NEW YORK -- The iPad didn't quite bring out the crowds that Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)'s iPhone launches did, but the first major mobile tablet to be introduced still drew an impressive number of the Mac faithful to the firm's flagship store in SoHo here on Saturday morning.

You could actually hear the crowd before they became visible, as Apple staff and willing buyers for the new WiFi-only touchscreen device whooped and cheered as the new iPads got picked up. Buyers had pre-ordered their iPads and were let into the glass-fronted store a few at a time. This resulted in a wait of up to 45 minutes for a device, and the lines appeared to be getting longer as the morning wore on.

Click below for images of the launch:

The launch on Saturday brought out plenty of mainstream print media and TV crews. USA Today was so eager to publicize its new iPad app, it hired someone to ride around on a Segway with a promo voice-over blaring out again and again. People milled around trying to give out "free screen wipes for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac," while tourists stopped to squint at the large, noisy ad.

Been living under a rock for the last couple of months? If you need to get up to speed on the iPad, check out Light Reading's comprehensive coverage of Steve Jobs's favorite tablet:

• Apple Tablet Eyed for March Release
  
• Gadget Watch: Awaiting the Apple Tablet
  
• What to Expect From Apple's Tablet
  
• Scenes From the Apple iPad Launch
  
• Will the Apple iPad Crush 3G Networks?
  
• iPad Aftermath
  
• The iPad Consumer
  
• Tellabs, Skinny Dividends & iPad
  
• iPad: The Touch of Death?
  
• Comcast on the iPad: It's All Good
  
• iPad to Disappoint Publishers
  
• Apple Sets iPad Launch Date for April 3
  
• iPad Commercial Debuts
  
• Apple Opens iPad Pre-Orders
  
• CTIA 2010: Where's Carrier Support for 3G iPad?
  
• Off-Loading the iPad
  
• iPad Reviews Are In
  
• iPad App Store Is Live
  
• The iPad: a Threat to Flash's Video Dominance?
  

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile

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