Technophiles mobbed Apple Stores in Europe and Asia today in a quest to snatch up the iPad.

Long lines snaked down streets in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo as eager buyers vied to wield their credit cards. Screams and cheers rose from the crowd in central London as students, professionals and self-proclaimed computer geeks clutched boxes containing the slim black device.

In Britain, prices for versions of the iPad range from 429 pounds to 699 pounds ($624 to $1,017). Besides Britain, the device was being unveiled Friday in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

At the Apple Store in Frankfurt, Germany, hundreds lined up – including a few who arrived as early as 3 a.m. Some said they’d arrived so early not because they wanted to own it first – but simply to get an iPad at all.

In Germany, the iPad price starts at 499 Euro ($617).

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