The grand unveiling of the Apple iPad by Steve Jobs last week resulted in a mass scramble to get on the internet, as online shoppers were desperate to find out more. 

Statistics from InvisibleHand, the real-time shopping price comparison add-on, show that in the hours following the announcement the iPad accounted for almost five per cent of UK online shopping searches.

Robin Landy, founder of InvisibleHand, says, “Anticipation over the iPad has been building up for months and our data shows that people were not disappointed with what they saw. Interestingly despite not being available in the UK until March, British consumers were whipped into more of a frenzy than the US. Over the pond the iPad accounted for just under three per cent of online shopping searches.”

“The iPad is going to top most wanted lists for months to come. As consumers look to get their hands on this new gadget they need to make sure that they have the right tools to get it at the best price. Real-time price comparison is essential if early adopters are to take advantage of an iPad price war,” concluded Landy.