iPad launch draws early morning queue

About 150 techno-enthusiasts lined up outside the Apple store in Calgary's Market Mall Friday morning, keen to be among the first Canadians to own an iPad.

The tablet-style computer has been available in the United States since April 5, but it only went on sale in Canada and in eight other countries on Friday.

"I was here 9 o'clock last night. I read a magazine, I read a whole book inside. It's going to be for my mom. She doesn't know how to use the computer and with the iPad, I figure she's going to be able to figure it out," said Thomas Kim, who was at the head of the line when the store opened at 8 a.m.

"I like to get the newest things, the latest and greatest," said Kevin Sweet, explaining what got him out of bed early to buy Apple's new device, a cross between a smart phone and a laptop.

"My wife told me last night that I should come down here and get one," said Aaron McDonald, another member of the lineup of gadget junkies snaking down the northwest mall's hallway.

Prices for the iPads range from $549 for a 16GB Wi-Fi version to $879 for a 64GB version with Wi-Fi and 3G cellular access.

Apple sold one million iPads in the first month after its U.S. launch.