Apple released another iPhone, and again people were lined up like crazy to get one. This time around, it appears the vast majority left empty handed, as there weren't enough to go around. I don't get it at all. Not entirely, anyway.
When the first iPhone came out, I bought one a day or two after it came out. I walked into an Apple Store when it was convenient, and was out in ten minutes. The next one I would buy was the 3GS, which was probably the biggest of the game changers because it added real GPS. I bought that one mostly on a whim as well, and certainly didn't queue.
Things have changed to some degree. Facebook was an interesting mix of things. Some people had to get the new phone that day (and failed). I just don't understand that desire. Others were considering it. Still others upgraded the OS on their previous generation and said things like, "I upgraded just to have different fonts?" So the magic has, to some degree, faded.
But again, what makes a person commit hours out of the day to stand in line for a gadget, that they can likely get instantly at some later time? I totally get enthusiasm for stuff, but not this. I think what really brought it home for me was this segment on Conan with Louis CK. I totally agree with him. Smart phones have become this thing that people use to make it feel like they're never alone.
And by the way, I have a drawer full of cell phones.
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