In line for the new iPad

London's Regent Street store allows its first customers inside after a long wait.

Photo: IDG News Service, London

A rain-soaked crowd waits outside of the Stockton Street Apple Store in San Francisco, Friday morning. By 4 a.m. there were already 150 people in line.

Photo: Karissa Bell, Macworld

Andre Smironf (left) had been in line in since Tuesday. Army Sergeant Luis Zacharius (top) says he has been to all of the launches. Greg Packer (bottom) was the first one in line at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.

Photos: Eric Bruno, Macworld

Crowds of Apple fans and media gathered outside Tokyo's Apple Store in the shopping district of Ginza where two friends eagerly wait in line for the new iPad.

Photos: IDG News Service, Tokyo.

In many cities, the media contingent rivals the number of shoppers. Reporters gather around the first person in line outside Philadelphia's Walnut Street Apple Store.

Photo: Joel Mathis, Macworld

Apple employees serve coffee and tea to people in line outside the store at the Cambridgeside Gallery mall.

Photo: Jason Tocci, Mcworld

The Genius Bar, shortly after San Francisco's Stockton Street store opened: Apple employees helped customers set up their new iPads as part of Apple's Personal Setup service.

Photo: Karissa Bell, Macworld

John, an artist, shows off his new iPad, outside of the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue. He said he would use his iPad to help him create.

Photo: Eric Bruno, Macworld

Apple shoppers in New York City (bottom) showed it would take more than wet weather to deter them from getting their hands on the new iPad.

Photo courtesy of Macworld reader Jay Fenik

Customers wait patiently outside the Apple Store in Lexington, Kentucky, around 7 a.m. Friday morning.

Photo courtesy of Macworld reader Ross Green