Is it really worth queueing overnight in the rain for an Apple iPhone?
By Dave Parrack
The Apple iPhone is launching in the UK as we speak, with stores due to release stock to customers from 6:02pm on Friday. Why 6:02pm I don’t know, but the bigger question is, would you queue overnight in the pouring rain for an iPhone? Because that is exactly what some people have done at London’s Regent Street Apple store.
It’s now winter in the UK, it’s raining continuously, and the temperatures are rarely getting above 10C degrees, which seem perfect conditions to camp outside the Apple store in London just to be one of the first to get your hands on an iPhone.
First to show up was Graham Gilbert, a Manchester computer student who arrived at 8.30am on Thursday and claimed his place in the non-existent queue. He told Reuters:
“I’m exhausted, running on empty. It’s a nice day now, but it was raining horribly last night. There were seven of us out here and we didn’t get any sleep.”
Gilbert admits to being an Apple fanatic (poor deluded man) and owns eight Apple products, including four iPods and two computers. Asked by The Times whether his interest in the iPhone bordered on the obsessive, he answered:
“It’s a bit like a religion. Some people don’t understand it, and think it’s stupid. But then some people also think Christianity’s stupid. It’s no different, really.”
The reaction that the die-hard queuers received ranged from a bunch of drunkards shouting abuse at 3am, to a nearby restaurant supplying the devotees with free pizza. Most however, just wondered what the hell the point was.
There will be scores of the phones available right from the off, so queuing seems like a bit of a pointless exercise. The only real reason to do it is to get your name and picture printed in newspapers and on websites around the world.
As for the iPhone itself, it seems the 02 enforced contract remains the major sticking point for most people. One of the guys in the queue openly admitted they would be using software downloaded from the internet to unlock the phone to use with their existing contract.
Steve Alder, Apple’s iPhone director, said:
“Why would you want to unlock it? We have the best package of unlimited data and all the benefits of the iPhone. Unlocking it would mean you won’t get the full benefit of the iPhone.”
It will sell, and in huge numbers, but stop queuing you idiots, just wait until Monday and get one then. As for the 02 contract, some will happily pay their money and support Apple’s monopolising strategy, while others will get their new toy unlocked, and face whatever consequences Apple throws at them.
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Stumble It!
November 9th, 2007
> “queuing seems like a bit of a pointless exercise. The only real reason to do it is to get your name and picture printed in newspapers and on websites around the world”
Naw, it’s good fun if you’re an Apple fan like me. You get to hang out with other people who like Apple as much as you. Plus, free food and, as you say, talking to journalists.
All that kinda pales in comparison to the welcome the Apple Store employees gave us though. When the doors opened, they all packed the ground floor, cheering, applauding and high-fiving us inside; then doubly so as we came back down the stairs with our iPhones. Sure, it’s silly, but it’s amazing fun: like going to a movie premiere, when you’re in the movie.
I wouldn’t have gotten that on Monday.
November 10th, 2007
are any of these i-diots in the queues payed by apple to stand there or are they just sad and stupid?
i had an unlocked iphone about a month ago from ebay- it was ok for the first couple of days for showing off purposes but i quickly realised what a piece of crap it was. there are many features on bottom of the range phones which arent on this- no picture messaging/ having to BUY RINGTONES FROM ITUNES!!!! crap bluetooth interaction with other phones/ no picture messaging. there also seems to be interference when connecting to many audio devices.
all in all the n95 i now own is much better and doesnt make me look like a mug whose just been ripped off for over £900 when i walk down the street!!!
MANY OF THE PEOPLE QUEUING TO BUY THEM WILL BE PISSED OFF WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT CRAP THEYVE BOUGHT AND WHEN THEY SEE NO ONE IS IMPRESSED BY THEM
February 5th, 2008
It’s amazing to me that this POS still lacks user replaceable BATTERY and a memory card slot… It more amazing when those machintrash think that their system are better because it builds for graphics but when it comes to GAMMING they’re just a bunch on over-priced box that could display much of a decent graphics. Ask me how I know… Made the BIGGEST mistake of my life and bought one of this crap and attempt to play game on it and do some 3D rendering with it then I learned really quick what mac really stand for is ROTTEN APPLE!