Love in Line

Okay, so I wasn’t completely blown away by the announcement of the 3G iPhone, probably because I bought into the insane pre-WWDC hype (video-conferencing! 8MP Camera!  hacks toasters!).  But after I thought about it logically, the only thing that prevented me from getting the original iPhone was the slow Edge network.  The most important improvement (a 3G network) did indeed happen.  I fell in love with the great browser and the intuitive controls while playing with an original iPhone and the lure of the App Store is strong.

I decided to finally do away with the ridiculously overpriced landline that I never use, which will more than make up for the difference between my old cell’s contract and the iPhone’s.  However, while I respect the people who waited in line on day one, I just didn’t have time.  I figured I would wait a full week after launch until the following Friday.  I imagined at that point I would be able to breeze past the glass Apple cube on 59th and be out with a shiny new iPhone in twenty minutes.

Well, I was wrong.  The Manhattan lines were still running at three to four hours every day last week, all the way up until Friday.  Consider also that this was during weekday working hours when presumably at least some people have jobs to attend.  But the lines didn’t waver, as you can see over at Racked.

But in following the iPhone situation at Racked (an NYC shopping blog), I did come across a hilarious story that made my day.  You see, I didn’t realize that by forgoing the line-standing I was missing out on tons of potential romantic encounters.  Yes, the iPhone lines were apparently a hotbed of flirting and love, as Racked demonstrated by examining the Craigslist Missed Encounters board.  It seems there was more game being kicked outside the Apple stores than played on all the actual Iphones combined. 

Well, New Yorkers hate to waste time.  So it makes sense that even standing in line they would figure out a way to make the most of it.  And iPhone buyers are tech-savvy enough to use some internet posting to increase their chances for love.

As for me, I was ready to give in and work those lines like a champ.  But it turns out the lines are finally gone.  Not because the demand has lessened, but because there are simply no more iPhones in stock.

Well, I’ll get the darn thing eventually.  And maybe even a few numbers to put in it.