Apple Stores Closing from 4-5PM for iPad 3G Launch

The Wi-Fi + 3G version of Apple’s (AAPL) iPad debuts today and the company is busy making preparations for its arrival. Apple retail stores in the U.S. will be closed this afternoon from 4PM to 5PM local time, as their staffs set up for the surge of early adopters who’ve been patient enough to hold out for a version of the slate with 3G data connectivity.

Apple sold 300,000 iPads on April 5 — the first day the day the device went on sale. By April 8 it had sold another 150,000 (450,000 total). Now that the 3G version of the device is here and Apple can officially add 3G pre-orders to its sales numbers it’s going to be interesting to see what the grand total is.