Life Obsessed in the iPhone Bubble

erroneous

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Ok, this is my last post for a Saturday night.
I promise not to instigate anything other than
posts based on actual fact(s) after this.

For example, I will be purchasing an iPhone on the 29th
of June.


In the meantime...

Despite all the wonderful hype, glitz, product promotion,
and forum mayhem, I continue to have this funny feeling it’s
indeed all of the above. For it would not be the first time a
huge bubble of hype burst into a trickle of…

With a mere 2000 some members here on this forum, and
maybe 7, or 10 more forums with the same average
number of people posting their/our latest thoughts,
questions, and so on, it doesn’t really seem to add up
to very many people in a country of roughly 300 million
interested in actually purchasing a product.

The demographics of who can actually afford one, the complications of some people having to spend even more to break their ties with a current cell phone provider, and other factors I’m sure this brilliant crowd could add to the slant here.

AT&T hiring an extra 2000 people really only means
one, or two extra workers at each store.
(Depending on the store size, and market location.)

I think about how a new grocery store sets up double
cash registers, and many extra people to handle a first
day crowd for example. To illustrate a lame analogy.
And the huge lines during holiday periods.

And because some 1 million plus people have inquired
about the product with AT&T for updates,
etc. it still doesn’t seem to jive with actual word on the street.

When I asked my 20-year-old son about helping me wait in line for
a unit(s), his initial tone was, “Oh ya, I heard about those.”
Kind of implying conversation about the product among his peers
was not really taking place.
And I second this comment with how very few, if actually no one
where I’m employed ever uttered the term “iPhone” until I
started talking about it at work. They all wish me fun, and good
luck in my effort to purchase one, but seem lackadaisical about
all the commotion. (Old fuddy duddies aren’t they?)

Just keeping one foot on the ground surrounding all the
commotion here within the written word. A Forum.

Even so, I’m still gonna be first in line!
Race ya.

Have a great weekend everyone.

John
 

wjp09

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Feb 25, 2007
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Good writeup I believe everyone who wants one will get one. Just because people are polled and say they want one dosn't mean they can get one. If you asked everyone if they wanted a LAMBO Im sure they would say yes.
 

iJohn

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. If you asked everyone if they wanted a LAMBO Im sure they would say yes.
Very true. When you add up all the money needed to pay for this thing, it really adds up quickly. 500 for the phone, up to 400 to break from another contract, the actual price of the contracts, a shiny new case, the music you pay for to put on it, everything adds up.
 

Lips2000

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It's funny, but I was thinking the exact same thing...

The other day, I was with my family and I asked my sisters (both huge Mac fanatics) what they thought about the iPhone. One of them looked at me like I had just asked her if she was pregnant (she's 24, single and not) and the other one just nodded and said she's seen a commercial about it.

Only time will tell, but I do think the actual number of BUYERS in the line on iDay will be much smaller than anticipated. At least I hope so! :D

Mark
 

Boyscout47

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I am glad to hear others being reasonable. I have been thinking the same thing about the lines. No one I know knows about them except for the people I talk about it with and all of them are willing to see how it is. I think the forums are great but not the best for my sanity.

Awesome post!
 

Ranged30

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I am glad to hear others being reasonable. I have been thinking the same thing about the lines. No one I know knows about them except for the people I talk about it with and all of them are willing to see how it is. I think the forums are great but not the best for my sanity.

Awesome post!
Someone here in Denver posted that they are expecting lines in excess of 1000 and that the police even plan on being there for crowd control. Who knows at this point though...
 

rose

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Jun 22, 2007
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This has been my exact problem.. I really don't know what to expect... That's what getting me so anxious in my stupid iPhone bubble.
 

slipperypete

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Great post. I was kind of thinking the same.

Yes, there might be issues getting one in some larger cities, but I think for the most part you will be able to get one if you want one. At&T stores are staying open until 10(4 hours after they release) and Apple stores until midnight. I can't see Apple and At&T staying open late if they were going to turn the majority of people away come Friday. I mean sellout by 6:30 and stay open until midnight for Apple stores? Given the recent rumor of Apple stores not doing activation, what would they do until the store closed? I am not taking the chance, but I am sure in some cites you'll be able to get one next Saturday or Sunday.
 

JOLLYWOG

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I will be buying an iPhone on the 29th.

As we move into the last few days of the countdown till iDay or whatever you want to call it, I've been reflecting on my fascination with this phone since the announcement at MacWorld in January.

Now granted, I'm not an early adopter or anything. I waited till the iPod came out with the 60GB video before I bought one but when I saw the iPhone I immediately made the decision that whenever it came out I was going to buy it without hesitation.

There aren't that many people that I talk with that are excited about the phone. My wife thinks I'm obsessed (I am.. but I'm ok with that) and wants me to stop talking about it so much and showing her articles and videos.

There's a friend that I argue with constantly about the iPhone. He likes to say its a very sexy looking phone and Apple is great at that stuff but his phone (the Treo 750 I think it is) does everything the iPhone can do; email, music, etc. He's obviously lost in the wilderness.

Here's my opinion about the lines: I think Apple is doing a first come, first served thing because it will create lines, which will create even more publicity. Im just hoping that my town is small enough to where the number of phones available won't be less than the amount of people waiting for one.
 

mlocker

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Jun 24, 2007
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Costs

Someone explain, please, why paying 5x the price of an ordinary cell phone should compel me to buy this.

Michael Locker MD

I will be buying an iPhone on the 29th.

As we move into the last few days of the countdown till iDay or whatever you want to call it, I've been reflecting on my fascination with this phone since the announcement at MacWorld in January.

Now granted, I'm not an early adopter or anything. I waited till the iPod came out with the 60GB video before I bought one but when I saw the iPhone I immediately made the decision that whenever it came out I was going to buy it without hesitation.

There aren't that many people that I talk with that are excited about the phone. My wife thinks I'm obsessed (I am.. but I'm ok with that) and wants me to stop talking about it so much and showing her articles and videos.

There's a friend that I argue with constantly about the iPhone. He likes to say its a very sexy looking phone and Apple is great at that stuff but his phone (the Treo 750 I think it is) does everything the iPhone can do; email, music, etc. He's obviously lost in the wilderness.

Here's my opinion about the lines: I think Apple is doing a first come, first served thing because it will create lines, which will create even more publicity. Im just hoping that my town is small enough to where the number of phones available won't be less than the amount of people waiting for one.
 

coolpox003

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I have to say I feel the same way as most of you. When I saw the Keynote in January I was like "I have to have one"... I've always been a big MAC fan but my family is stuck in their "World of Windows" because apparently they don't like change and they would rather have to reboot their computers all the time. They all think I am nuts for spending that much money on a phone.

Although at work, my manager and coworker who I finally convinced to switch to MAC (one got a Macmini and the other a 24inch iMac) boh say they want one but they want to see mine first so they can test it out and see if it's worth the money.

As far as lines go... who knows.... I hope there is some sort of line that forms because I don't want to look like a crazy person who waited all day and come 6:00pm will be the only one in line.
 

Ranged30

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Someone explain, please, why paying 5x the price of an ordinary cell phone should compel me to buy this.

Michael Locker MD
If you look at the history of the Smartphone $500/$600 is not overpriced at all. When the Treo 600 first came out I spent $600 to get one as well. Besides if you are a Dr. I think you can handle the price:cool:.

This device revolutionizes the smartphone industry, obviously you are interested or you wouldn't be on this site.
 

Ranged30

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As far as lines go... who knows.... I hope there is some sort of line that forms because I don't want to look like a crazy person who waited all day and come 6:00pm will be the only one in line.
I will look crazy all day as long as I get my baby!
 

JOLLYWOG

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Someone explain, please, why paying 5x the price of an ordinary cell phone should compel me to buy this.

Michael Locker MD



Well, I suppose that depends on what your definition of "value" is. For the sake of argument let's take the 750 Treo Smartphone. That'll cost you $300 and a video iPod which will run you about $250. That's $550.

Also, the iPhone is no "ordinary" cell phone.
 

dieselboy973

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I will look crazy all day as long as I get my baby!
"If you build it, they will come." Even if you are the first person in line others will follow. They may not know what they are waiting for, but be sure that as soon as a line starts others will get in it.
 

AngelJO008

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Someone explain, please, why paying 5x the price of an ordinary cell phone should compel me to buy this.

Michael Locker MD
If you have to be compelled to buy this kind of phone, then it is not or you. It's just one of those things. For me, I have an obsession with not only technology, but specifically cell phone technology. For others, it's shoes, purses, clothes, cars, whatever. I'm sure you have one thing you absolutely are fetish about ;)
 

erroneous

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Returning to this thread, I have to admit it’s not anywhere
as funny as the “My Wife Is Going To Kill Me” post.
I’m still laughing at some of the goofiness on that one.
(Laughing “aloud”, really.)

Well, I was out in the real world over this fabulous weekend.
Saw a lot of people talking their life away on cell phones,
sized them up as to whether they looked like they were
ready to buy a new piece of equipment, and they all looked
pretty content with what they were using.
(Personal observations can be a fact can’t they?)

In all my travels in enjoying the weekend, didn’t hear
any conversation about the iPhone.

A coffee shop I was in had lots of laptops sprawled
about, complete with a few text books.

The restaurant bar I was in last night had a few executive
types sipping on their favorite beverage while enjoying
“the game” on television. Still no hint of iPhone talk.

There was a commercial about the iPhone shown on
one of the channels that was displayed.
No one in the place even blinked.

Just a report from the field, based on personal
observations.

It won’t be long, and we will likely see, experience a communication
blackout. Heaven forbid reveal our/your real tactics here for all
the world to know about.

In the meantime… Buzzzzz, static…snowy/lined/broken picture…

We now return to the “My Wife Is Going To Kill Me” thread,
already in progress.

Have a smooth start to your week everyone.

John
 

gt1948

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Someone explain, please, why paying 5x the price of an ordinary cell phone should compel me to buy this.

Michael Locker MD
Stop working those long hours Doc and stop to sniff the roses......and maybe check out the ground breaking technology of the product.....

You can afford it can't you? :p:p