For those keeping score, that’s half of some estimates for day one. Apple uber-analyst Gene Muster pegged the sales at 600,000-700,000 after polling some stores. Needham & Co.‘s Charles Wolf was closer with a guesstimate of more than 300,000 although he told the New York Times he thought it could hit 500,000. If this had been a normal retail weekend, those higher-end estimates could have been closer to reality but most malls were closed for Easter. Also, hard to believe the second day would exceed the first for this device and the 3G delivery/sales delay skews it all.

Most useless comparison: Of course, we have to compare this to the iPhone’s first day sales and it wins hands down. Apple sold roughly 270,000 iPhones on the first weekend in 2007. But it’s as useful as comparing it to the number of Apple IIc sales. If Apple had sold fewer iPads than iPhones after three years of brand building and growth, that would matter a lot more. The more interesting number for me will be one Apple isn’t likely to release: the number of returns by people who can’t cope with wi-fi as their only access option and either switch to the more expensive 3G version or opt out for now.