According to the reports, Apple Inc. said 1,000 applications would be ready for the iPad by the time it debuts in U. S. stores Saturday, and a sellout day is likely.

USA Today reported on Friday that industry analyst Richard Doherty of Envisioneering Group said Apple's entry into the digital tablet market would be sold out by "early afternoon."

Sales would likely reach as high as 300,000 by Monday. In addition, Jaffray estimated 1 million would be sold in the second quarter, April through June, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said.

The newspaper further reported that iPad sales will not have the same line delays that customers experienced when the iPhone was first introduced, as store clerks will not have to spend time activating the device, as they did with the phones.

The initial offering of the iPad includes 16-, 32-, and 64-gigabyte systems with retail prices of $499, $599 and $699, respectively. Three models that employ AT&T's 3G network to be introduced later this month will be higher priced, at up to $829 per unit.

Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf said, "The iPad has a higher price point and a bigger profit margin."