The iPhone 4S and Apple Hysteria
October 14, 2011, By Kasie Baltes 1 comment
You’ve got to be kidding me. I have become that person. You know, the person we all feel a tiny bit embarrassed for. The person who wakes up at the crack of dawn to first get their hands on the newest Apple product. Yes, today I received this unfortunate yet glorified title; I am the new owner of the iPhone 4S, and I was second in line to get it.
I sat in an empty parking lot for a good hour, questioning whether I’ve truly lost it before another lonely soul sped in to the Sprint lot hoping to be first. Because I didn’t want to be on the same level as the crazy guy who waited in line for 18 days at the Apple store, I let him get in line first. I leapt from the driver's seat and ran toward the door after him, second place—I’ll take that.
I had an hour and a half still on the clock before the doors opened, and I had to hold my ground. Getting out of line wasn’t an option. People started to trickle into line behind me, each giving me the look as they walked by—the look of accomplishment, and admittance that I’m just as crazy as you for being here.
Sure it might seem nuts, but I needed this phone. Yes need. I’m not sure why, but 'need' is the word I’m going with. Maybe I’m exactly what’s wrong with society, but at that moment, at 6 a.m. standing cold and hungry in front of the Sprint store I was desperate and at the mercy of an Apple product to get me through.
My beaten-down Blackberry wasn’t cutting it. With its continued outage throughout week, I was at wits end, which led me here. This wasn’t just a new phone. Turns out this new iPhone 4S has pretty cool features. The Siri application is what really sold me. This personal assistant voice command system does what you tell it to do—sending texts and searching for whatever you ask. And talk about an improved camera! The images are crisp and clear—nothing you’d expect from a cell phone.
Five minutes till the golden hour, and I couldn’t help but send a discerning gaze into the Sprint store. There were seven workers on staff, eating their breakfast—walking around the warm store, just staring back at us, like they were watching lab rats react to a new drug.
Let me in! Let’s get this over with!
Nope. They stood strong until the very last second, slurping down their Krispy Kremes and coffee that I too craved, maybe as much as this damn iPhone I was after.
The door opened and only eight people were allowed in at a time. I was in, running toward the counter as if some race was still going on. The associate looked back at me, asking how he could help me.
"Are you serious? I want the new iPhone."
I dropped the attitude and asked for the white iPhone 4S, please.
He quickly rang me up, being as efficient as ever as the line outside continued to multiply. He handed me the phone, I paid and I was on my way. That was it. I had the phone that so many people craved, and I was ecstatic. Will it live up to the hype and hysteria it has brought to everyone? Only time will tell. I'm still not sure how to change my ringtone.
As I left the store, smiling ear to ear, I heard one of the gentleman still in line mumble “about time” under his breath.
Yeah, it is about time. About time I got this phone. After all, I did wait all morning.
Comments (1):