Some analysts think Apple sold close to a million units of the iPad 2 during its debut weekend, reports “Reuters” (http://macte.ch/3XQb5). By comparison, the original version of the iPad, which launched in April of 2010, crossed the one-million mark 28 days after its launch.

Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White told “Reuters” it was difficult to find an iPad 2 over the weekend. “Our field checks over the weekend indicate that the iPad 2 sold out at every Apple and non-Apple store we contacted,” White wrote in a research note. “In fact, all the stores had worked through iPad 2 inventory by Saturday afternoon, and there were no new iPad 2 deliveries on Sunday.”

Wedbush Securities analyst Scott Sutherland thinks Apple sold close to one million iPad 2’s in the opening weekend. Best Buy on Friday said some of its outlets ran out of the tablet and its accessories within 10 minutes.

Apple shares rose 0.6% to US$354.20 in morning trade on the Nasdaq, even as shares of many other technology companies slumped. The Nasdaq was down 0.7%.