It's already begun: iPhone 3G line starting in New York City
Although it's not the first release and ample supply is expected, a queue has reportedly begun outside of Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store to buy iPhone 3G a full week before its release.
As of mid-afternoon on Friday, a ten-person line has been spotted by Gear Diary along the marble border that surrounds the retail store above ground.
The lineup is acknowledged by both store security and Apple employees, some of whom have already left the store temporarily to talk with those in line. Chairs and other apparel make it clear the early visitors are there for the seven-day wait.
The names of those first in line are unknown, though unlike the queue at the same store last year, the front isn't headed up by well-known line waiter Greg Packer, who regularly queues up early to be the first in line for many high-profile events.
Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet. With customers required to activate iPhone in-store rather than simply walk out with their purchases, the time spent processing each customer is estimated to take at least 10 minutes -- a process that will slow the line down considerably versus the original launch, in which many customers could buy their handsets and leave in just a fraction of the time.
A snapshot of the early lineup. Image credit: Gear Diary
As of mid-afternoon on Friday, a ten-person line has been spotted by Gear Diary along the marble border that surrounds the retail store above ground.
The lineup is acknowledged by both store security and Apple employees, some of whom have already left the store temporarily to talk with those in line. Chairs and other apparel make it clear the early visitors are there for the seven-day wait.
The names of those first in line are unknown, though unlike the queue at the same store last year, the front isn't headed up by well-known line waiter Greg Packer, who regularly queues up early to be the first in line for many high-profile events.
Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet. With customers required to activate iPhone in-store rather than simply walk out with their purchases, the time spent processing each customer is estimated to take at least 10 minutes -- a process that will slow the line down considerably versus the original launch, in which many customers could buy their handsets and leave in just a fraction of the time.
A snapshot of the early lineup. Image credit: Gear Diary
Comments
Given the new set-up, the stock available, and the sheer number of outlets that will sell it, ... lining up for iPhone 3G is just stupid.
It's a virtual certainty that you will be able to walk into any Apple or AT&T store on the afternoon of the first day or release and pick one up with no hassle, and no line-up. Why sleep in a camp chair for 7 days just for a free TShirt?
just silly,
Over here they made a big fuss of closing the stores for a supposed queue but I think the only queue was at the Apple store in London. Otherwise it was just bored people wanting to play with it lol I guess its fun to be part of the first batch of peeps to get their hands on it.
Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet.
Waste an entire week in line to save a few extra minutes or hours for activation?
That sounds like a clear incentive to me!
Also unlike last year, however, there exists more of a clear incentive to be first in line at the New York City flagship outlet. With customers required to activate iPhone in-store rather than simply walk out with their purchases, the time spent processing each customer is estimated to take at least 10 minutes -- a process that will slow the line down considerably versus the original launch, in which many customers could buy their handsets and leave in just a fraction of the time.
So to save a few hours on launch day, they waste a week in a queue, and that's supposed to be one clear incentive?
do these people have jobs? 1 full week for a phone you could buy a day or two later,
just silly,
Guess it's their job?! Aren't those people paid to wait in front of the store to go buy an iPhone for someone with a job?
So, do we call these people "iHeads"?
we call them idiots. way too many on this planet.
And then crossed THAT line into "week-long tailgate party," which is firmly in the territory of the insane.
Then again, I bet in NYC you could find 10 people who think the iPhone 3G comes out today!
I dont understand whats with all the queue business. Why not just go after work and get it?
Over here they made a big fuss of closing the stores for a supposed queue but I think the only queue was at the Apple store in London. Otherwise it was just bored people wanting to play with it lol I guess its fun to be part of the first batch of peeps to get their hands on it.
By going after work in New York City on July 11, 2008, you will wait in a very long line and hope you make it to the door before they close. The processing will be slow too with the overloaded AT&T Window based computers. Being first in line gets you on television for those that still watch it.
Then they deserve to be in line. Maybe it's there way of thanking Apple.
On an unrelated note, I think it's funny that you British (and I think Aussies/Kiwis as well) use the terms "queue" and "queuing" which are actually much more precise than the American "standing in a line" or "[B]lining up[]/B". Leave It to us Americans to butcher the hell out of proper english..
I wouldn't say it's more precise, but it certainly does sound more proper to our unsophisticated, Yankee ear.
From Dictionary.app:
Some of those people in line may own Apple stocks for the last 5 years.
Then they deserve to be in line. Maybe it's there way of thanking Apple.
maybe using "there" instead of "their" is your way of botching the english language.
and if these people aren't scalping them on ebay they are idiots, but if they are they probably are still idiots because if they had a real job they could make more money than by sitting here to buy iphones, even if their profit is 100%, that's only $200.
In other words, get a life, not an iLife.
Also, I might have missed it but is there the ability to use VoIP applications on the new iPhone or has Apple sort of "blocked" this via the SDK?
I wouldn't say it's more precise, but it certainly does sound more proper to our unsophisticated, Yankee ear.
From Dictionary.app:
Well, maybe not technically more precise, but I think "queue" better describes what you are talking about without regards to surrounding context than "line"
Queue, Queu·ing
\tA file or line, especially of people waiting their turn
\tA line of waiting people or vehicles.
\tA data structure from which the first item that can be retrieved is the one stored earliest.
Anyways, give it 50 years and I'm sure Americans will split off a "simplified english" dialect consisting of a set of 50 three and four letter words... Then there will be cultural fighting over which is more "American" and educated people will be seen as the villanous "elite" because they speak in formal language.