The tablet is 8.8 millimeters thick, compared to the 13.4-millimeter thickness of the original iPad. Prices for the tablet start at $499 and extend to $829. Storage capacity ranges from 16GB to 64GB, and the tablet comes with Wi-Fi and 3G mobile broadband options.

But with Android tablets such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Motorola's Xoom now available, the iPad is facing much more competition.

Narang, who stood in the New York line, was not interested in buying an Android tablet because of high prices and bad reviews.

Beyond the die-hard fans lined up outside Apple stores, some potential tablet buyers are still weighing their options. Tablet buyers want features such as an SD card slot and Flash support, which are not included in iPad 2.

Lorrie Jollimore, a graphic designer and Web developer who lives in Canada, is skipping the iPad 2 and may consider Android tablets.