TORONTO - Scores of Apple fans across the country hunkered down in long lines Friday to ensure they got their hands on the new iPad 2.

The new tablet didn't go on sale until 5 p.m. but that didn't stop dozens of people from lining up overnight, in the cold, to guarantee they'd get a chance to buy one.

At the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Oren Lasko had waited hours longer than anyone else. He arrived at the Apple store at about 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, making his wait for an iPad 2 nearly 36 hours long. He hung out in the mall alone for a good four hours or so until the line began to form behind him.

"There was zero strategy, no plotting," Lasko said of how he decided when to get in line.

"I just thought at 7:30 yesterday I was not going to be the first, I wanted to be in the top 100.

"I was absolutely stunned (to be first)."

The massively popular devices start at $519 and top out in price at $849, depending on the model.

Those who couldn't stand to bear the long lineups may have to wait awhile to buy an iPad 2 if retail stores end up selling out.

On Apple.ca, availability for all models of the iPad 2 is listed at three to four weeks.