IF you saw a queue of people doubled back in a Bournemouth street on Friday, you either joined in, or thought ‘why bother’?

Apple’s second-generation iPad went on sale from 5pm but fanatics queued from 9.30am at the Solutions Inc store in Old Christchurch Road.

Most of them were men in their 20s and 30s - however 78-year-old Pauline Avril arrived at 1.30pm.

Why?!

"I have got a laptop already but I spoke to my friend and now I fancy one of these."

But why not wait a few days or just buy another computer?

"I specifically want this. I want it now – instantaneously!" laughed the Ashley Heath resident.

She planned to use hers to speak to her son in America and upload pictures of her granddaughter.

By 4.30pm there were 54 people trying to get one of the 90 that were initially on sale on a first come first served basis.

Store retail manager Richard Furber said because the iPad is now tried and tested, it is attracting ordinary customers and not just Apple converts.

Jonathan Cornish, 22, an events manager from Wimborne already has the original iPad.

So why on earth was he fourth in the queue to buy another one?

"There’s no real reason," he laughed, "I can’t deny it. There’s some additional features but it’s not really massive point."

Like several other people in the queue he said it was easy to use with high build quality - but also a ‘must have’ because of the hype.

He said: "It’s the same as buying Calvin Klein jeans – it’s about the status and image."

Gregg Turner, 13, from Winton, a Bishop of Winchester pupil, had been saving up for two Christmases.

"I just love Apple so much," he said.

First in the queue was Richard Green, 56, a computer technology boss from Lower Parkstone in Poole who had been there since 9.30am.

Staff gave him a chair, and coffee, and let him use the toilet, and no wonder. He already owned an iPod nano, iPod touch, MacBook Air, an iMac, and an iPhone 4.