The iPod mini, a digital music player made by Apple Computer Inc., has proved extremely popular since hitting the Japanese market a month ago.

People interested in owning the credit card-size gadget are waiting an average of four to six weeks for delivery.

The 103-gram players, each capable of holding 1,000 songs, sell out instantly after arriving in stores, with orders from not only teens and young adults but also businessmen in their 30s to 50s, shop clerks said.

The device attracts people with its simple style, metallic color variation -- being available in gold, silver, blue, green and pink -- and "click wheel" functions that let users easily scroll through songs and control the player with their thumb, the clerks said.

The iPod mini measures 9.1 x 5.1 x 1.3 cm and costs 28,140 yen.

The Apple Store in Tokyo's Ginza district is often crowded with people seeking to buy one.

"We thought demand would peak with the Bon summer holiday season, but sales momentum has continued," a store employee said. "We expect demand will continue for another month."

Yoshiaki Sakito, vice president of Apple Computer, said global sales of the iPod mini, which hit stores in the United States in March and elsewhere July 24, have exceeded the company's goals and that Apple has increased production of the device in Taiwan and China.