By MARC BEJA
Many had been there since 2 a.m. with beach chairs, sleeping bags, blankets and coolers, after seeing advertisements for the device for the previous six months. Once the clock struck 6 p.m., they were finally able to get one of their very own.
The mall¹s Apple Store was one of only three on Long Island selling the new iPhone ‹ a combination cell phone, iPod digital audio player, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and Internet browser created by Apple. Two different models were released, one that holds 4 gigabytes of memory, priced at $499, and the 8GB iPhone, at $599.
³I know I¹m overpaying for it, but I¹ve been waiting for a good PDA for such a long time,² said Scott Stamile, 25, of Merrick. Stamile was the 128th person in line, having showed up at 1:30 p.m. ³I¹ve never done anything like this before,² he said. ³I don¹t even wait in line for a new movie release or a new product.²
While Apple employees refused to say how many new phones the store had, they told iPhone enthusiasts waiting on line that they would be happy when the store opened later that night. Throughout the day, employees ran up and down the long line, passing out cold water and greeting customers.
Despite having waited in the sun for hours, most seemed in high spirits, passing boxes of candy to their neighbors and chatting with those around them. Some, unlike Stamile, had done this before. Many said they had waited for the Nintendo Wii, which came out in December 2006.
A group of people who had never met began playing cards and trading stories and jokes to pass the time. ³For me, it¹s worth it,² said Long Beach resident Chris Uda, 27. ³It¹s finally a smart phone for Mac users. I have three Macs at home and at the office and four iPods already.²
At 5 p.m., the line started to move closer to the doors, and Apple store employees came outside clad in matching black iPhone T-shirts. ³This is awesome,² one employee said. ³It¹s like all-hands-on-deck as far as our staff goes, and the turnout out here is phenomenal.²
At 6 p.m., the store opened, and groups of 40 customers were moved in to the mall to wait on yet another line outside the store. They were greeted by two rows of Apple employees to the left and right of the entrance, cheering the first iPhone owners as if this were the opening ceremony of a big football game.
Although there was some uncertainty as to whether everyone on line would get iPhones of their own after waiting all day, the supply did not run out, even though many customers bought two phones. The Apple Store did eventually run out of the 8GB model by Saturday.
The iPhone is compatible only with AT&T wireless service, and all new users must accept a two-year phone plan. While AT&T stores also carried the new phone, their East Meadow and Green Acres Mall stores sold out the first night, and the Merrick store sold out in an hour, according to an employee.
³It was absolutely worth it,² Stamile said of his wait at Roosevelt Field.
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