iPhone insanity

[nissangirl74]

I truly don't understand this phenomenon. Why in the hell would someone camp out overnight for a phone?? Are we (as a society, not myself) really that preoccupied with having the "right stuff" and the "newest stuff" ? It's asinine to me. Same thing with Black Friday. There isn't a damn thing in this world I need so bad that I have to sleep outdoors on the sidewalk in order to obtain. I don't like anything Apple. Everything I've had has failed me so I don't even bother. For those of you who are fans, what am I missing?

http://gma.yahoo.com/seriously-why-peop ... ories.html

The iPhone 5s and 5c will launch today in the United States and eight other countries, including the U.K., France, Germany, China and Japan. But other countries have to wait until the end of the year to get Apple's latest phone.

Some people come to the United States to buy the iPhones and then bring them back to their home country just to get an early lead. "We can't buy the phone in Turkey yet and we don't want to miss getting it here," Hazal Erengul said.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Same reason people do it for videogames*. They NEED NEED NEED MUST HAVE IT FIRST. Impatience.

What's sad these days is that anything camp-worthy about the iPhone is lost in the distant past. There was a time when hardware and software leapt forward with each new iteration of the shiny rectangular phone, providing a legitimate reason to want the latest model. Now? It's mostly aesthetic and tertiary features that are getting upgraded. Nothing worth a new phone every year. Apple has even gotten to the point where they artificially restrict backward compatibility with newer features on older phones to boost the feature gap between old and new because there are too few legitimate improvements in the newer model to carry the sales. It's weird to me that the fanaticism continues, because just about everyone I know (fanatics and casual users alike) is quite happy with their 4S model and not interested in spending money on barely-improvements. Though I will admit the iPhone 5's weight loss regimen is enough to earn favor in my book. How people can willingly walk around with a half-inch-thick phone (often clad in another 1/4 inch of rubber bumper to prevent spontaneous shattering) in their pocket is beyond my comprehension.

*I actually did camp out for a Wii when they first launched, but only because I got screwed out of a preordered one (with a lot of money down) by the scumbags at FYE.

[Jesda]

People are strange.

At least with the Wii, limited production for more than a year necessitated waiting in line.

[IBCoupe]

Same reason people do it for videogames*. They NEED NEED NEED MUST HAVE IT FIRST. Impatience.

I'd go with Chris' comment, except that I don't think you need the word "first." I've gone to Apple Stores before weeks (if not months) after to buy gifts, and I'm told that they're out of stock. And they refuse to tell you when they expect to have more.

I'd almost forgotten that the worst part about Apple, Inc. is its store chain.

[Jesda]

I wanted to throw a punch at a bearded a-hole at a local Apple store.

They require you to make an appointment JUST TO SWAP AN ITEM UNDER WARRANTY. I don't need to sit and consult with a genius for an item with a cracked display that has Applecare coverage.

[IBCoupe]

I wanted to throw a punch at a bearded a-hole at a local Apple store.

They require you to make an appointment JUST TO SWAP AN ITEM UNDER WARRANTY. I don't need to sit and consult with a genius for an item with a cracked display that has Applecare coverage.

That would have had me yelling. I don't remember any other companies requiring that I make an appointment to address a problem with their product. It was always first-come-first-served. Because I'm the customer, and I'm the one that matters.

[Kompresshun]

I have never stood in line or camped for a product, no matter how bad I wanted it. I wait until it's been out for a couple of months, so I am aware of any bugs and issues as well. Plus by that time you can easily walk into a store and purchase it in most cases.

I will be purchasing an iPhone 5S this year, but I won't be standing in line waiting for it.

[darylzero]

Because they are sheeple.

The new concern that Senator Al Franken is that the new iphone has a finger print scanner to unlock the phone. Now who would have access to your finger prints? Apple and the NSA? Most likely.




Sad

[MinisterofDOOM]

It's a bit silly to raise that concern now, as laptops and other personal devices have been making use of fingerprint biometrics for years. The iPhone is far from the first.

[darylzero]

It's a bit silly to raise that concern now, as laptops and other personal devices have been making use of fingerprint biometrics for years. The iPhone is far from the first.

not all at, the laptops didn't send your fingerprint to Microsoft or Apple or whoever.

[alms24sebring]

Ive never even camped out for a game system. No way, Im a Droid fan anyways.

[nissangirl74]

They require you to make an appointment JUST TO SWAP AN ITEM UNDER WARRANTY. I don't need to sit and consult with a genius for an item with a cracked display that has Applecare coverage.

That would have had me yelling. I don't remember any other companies requiring that I make an appointment to address a problem with their product. It was always first-come-first-served. Because I'm the customer, and I'm the one that matters.

And THIS is why I will never own anything Apple makes

[Jesda]

My Mac Minis have never failed me. They're probably the greatest general purpose home computer ever conceived. If they did, and if I had to endure the f#$@#@$ "Genius Bar" routinely I'd stop buying them.

My little brother likes to smash up his iPad though. :/


And I have more than a few unkind words for my HTC phone. I'd like an iPhone without the cult enrollment.

[darylzero]

Looks like the iPhone 5s finger print security isn't very secure. It was cracked in 48hrs.

[mmkeller]

I've only camped out once for concert tickets because I wanted good seats, but never for a phone.

[Rev_D21]

I don't understand why people do this. I don't even care to have a phone in the first place, let alone one that helps it's owner remember when to take a dump. A couple hundred years ago people didn't even have electricity and yet they aspired to create amazing things and conquer countries...all with out an iphone.

[Dattebayo]

The gadget craze in general defies explanation. And from seeing how people follow the mindless and anti-logical dogmas from some of the various forms of religion on this planet, I'm not at all surprised.

[Jesda]

[JTR32gtst]

I am quite happy with my 4S. If it was not for the speaker used to hear phone calls (my bad) it would be perfect. I plan to get a 5S, but only because I broke my 4S, but I am waiting for upgrade time. I like my iPhone, but I would never camp out for it. Heck, I did not even pre order GTA5 until the morning of, and picked it up after Best Buy told me my order was in. I walked in, 10 minutes later walked out. No lines, no getting up early, no stupid pre order for the huge 150 dollar package. Screw that. I would rather sit at home comfy in bed.

[breadbox]

A lot of them will sell them online to people who will pay to not wait in line. Other than that, I don't really see a reason to campout.

[Looneybomber]

Now who would have access to your finger prints? Apple and the NSA? Most likely.

Why is everyone so scared of the NSA? Oh it was because they were in the news recently? They do SIGINT! Fingerprints are not signals, and thus the CIA and FBI would be more apt to using/needing that. Then, IF the NSA needs information on a person after building a pattern of life from their emanating signal, they will contact the FBI and/or CIA for the finger prints and other info...but more than likely, it'll be the FBI contacting the NSA for info their proprietary info.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

A lot of them will sell them online to people who will pay to not wait in line. Other than that, I don't really see a reason to campout.

+1
This is the only reason I'd ever do it. If I could sell it to an even bigger idiot than the guys standing around me for a big profit.

[szh]

It's a bit silly to raise that concern now, as laptops and other personal devices have been making use of fingerprint biometrics for years. The iPhone is far from the first.

not all at, the laptops didn't send your fingerprint to Microsoft or Apple or whoever.

Really? How do you know that for sure?

Most laptops (which is where the fingerprint readers are used) are also usually connected to the Internet ... there is plenty of opportunity for the fingerprints to be uploaded somewhere.

Z

[darylzero]

It's a bit silly to raise that concern now, as laptops and other personal devices have been making use of fingerprint biometrics for years. The iPhone is far from the first.

not all at, the laptops didn't send your fingerprint to Microsoft or Apple or whoever.

Really? How do you know that for sure?

Most laptops (which is where the fingerprint readers are used) are also usually connected to the Internet ... there is plenty of opportunity for the fingerprints to be uploaded somewhere.

Z[/quote]

Security researchers have checked to see if anything on a computer phones home. Do I know for sure of course not, do you? No.
Is Apple know to grab info from its users? Yes Is Apple known to give info to the NSA? YES. Same with Google.

How many people actually use the finger print reader on laptops?? I'd say less than 1%. The iPhone is used by millions and apple has been known to collect info from it's phones.

[skydragoness]

I like my 'ancient' iphone 4S. It's been reliable for me and the battery life is decent for a smart phone. As far as other Apple products, not interested.

Why anyone goes to big box stores STILL is beyond my fathoming, let alone camping outside for something. I never wanted to buy anything that badly.
I hate crowds of people when I'm out shopping (rare); I enjoy Wegmans at 11 pm on a weeknight. :P

[MinisterofDOOM]

I had an iPhone 4S for a day.
I had nothing good to say about it.

[Jesda]

I love the 4S. I don't want to pay the asking price though.

[krash]

The 4s is pretty solid. Its boring though. Its like a good daily driver phone. It will do what I NEED it to do, but it wont do what I WANT it to do.

[danfiveten]

I love my 5c. i had a 5s gold reserved, but of course not enough sent out. So i got a blue 5c. Love it. Good replacement to my 4s. I know people call iphone people sheaple, and s***, but i have my reasons. I had a first gen evo, loved it, then every android i had failed me miserably, nothing but issues. Ive had my iphone 4s for almsot 2 years. I NEVER had a issue with it, or its hardware. My wifes had iphones for 5 years for work, andn never had issues with it, and she uses hers constantly for work. The other thing i like, they keep their re-sale value, i just traded my 4s in for 180 trade in at sprint, got my 5c, case, screen protector, and a kick a** jbl speaker thats bluetooth that i used in my 510 for the trip down to jccs. Android is good, iphone is good, but only one really keeps the re-sale value. So ill stick as a sheep

[Dattebayo]

Re-sale value is a very stupid reason for a 100% daily use gadget IMO.