Customers snap up iPads as Apple launches sales in Japan

Apple Inc.’s iPad tablet computer went on sale in Japan on Friday morning, to the delight of throngs of customers who had formed long lines at stores starting the previous evening.

Many of the customers who rushed to Apple and Softbank shops had ordered their iPads in advance, but some customers without orders also snapped up the devices.

A ceremony marking the launch of sales was held at Softbank’s Omotesando Store in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward from 7:50 a.m. on Friday, with Softbank President Masayoshi Son in attendance, as well as some 250 people waiting for sales to begin.

Kazuki Miura, a freelance writer from Chiba Prefecture who was the first in line, quickly started up his new iPad to check it out.

“The screen looks good and it’s neat to use,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the Apple Store in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district, some 1,200 people lined up waiting to get their hands on the device.

The iPad has a touchscreen, and it can be used to read electronic books, view images and browse the Internet. The model equipped with WiFi capability alone is priced at 48,800, while another model that can also connect to mobile 3G networks starts from 58,320 yen.

Over 1 million iPads have been sold in the United States since its release there on April 3. Stores in Japan started accepting orders on May 10, but halted reservations after just three days following a flood of customers.

Click here for the original Japanese story