iPhone OR Why my friends and family thinks I am crazy!
My friends and family know me and love me (really, they do), but they will tell you, with no hesitation, that I am crazy and a GEEK. So, it will come as no surprise at all that the moment I heard about the iPhone I have been dreaming and salivating and wishing upon any star I came across that I would have one as soon as absolutely possible!
But, there was a HUGE tragedy… I mean epic proportions. I was going to be in a beautiful ski resort 2 hours north of Montreal. That is out of the country! (I must laugh at myself with all my capitalizations and exclamation points)
So, what can I do in this horrible situation? First and foremost, there was no way I was going to miss the race and after that slight moment of thinking, hmmm… I wonder if the Race Director would think about moving the race a weekend. Then I realized that changing TV contracts and having to re-arrange thousands of people’s travel plans that it was probably NOT a very good idea.
Next plan of attack, who do I know that is going to be in the states and will go to an Apple store for me? Well, after crazy people started standing in line days before hand (I mean really, how geeky!) I rethought that and all of my friends were going to be with me in Mont Tremblant and the rest of my friends were much too sane anyway.
Hmmm… Next, broadband, Apple has an online store, it goes on sale at 6pm PST. Well, I won’t have it immediately, but I would have it by Monday morning. Alas, I get to the hotel and it is these chalet/condo places spread out around the mountainside, absolutely gorgeous but, not too hot for broadband. But, I will sweet talk my mom into ordering the phone (Hi Mom!). So, there she is, computer illiterate on a Satellite connection trying to order my phone along with thousands of other crazy people and what with the satellite and the slow store, it was quite stressful. But, she got it ordered and the window pops up for delivery and, and (wait for it) it was going to be 2-4 WEEKS!!!!! Breathe… Breathe… Yep, the Apple store never planned on shipping stock and didn’t tell anyone.
Think, think, think… EBay! ($1200-1600, Okay I am crazy, NOT an IDIOT!). Stores, maybe they still have some in stores. Where are my friends located around the US? Dang! Most of them are heading straight to Toronto. But, I will be in Dallas and I have a friend in Houston, and, and… (Breathe).
Well about this point in time, everyone in the paddock has started to hear about my iPhone saga and I think they are laughing at me behind my back (nah, they wouldn’t do that). But, I got lucky because one of my friends in Safety had a next door neighbor who owns an ATT store in Michigan and asked if he wanted any put aside.
SMILE! I had a 3 way approach now to get THE PHONE (yep, it has now raised itself into the capital letter of geekdom). I will land and call the 3 stores in Dallas to see if they have it. Michigan will call his friend when he lands to see if he put any aside and Houston will land and have a call from me on how the two of us did.
9:38 Monday morning, Dallas – Calls to 2 Apple stores and the Cingular store. Completely sold out, no more expected in. On Line orders will be fulfilled next. Hmmm, do they have a demo I can try? (oh, umm, I guess I haven’t told you that I hadn’t even held one in my hand yet. <blush>) Off to the Cingular store to play with the phone – sweet!!! Okay, now I REALLY want one.
So, I get the message from Michigan. Neighbor is sold out, he got 50% less than expected and has already had 10 returns due to inability to get service.
Sigh, it is now in Houston’s hands… tick/tock/tick/tock. Okay, I have to call. Sigh, all that is left is 4 GB models. Dilemma! Do I give in to this lust for the iPhone? Do I buy a 4 GB and return it within the 14 days and pay the 10% restocking fee when my 8 GB arrives or do I wait… what to do, what to do…
You are wondering how the story ends, aren’t you? Well, my iPhone arrives tomorrow at the office, before 10am. I couldn’t help myself, I feel like I need to confess to someone…
Hi, my name is ___ I am a geek and I have a technology problem. BUT I also have an iPhone
