iPhone Launch: Lines Shorter Than Expected
So, here we are within spitting distance of the iPhone launch ... and we have to admit we're a little disappointed. In just over 24 hours from now, the iPhone will officially be on sale. But where are the massive lines wrapped around the block? Where are the miles of camping tents? Where are the riots? Where are the Kentuckians driving by lines and shooting at them with BB guns?
What we're saying is, what the heck kind of launch is this? As of this writing (less than 26 hours out), Switched has confirmed that only 12 people are lined up outside of Apple's New York store in Soho. A slightly less pathetic 18 people are lined up outside of the Fifth Avenue New York store. What gives? Why is the iPhone launch so much less exciting than last fall's sideshow of a PS3 launch?
Well, consider the audience. Unlike the PS3, the iPhone is really more of a product targeted at the employed; people who don't have the luxury of spending days playing make-believe survivalist outside of an electronics store; people who are a lot less likely to be living in Mom's basement.
Secondly, it's the numbers. Sony had only 400,000 PlayStation 3 consoles in the U.S. at launch, which was like throwing a half a sardine into a swimming pool full of piranhas. That meager quantity created crowds, which in turn created some great headlines for the launch. But, it also led to shortages and backlash -- not to mention the violence. Police had to shut down stores in California and New York after brawls broke out. As we mentioned above, last year in Kentucky a line of PS3 hopefuls was shot up in a BB-gun drive-by. A store in California was robbed of its PS3s at gunpoint, while in Connecticut two gunmen shot a customer lined up outside of a Wal-Mart after he refused to hand over his PS3 money.
Apple, it seems, has learned from Sony's bungled launch and is promising three million iPhones available for sale starting tomorrow. Apple is so confident that three million units will suffice that it's allowing two phones per customer. PS3 was limited to one per customer.
For the most part, it appears the masses agree with Apple's assessment that three million will be enough. Sure, the freaks will gobble up the first few hundred thousand units tomorrow night, but your iPhone will be waiting for you when you're damn well ready to buy it. Or, at least that's what you keep telling yourself, right?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
todd said 5:26PM on 6-28-2007
question...will the iphone have a sim card slot for my att sim card?. will it ever be able to be unblocked for europe/asia sim cards when i travel. no...then i'll enjoy the $600 elsewhere...thxs
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The Chris! said 7:33PM on 6-28-2007
Doesnt seem like it should be a big deal. Most anyone has a cell phone with some internet capabilities(at the least texting)... and an MP3 player already.
Why an average person would blow $500 to replace something that doesnt need replacing is beyond me.
For the money one could get a 30gb platform compared to the 6-8? gb of iphone, and a very good phone to boot!
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randy said 12:40AM on 6-29-2007
Apple screwed the pooch with me on the IPhone. All was ok until I learned that the battery is special made and not available at the Battery store. It's too much of a pain to drive to an apple store just to replace a battery. Nobody seems to know how long the IPhone batteries willl last.
Maybe the next (or third) generation IPhone, for me.
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Joe said 2:42AM on 6-29-2007
No real useful tools/software for the business user, almost all or recent and upcoming phones will have built in mp3 built in, the 3G network they have is slower then Verizon and Sprint so why bother with slow internet surfing no wirless d/l off music so all I see from the Iphone is a very nice design and touchscreen with large memory. All the hype is built up to the Apple brand name, like the ipod to have one is to be cool.
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Danny said 4:04AM on 6-29-2007
Check out the I-Phone, it does EVERYTHING!
(comedy)
http://www.dannysdailys.com/Amazing-I-Phone.wmv
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neal said 11:57AM on 6-29-2007
Funny that the time the story is posted is 4:32 pm and the sky is already getting dark in NYC in the middle of the summer. I see stories from the New York Times and on cable news about people lining up in NYC since Monday to be sure that they can get an iPhone. So this story on its face is not credible. If you don't like the phone it is OK. It is not and won't be for everybody. If you don't like Apple or its products, its OK. There are plenty of reasons for people not to like Apple or its products. But don't just make stuff up. If you want people to listen to what you have to say, at least be credible.
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