So you really want to know what I think of my iPhone? Be careful what you ask for.

The rumors are true. I stood in line last Friday night and came home with an iPhone, and to say I love it is a complete understatement.

Seeing as I have 3 kids under age six I decided against camping out at the Apple Store. And I did this with much reluctance as my local store is the Palo Alto, California one and there were only about a million people in line there who I would have LOVED to meet. It was definitely a geek mecca and I wish I could have been there.

Instead, my plan was to get online at 6pm right when they re-opened the online Apple Store and try to grab one right away. I knew I’d have to pay through the nose for overnight shipping, but getting one within a week of release was going to have to be enough for me.

Leading up to 6pm the Apple Store was closed as it always is before the release of something new, and here’s all they were saying:

applestore.jpg

Not a lot of info, but at 6pm on the dot the store was open again. I quickly put an iPhone in my cart and then I noticed the horror: “Ships in 2-4 weeks” Fuckers!

Well, Mr. Plain had just gotten home from work and I said “I’m going to the Apple Store — feed the kids chicken nuggets or something!” I kissed each boy twice — once for “goodbye” and once for “goodnight” just in case I missed their bedtime. Mr. Plain was convinced that I was going to be there all night, and you can just imagine how thrilled he was with my departure.

But I had bigger things to worry about! Like where was I going to park?

Turns out parking wasn’t horrible. I found a spot maybe 5 blocks away and walked in.

It was a typically gorgeous evening, not hot, not cold, and I arrived at the store at 6:20pm. The line was maybe half a block long when I got there, so I didn’t even break out my book. I just took in the scenery and the scene. If you know the area, I was across the street from Zibibbo when I got in line.

Some highlights from standing in line

— A sweaty guy in a black Google polo shirt and shorts rapidly pushing two brand-new desk chairs down the middle of the street.

— A guy who drove by and yelled “There are people standing around in lines like this for food!” A decent point possibly better made while not driving your big, shiny SUV.

— People cheering each time they let another group of people into the store. Let me clarify, the people cheering were not in line — they were on the street watching the line.

— Did I mention all the people watching? Watching a line? And there were news crews, satellite trucks, and the police had to close off the side street and stand in the main street to keep the onlookers from getting crushed in traffic.

So then it was finally my turn to be ushered into the Temple of Mac. You know what Apple Stores look like, and this one is no different. Tidy youths in black t-shirts kept the crowd from being disorderly and in no time I was saying “I didn’t stand in line to get a 4GB phone!”

I paid and got the hell out of there. It had only taken 40 minutes from the time I got in line to when I walked out the door with my new 8GB iPhone! And the only sad people I saw the whole time were the zombies wandering around the nearby Sprint store.

So who cares?

To those of you who have asked me what’s the big deal about a new cell phone, let me just say this: I have yet to place or receive a call on my iPhone and I don’t care if I ever do.

For me my iPhone is a tiny computer that fits in my pocket. Oh, and yeah, if I need to make a call I can do that too.

One of my big goals is to take this phone to Blogher next month and be able to post (!) and take notes without lugging my laptop around all day. Hopefully I can find some sort of keyboard that will work with it, and then I’ll be able to do just that.

But it isn’t all perfect

Sure, a first-generation product is going to have some problems, and the iPhone is no exception. You’ve probably read folks complaining about Apple choosing the EDGE network over the much-faster 3G. And OK, it would be nicer if it were faster when I was away from a wireless network, but I’m just happy to be able to be online anywhere I need to be.

The only problem that affects me, and it is a huge one, is going to be able to be fixed in a software update. It is also something that is so surprising to me: there is no Copy / Paste function. Wow, I was stunned. That’s a pretty big deal, but like I said I expect that to be added soon.

Otherwise I love this tiny computer that fits in my pocket. And people who complain about it’s shortcomings are pretty picky folks. It would be like saying “Yeah, this jet-pack is awesome, but I cannot believe it doesn’t come in blue!”

All that and a bag of chips

Of course you want to know what my favorite part is, right? This phone makes me laugh! It is quite literally a joy to use. The bits and pieces move around with whimsical motions, but not in a way where you say “Yeah, cute, but that’s going to get old fast.”

Scrolling and moving things around is just like you expect, except you don’t know how to expect something like this. The interface designers at Apple are legendary, but they really pulled out the stops on this one.

I’ll end this monster-post with the best proof of how easy to use this phone is. Chip, who is 2.5 years old, accidentally discovered how to do the scrolling “gesture” when I was showing him some photos I had taken on my iPhone. He then kept flipping through the pictures on his own. Laughing the whole time until I just had to put the phone away.


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20 responses to “So you really want to know what I think of my iPhone? Be careful what you ask for.”

  1. Blog Antagonist Avatar

    Ohhh, husband and I both covet the iPhone. But, as a tech/computer/gadget guy, he is adamant about not buying a first generation product. So I have to wait. Reading posts like yours really doesn’t make it easier. :?)

  2. Sonia Avatar

    You are hardcore for your shiny new gadgets, I admire your tenacity and borderline geek psychosis. Rock on, sista!

  3. Catt Avatar

    I am so jealous!!

  4. Karly Avatar

    I just mentioned to my husband how I needed one of those and he gave me the look of death and told me that if I asked him to spend that much money on a phone he would kick me. KICK ME! The jerk.

  5. Jennifer Avatar

    Thanks for telling us what all the hoopla was for!

    And when you blog from BlogHer, is it going to be nice blogging or nanny-nanny-boo-boo-I’m-hear-and-you’re-not blogging?!?!

  6. Jennifer Avatar

    I am mentally swearing at you right now. Can you hear me. Yeah I thought so…..

    Grrr.

    Ps. IF you want to test out a bath cupcake, lemmie know, I have to charge you postage though (after I mail it so I have an accurate amount) its heavy and likely wont fit through the magic slot of cheapdom so I have to pay parcel on it. I could back up my car over it though if you want it cheap. :p

    The last time I sent out testers it cost me 10 bucks each for the two that had a few extras in it.

  7. shelly Avatar

    I am sooo green,green, green right now! You lucky girl!

  8. Not a Granny Avatar

    I am sooo jealous. Since not a grampy “disposed” of my PDA I have been trying to get something new. When this came out..I suggested nicely that he could finally redeem himself…I am still waiting and I still don’t have my calendar, contacts, internet, phone….

  9. Jessica. Avatar

    Ah, you make me nostalgic for the insanity that is so very silicon valley. Glad you are liking your new iPhone.

  10. thordora Avatar

    I love anyone trying to be all “concious” when driving a giant SUV. The irony is tasty against my teeth.

    Now I REALLY want one. Although I would just lose it. I think I’ll save up for a good camera instead.

  11. JayMonster Avatar

    I am happy you are happy with your phone.

    I find it quite sad though all the people that had to wait in a line for a product that would not sell out (in most places). Something like 95% of stores still had stock on Saturday and eighty some odd percent on Sunday. All to get a phone that does almost as much as the PocketPC phone I have had for a couple of years now.

    Big difference, the interface is “slicker” there is no denying that. But mine had an actual keyboard (I look forward to hearing what you think after actually trying to type a post with no tactile feedback.

    There was no way that the iPhone could live up the the hype that was built up over the last six months, and from recent reviews it doesn’t. But in the end, you are of course the one that has to be happy with it and that is all that matters.

  12. Tina Avatar

    …and just where do you suppose the guy was going with those chairs? Congratulations on your “newest baby.” Speaking of which, I’m new to your blog and enjoy your humor.

  13. ageekymom Avatar
    ageekymom

    My 18 year old son cried.. CRIED.. when I told him he could not have one.. not before ME! But I will wait for the next generation. I’m like that.

    I did buy a dinosaur though (ugobe.com) Well, three, actually..

  14. flygirl Avatar

    I. Want. One.

  15. Shannon - PHAT Mommy Avatar

    My friend has one and I was playing with it last weekend. Definitely very slick and fun. I love the way the images flip and resize when you flip your phone horizontal or vertical. I think I’ll get one someday, but can’t justify buying one now… at&t’s cell service sucks around here and I just bought a Motorola Q six months ago.

  16. landismom Avatar

    Must. Get. iPhone.

  17. Shazzer Avatar

    FANTASTIC post about not just the iPhone, but the total experience that is “the Cult of Mac.” I’m in Sweden and won’t have the option of getting one for at least another six months…but that’s the ONLY thing that’s kept me from resisting the force!

  18. Christine Kane Avatar

    this was SO much fun to read. i was on the road the night the iPod came out, and my husband wanted us to drive by the Apple store in DC (I live in Asheville, NC – no apple stores) JUST so we could see the people in line and relish this moment of abject consumerism. (plus – he loves geeks.)

    I laughed out loud while reading this – thanks!

    see you at blogher!

  19. […] Would you like to know how to really, really anger a person who stood in line to buy an iPhone on the day they were released? Make her post about how Apple just DROPPED THE PRICE BY $200… Sigh. […]

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