New iPad available in Stores Friday, March 16th

The new, third-generation iPad, over-viewed in this Gadgetator article, will hit store shelves tomorrow, March 16th.

If you want to get your hands on one as early as possible, waiting in line at an Apple store, as Mashable says, may not be the best choice. Apple stores will start selling the new device at 8:00 AM, local time, while 24-hour Walmarts will begin to hand out the device at 12:01 AM. The Best Buy at Union Square in New York City will also have the iPad at midnight.

It seems interesting that Apple would allow retailers to begin to sell the iPad before they themselves do, but it may just be another noticeable difference in Apple in the post Steve Jobs era.

Will you be waiting at a Walmart or Best Buy at midnight for the newest iPad? Share your thoughts in the comments.