The bicoastal wait for the iPad 2 (photos)

CNET has been at Apple stores in New York and San Francisco today for the iPad 2 launch. Here's a sampling of what we saw.

CNET News staff

March 11, 2011 8:24 p.m. PT

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Sarah Tew/CNET

First guy with device in hand

CNET reporters and photographers have been at Apple stores in New York and San Francisco today tracking the lines of people waiting to get their hands on the company's revamped tablet device. Here's a sampling of what we saw:

Alex Scumilov, shown here, is the first iPad 2 customer to emerge from the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York. The device went on sale in New York at 5 p.m. ET. Scumilov came to the Apple store on Thursday afternoon to buy a MacBook Pro. But he ended up staying the night and waiting in line with about 15 other people for the new iPad 2. He was fifth in line.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

Food vendors

Food vendors lined up 67th Street in New York do a good business selling munchies to people queued up for the iPad 2.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

Two hours before

Two hours before the iPad 2 is set to go on sale, the line at Apple's store on Fifth Avenue starts to wrap around the block. People line up along 58th Street next to the FAO Scwhartz toy store.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

Fifth Avenue store

Another shot from the Apple store on Fifth Avenue as people wait to buy their iPad 2s.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

Upper West Side

At least 200 people line up outside the Apple store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan this afternoon waiting for the iPad 2 to be released.

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James Martin/CNET

Early in San Francisco

By about 8 a.m. PT, there are already more than 50 people lined up at the Apple Store on Stockton Street in downtown San Francisco. The iPad goes on sale here at 5 p.m. PT.

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James Martin/CNET

San Francisco

By 2 p.m PT, the line at the downtown San Francisco Apple store already stretches the length of more than two city blocks.

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James Martin/CNET

Keeping busy

People play cards, read magazines, and watch movies on their original iPads as they wait in line along Stockton Street in San Francisco.

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James Martin/CNET

Nice hand

In line waiting for the iPad 2 with a pair of 4s a pair of jacks, and a pair of aces--it's party time in San Francisco.

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James Martin/CNET

Construction

People wait in the shadows along Stockton Street as construction crews tear up the pavement Friday afternoon.

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James Martin/CNET

More San Francisco line-waiters

More San Francisco iPad 2 line-waiters outside the downtown Apple store.

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James Martin/CNET

Vendors along Stockton Street

Vendors along Stockton Street sell charm bracelets, furry knitted animal hats, and bottled water to those waiting in line for the iPad 2.

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James Martin/CNET

Lowering the black curtain

The crowd outside the downtown San Francisco Apple store just as the clock was about to strike 5 p.m. PT. Apple is removing the black curtain--you can see the Apple employees inside and ready for iPad 2 buyers.

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James Martin/CNET

From above

Looking down at some of the first iPad 2 buyers being let inside the downtown San Francisco Apple store.

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James Martin/CNET

First in line

James Alimeda, who was first in line for an iPad 2 at the downtown San Francisco Apple store, was also one of the first to make it to the registers and actually buy one.