Apple CEO Drops By Nearby Store During iPad Launch

People lined up Saturday morning at Apple stores all over the Bay Area to get their hands on the world's latest gadget, the iPad, and the customers at the Palo Alto store got an extra bonus: a visit from the company's CEO Steve Jobs.

The influential tech mogul made a quick visit to the Palo Alto store - often referred to as the ‘Mothership’ in part because it’s near the Jobs’ home – and delighted Apple fans, some of whom had stood outside the store for the entire night to buy the new gadget.

Numbers vary, but technology analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group said he heard that Apple sold half a million iPads on pre-order alone. And though some bought the iPads, which start at $499, to replace their laptops, Enderle predicted Saturday that many buying one for reasons other than entertainment might experience buyers response.

“For video, for books, for web stuff...but mostly on the entertainment side. If you're thinking about replacing your laptop you're going to be very disappointed...the lack of a keyboard is going to start chewing you up and the on-screen keyboard is pretty dismal," said Enderle.

The iPad has been described by Jobs as ‘magical’ and the praise by fans has been boundless.

“The iPad, its going to change your life. its going to change everybody's life," said Kathy Corby, IPad Owner from Santa Cruz.

Critics have said the iPad is not a revolution but simply an over-sized iPod touch.

“It is a giant iPod or a giant iPhone...and what's bad about that?" said Corby.

Enderle says the iPad falls somewhere in between the criticism and praise and that iPad is in a category of its own.

“Unless you set the bar pretty high, which we often do with Apple products, i think it's already been a success," said Enderle.

The success of the first day may not be a good judge as to the overall demand for the product. Many customers may be waiting for the iPad that allows users to connect to the Internet via AT&T instead of wi-fi only and that more expensive iPad version is expected at the end of the month.