Apple's super-hype i-Phone launch turns into fiasco

[MikeLM]

We were at the local regional mall today and were astounded to find one of the large mall areas completely filled with 400 to 500 people, standing in lines defined by temporary crowd-control lines- just like at the airport.

Turned out they were waiting to buy the new i-Phone at the relatively small Apple store. I'm astounded that so many people would give up half a day or more to get a new gadget "first" instead of waiting a day or two. But then, I ain't hip.

Also turns out, the new i-Phones don't work right and things seem to be more than a little screwed up:

Software problems bug Apple's launch of new iPhone

Glad I don't report to Steve Jobs.

Mike

[Headless Chicken]

I have the ITouch which is pretty much an IPhone only without the phone features and build in camera. I truly have never been much of a a fan of devices that can "do it all" like the IPhone. Its only capable of 5hours of talk time for the 3G, 2x that on the 2G model and the camera does only 2 megapixels. My Samsung phone does around 12hours of talk and I have a big clunker 8 megapixel SLR camera that'll beat out anything any cellphone camera has. Whats the point of these all-in-one devices when each feature just plain sucks, I've always found that gadgets that try to do it all sacrifices a lot of quality just to do everything sub-par. I laugh everytime I go on vacation and see people take out their cellphones to take a picture.

[shel]

Originally Posted by Headless Chicken

I have the ITouch which is pretty much an IPhone only without the phone features and build in camera. I truly have never been much of a a fan of devices that can "do it all" like the IPhone. Its only capable of 5hours of talk time for the 3G, 2x that on the 2G model and the camera does only 2 megapixels. My Samsung phone does around 12hours of talk and I have a big clunker 8 megapixel SLR camera that'll beat out anything any cellphone camera has. Whats the point of these all-in-one devices when each feature just plain sucks, I've always found that gadgets that try to do it all sacrifices a lot of quality just to do everything sub-par. I laugh everytime I go on vacation and see people take out their cellphones to take a picture.

As a photograper, I agree with you about the quality of the pics from phone cameras. However, they are very handy, easy to use, and convenient. Thre's definitely a place for them. A friend in Tel Aviv, who is also a photographer, often sends me pics taken on her cell phone. I love 'em as I get to see things she'd not usually photograph since the camera is so easy and convenient to carry. Plus, it cuts down on having to carry more stuff.

shel

[MikeLM]

Headless Chicken makes a good point- the more things any given appliance or tool does, the less well it is likely to do any of them.

That's certainly true for woodworking tools. I got a radial arm saw for woodworking because it would do quite a few different things, with appropriate accessories and adjustments. And because that was all I could afford. I built an entire kitchen and bathroom, including cabinets, with it, among other things.

It wasn't until 12 or 15 years later that I got a table saw and realized how hard I'd been struggling for accuracy, convenience, and efficiency.

I'm sure that applies to a lot of culinary equipment, too.

Mike

[Nicko]

A good friend of mine went yesterday first thing in the morning and the line was already 75-100 deep. He has to wait a week now to get his iPhone and he was pretty bummed. It is mind boggling how much hype has been created over an electronic gadget like the iPhone.

I own an iTouch which I am completely addicted to (you can read my blog here since I posted about it: http://www.cheftalk.com/forums/blogs...tml#comment275

I use my Itouch all the time often to take care of the forums here are ChefTalk and have found it to be one of my most useful pieces of gadgetry. No longer do I need to lug my laptop around.

The phone was out of the picture for me when my friend who waited in line told me that you not only do you need a call plan with att you also need a data plan at 30 a month it was too much for my blood.