Apple iPad sales cross 300,000 on first day

Apple sold upward of 300,000 iPads on the first day the sale of the devices opened in the US on Saturday, according to the company.

Apple said on Monday that the sales figures included pre-ordered shipments of the tablet computer as well as purchases at Apple retail stores in the country.

The California-based company also said that iPad users had downloaded one million plus application from Apple's App Store and over 250,000 electronic books from Apple's iBookstore during the first day.

"It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world - it's going to be a game changer," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in a statement.

"iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad," Jobs said.

Analysts had projected a sale of 300,000 to 400,00 iPads over the weekend.

With the iPad, users can watch video, listen to music, play games, surf the web and read electronic books. The iPad also runs most of the 150,000 iPod Touch and iPhone applications.
 
The model that opened for sale on Saturday features Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, and a model offering both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connectivity is slated for release in late April.
The 16-GB Wi-Fi carries a $499 price tag while the 64GB Wi-Fi model costs $699.
 
The iPad is about the size of a letter-sized paper sheet, measures half an inch in thickness, weighs 1.5 pounds and has a colour 9.7-inch LED display touchscreen.