• April 5, 2010

Apple sold 300,000 iPads in the U.S. as of midnight Saturday, April 3, the company announced Monday. That total includes pre-ordered units delivered to customers and sales partners as well as Apple store sales.

Apple also said more than 250,000 e-books were downloaded from its iBookstore in the first day and more than one million apps from the App Store. "It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world -- it's going to be a game changer," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a statement. "iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad."

The release of the tablet computer on Saturday touched off the now familiar phenomenon of people lining up outside Apple stores the night before to be among the first to get a hot new Apple product in their hands. Analysts have predicted the company will sell anywhere from 3 million to as many as 10 million iPads this year. --Mark Walsh