs to cool down before you can use it'.
Customers activate
their iPads at an Apple Store in Palo Alto, California. Hundreds have
posted comments on Apple's website saying they cannot get a wi-fi signal
and that they are having problems re-charging the battery and uploading
applications
More than 300,000 iPads - called 'the
laptop killer' by some reviewers - have been sold in the U.S. since its
launch on Saturday.
However, British fans, who will be able to buy the device from the end of the month, may want to wait until some of the glitches have been sorted out.
One U.S. buyer wrote: 'Add me to the list with problems! I'm very disappointed that there's no solution either.'
IPAD HACKED
Apple's iPad was hacked into within minutes
of it going on sale in the U.S.
A well-known iPhone hacker called 'Musclenerd' said that he easily gained root access to the iPad - a process known as jail-breaking.
This means the device could be used to run unofficial applications.
Musclenerd revealed the hack in a video posted on YouTube.
A well-known iPhone hacker called 'Musclenerd' said that he easily gained root access to the iPad - a process known as jail-breaking.
This means the device could be used to run unofficial applications.
Musclenerd revealed the hack in a video posted on YouTube.
From Los Angeles, aa514 wrote: 'All my devices, two laptops and iPhone have a strong signal, but my iPad does not connect to the internet at home at all and has a weak connection at work.'
Another user - andyspocket from Nashville, Tennessee - wrote: 'I never imagined how USELESS this device is without connection - can basically only type notes in notepad app.
'I made an appointment with Apple Store and they replaced my iPad with a new one. Fingers crossed for better luck on this one.'
Apple has updated its support website in response to the complaints. They state: 'Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known Wi-Fi network after restart or waking from sleep. This can occur with some third-party Wi-Fi routers that are dual-band capable when: * Using the same network name for each network; * Using different security settings for each network.'
They suggest giving each Wi-Fi band a different SSID name but both bands to have the security type.
Apple has dealt with wi-fi problems before in early versions of the MacBook Air.
Launch pad: Apple
staff in San Francisco open the door as the device goes on sale for the
first time. By the end of day more than 300,000 had been sold
The initial version of the iPad is
only able to link to the internet via its wi-fi antenna. A new 3G
version is due out later this month.Some users have speculated the problem may be that the antenna is located behind the Apple logo on the back of the $499 (£325) device.
Michael Arrington, editor of the blog TechCrunch, reported 'scores of complaints' - and said he too was having difficulties with his wireless connection.
He said: 'My understanding of wi-fi issues on devices, particularly cramped devices like the MacBook Air and iPad, is that it’s usually a hardware/design issue and something that can’t be fixed via a software patch.'
One disgruntled user wrote: 'I have rebooted the iPad three times, doesn't help. My Macbook is running on the same wi-fi network just fine. Not spending $500 on something I can't even use. It's going back tomorrow.'
An Apple spokesman was unavailable to comment on the complaints.
Nevertheless, the iPad made a strong debut, though smaller than when the iPhone was launched.
Some British Apple fans, such as Mancunian Simon Cox, travelled to the U.S. to get their hands on the product.
The maths teacher, on a visit to New York, said he immediately used it to email friends from the store after buying it.
'It looks fantastic, so nice to hold and play and touch,' he said, noting that the device is smaller than he expected. 'It's easier to carry around. I certainly know I'll use it when I'm out and about.'
First come, first
served: Andres Schobel holds up two iPads - he was the first to start
queuing outside Apple's San Francisco shop
Healthy sales: Apple
said it shifted 300,000 iPads on its launch day, including pre-orders
Queues were considerably smaller than
the crowds which gathered for the iPhone's debut in July 2007,
according to reports. On the iPhone's launch weekend it was reported
that up to 525,000 phones had been sold.IPAD REVIEWED
'For me, my
iPad is like a gun lobbyist's rifle: the only way you will take it from
me is to prise it from my cold, dead hands.' Stephen
Fry, Time Magazine
'Apple's tablet is fun, simple, stunning to look at and blazingly fast.'
Edward C. Baig, USA Today
'It's an entirely new category of mobile device.'Bob 'Dr Mac' LeVitus, TechBlog
'I can tell you that the device just makes sense. Is the iPad cheap? No. Is it flawless? Not at all... (but) the Apple iPad is a very convincing debut.'
Tim Gideon, PC Mag
'Apple's tablet is fun, simple, stunning to look at and blazingly fast.'
Edward C. Baig, USA Today
'It's an entirely new category of mobile device.'Bob 'Dr Mac' LeVitus, TechBlog
'I can tell you that the device just makes sense. Is the iPad cheap? No. Is it flawless? Not at all... (but) the Apple iPad is a very convincing debut.'
Tim Gideon, PC Mag
In addition, Apple said that iPad owners downloaded over a million applications from its app store and more than 250,000 electronic books on Saturday. Publishers are hoping the device will help stem the decline in book sales.
Tablets have been available in one form or another since the 1990s, without ever catching on. The iPad will therefore push Apple's ability to conquer new markets to the limit.
Still, analysts have scaled up their sales predictions since the launch.
Gene Munster from Piper Jaffray & Co's said initial sales may have reached 700,000 units, more than double his initial prediction of 200,000 to 300,000 devices.
Meanwhile Toni Sacconaghi from Sanfrod C Berstein & Co's said Apple may sell around five million iPads in the first year, compared with 6.1million iPhones over the same period.
Apple had notched up the hype in the run up to launch. Last week they published 11 guided video tours of the iPad and its software.
This was followed by the iPad appearing in an episode of the popular ABC series 'Modern Family', as a sought-after birthday gift for one of the characters.
Then on Thursday, a handful of American reviewers (as well as Stephen Fry) were finally given the device to test out, and gave surprisingly positive responses across the board.
Many gadget gurus had derided the tablet computer at its January launch, as a lack-lustre bigger version of the iPhone with few new features.
TODAY'S POLL
Reviewers at both papers said the tablet computer, which goes on sale in the UK later this month, works nicely for web surfing or consuming media like video and books.
'If you're mainly a web surfer, note-taker, social-networker and emailer, and a consumer of photos, videos, books, periodicals and music... this could be for you,' Mr Mossberg said.
However, he added that the speedy device, which will start at $499, had 'annoying limitations.'
'The email program lacks the ability to create local folders or rules for auto-sorting messages, and it doesn't allow group addressing. The browser lacks tabs. And the Wi-Fi-only version lacks GPS,' he said.
Mr Pogue described the 9.7in tablet as 'so bright and responsive', but added: 'The bottom line is that you can get a laptop for much less money with a full keyboard, DVD drive, USB jacks, camera-card slot, camera, the works.'