Back And Waiting

Posted Jul 12, 2008 by Scott Newman

Updated Jul 12, 2008 at 04:23 PM

I came back to International Plaza to buy a case for my new phone. You have to wait in line just to get in for accessories. I asked an Apple employee about it, and they are trying to keep down the chaos inside the store.

There is a second line to buy the phone, but unlike my night on Thursday, at least they get to wait inside. I can’t help but think this would go more smoothly if they borrowed a ticket machine from the deli counter at the grocery store. “Now serving number 10,421…”

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A Correction

Posted Jul 11, 2008 by Scott Newman

Updated Jul 11, 2008 at 10:38 AM

I want to make a correction and give credit where it is due: John from the Apple store brought us cookies last night. (I was told his name was Matt) Truly appreciated, John.

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Things I Learned

Posted Jul 11, 2008 by Scott Newman

Updated Jul 11, 2008 at 10:36 AM

Things I learned camping out for the iPhone launch:

* Bring a chair or cot to keep yourself off the ground and out of the reach of ants

* Consider attending Florida product launches in seasons other than summer

* I would pay an obscene amount of money for a cup of coffee right now

* Bug spray isn’t optional

* Watch out for sprinklers and consider where the water will run off

* The Muzak being piped outside the mall entrance is on a repeating loop, and I don’t ever want to hear it again

* Misery loves company

* Apple folks are fun

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My 16GB iPhone 3G Is Black

Posted Jul 11, 2008 by Scott Newman

Updated Jul 11, 2008 at 07:42 AM

It’s 8:18 a.m. I just left the store as the proud owner of a 16GB black iPhone 3G.

The process was easy. Employees directed people who knew what they wanted to enter the store and go left. Those who wanted to browse went to the right. They cheered us. Clapping. Smiling.

After asking which model I wanted, an Apple employee named Alex pulled a box from the giant pile of phones on a cart and led me over to a PowerMac where he did the transfer information and activated my phone.

After the information updated (it took about five minutes), he let me unbox my new beauty and we plugged it in to iTunes to finish activation. (All phones must be activated before leaving the store to prevent them from being unlocked and put on other carriers’ networks.

After walking past the hundred or so people in line (who were cheering me because I was the first to leave the store), I got in my car and headed home for a much-needed shower.

In case you are wondering whether it was worth it to stand out all night, let me be clear that I did it for the fun and the experience, not just the phone.

Apple enthusiasts are a fun bunch of people. I made a couple of friends along the way and have a good story to tell.

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On Head Counts And Briefings

Posted Jul 11, 2008 by Scott Newman

Updated Jul 11, 2008 at 06:49 AM

Kolin just did a head count, and there are 135 people in line. We just got a briefing from the head security guard. They will start letting us inside in about 10 minutes.

We have not been disappointed in the number of open-mouthed stares as people pull into the parking lot.

The guard said it should take about 10 minutes per person to activate the phone, so people at the end of the line should have their phones by Labor Day.

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