My better half and I live on the Upper East Side, and we walk a great deal, and the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue is one of the places where we'll stop on occasion. We observed the lines of people outside the store, some camping out for days, to be the first on their block to have the iPhone. We happened by the store late on the eve of the day before (Robin Williams was roaming around snatching up waterproof iPod accessories and taking cell phone pics with fans) and the line outside was extensive and prepared for the longhaul: folding chairs and coolers with food and drink were the norm. All in anticipation for the iPhones to go on sale at 6PM on June 29th. And, it was so silly.
This
little item from CNET is interesting:
At last count, there was no shortage of iPhones, and many of the people who happened to walk into line around 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. didn't have a problem just waltzing in. As one guy put it, strolling out of the store at 7:15 p.m., a black iPhone bag in hand, "This is f***ing great!"
Gives you pause to think, doesn't it?
The media hype created an atmosphere where people had to have it NOW. The fact that, if they thought about it, they didn't have to actually wait in line for days because availability wasn't in question, wasn't part of the equation. The hype was greater than the reality. Herd mentality was in effect. Others were waiting, so I had to wait too... Those who thought about it though, realized that they could avoid the line, and have their iPhone within minutes of those who waited for days outside the store.
Personally, I could never really envision a first release of something like the iPhone breaking so big that you'd have to actually wait in line for it to ensure you actually get one because demand would outstrip supply. It's just not that big of a deal, it's a glorified iPod with Phone. I have one right now. I've had it for years. And, I don't even use it for much other than a phone. Technologically, it's interface is new, but what it does isn't new at all.
This particular event is notable for it's contradiction. The fact that someone could walk in and buy an iPhone within minutes of others who waited days shows that the event was hype. Made up. Public relations meant to hype the event.
It was an interesting event orchestrated by Apple, and their devout cult members did exactly as expected. And, it became a media event. A lame one to be sure, but one nonetheless. There's not much that interesting about people waiting to buy something. There just isn't. the interest is in the media building it up as something important, deserving of coverage, when it's only people shopping. But, the live remote trucks were lined up in anticipation, to watch those people buy their new toy, that isn't really that new.
It's a great example of how easy it is to manipulate the public and the media as well.
