It's here, and worth the hype, say iPad fans

Memo Mendoza likely scored a lot of points with his gadget-loving wife for snagging Apple's latest and much touted toy - the iPad - for her birthday.

The Streamwood man loved everything about the device - the touch screen, the e-reader, the games and applications. And it will be the perfect treat for the kids on the next family road trip to keep them occupied with movies, he said.

"I do want one," he admitted, "but they are expensive."

Yet, not-so-surprisingly, the iPads were selling like hot cakes Saturday even at $499 a pop for the 16-gigabyte model.

Dozens of techies and ordinary Joes lined up outside suburban Apple stores, some as early as 4 a.m., to get first dibs on the sleek tablet computer.

Sporting a 9.7-inch high-resolution touch-screen, the iPad has a variety of uses, including social networking, e-reader, a portable gaming device and Web surfing. It features Apple's Safari browser, the App Store, e-mail, maps, photos, music, movies, YouTube videos, iPod and iTunes, and iBooks, designed to compete with Amazon's Kindle.

Even the realization that the iPad version launched Saturday lacks certain features, such as 3G capability or a built-in camera to use for Web chats or taking pictures, did not stop hoards of enthusiasts from purchasing it.

Lines separated the die-hard fanatics who had already pre-ordered the device from those trying to buy it before the stores ran out of stock and closed for Easter.

At Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, some were there just to be part of the experience.

"I have one being delivered to my house," said Tom Krush of Elk Grove Village, who was among the first in line to purchase an iPad and had been waiting for two hours before the store opened at 9 a.m. "I love Apple products and it's fun."

A software developer, Krush is working on an application, more commonly known as app, for the iPad that he hopes to release soon. It's a project management tool that will help companies manage their businesses better, he said.

"I don't think anyone has really understood what this thing is going to change," Krush said. "Every area of our life that works with print or digital can be enhanced by the iPad. Right now, Apple has given us a piece of glass and an amazing platform to develop in."

Krush purchased the 16-gigabyte model, but plans to get the more expensive 64-gig version later this month.

Apple employees cheered and clapped from inside the Woodfield store to pump up the crowd's enthusiasm before opening. As the doors were flung open, employees lined up to high-five each customer as the crowd filed in and dispersed like kids in a candy store.

Joe Monahan of Connecticut, who was visiting his uncle in Itasca, accompanied him to the store Saturday.

"It's just going to be a lot of wows!" he said handling a display iPad for the first time.

Monahan was impressed with the iPad's screen resolution, crisp image display, and quick response.

"I had a whole plan to wait, see how it was received, play with my uncle's for a while," said Monahan, who ended up buying one on the spot.

Schaumburg store manager Shawn Hoklas wouldn't say how many iPads were in stock Saturday but said they had enough on hand for the line outside, which had dwindled considerably by 10:30 a.m.

The Apple store in Oakbrook Center was nearly filled with excited, chattering customers, despite a steady downpour of rain.

Credit cards in hand, many buyers went straight to the counter to collect their iPads, then cracked them open in the store to sync data from other devices such as iPhones, iPods and computers.

Other customers took the display iPads for test drives - surfing the Internet and trying out various apps - while store personnel offered guidance. A few customers sipped complimentary cups of Starbucks coffee while watching the hubbub.

"The only reason I didn't wait a few days is because I was worried they'd run out," said Hinsdale resident Stephen Chambers. "I do a lot of traveling, so I'm really excited about reading books on here instead of carrying a bunch of them around with me."

Wood Dale native Richard Paxton, smiling broadly as he walked out with his new iPad, said he planned to load a lot of music and videos into it.

"I think this is the direction we're headed, in terms of entertainment," he said. "Pretty soon, everything we want will be downloaded onto our own personal devices like this."

•Daily Herald Staff Writer Matt Arado contributed to this report.