Launch day is over, and now the weekend warriors descend on Apple and
cellular carrier stores looking to buy iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Expect
mayhem everywhere. Not since 2010 has there been such long
lines for or insanity about a new "i" device. I expected nutsville, even
with preorder option, but nothing like this.
cellular carrier stores looking to buy iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Expect
mayhem everywhere. Not since 2010 has there been such long
lines for or insanity about a new "i" device. I expected nutsville, even
with preorder option, but nothing like this.
To be honest, the frenzy defies logic and there must be some kind of
mob mentality driving it. I am reminded of Windows 95's nearly 20 years
ago. Some people will point to past iPhone launches as being as big or
bigger. No. iPhone 4 was the last gigantic debut weekend, before Apple
started taking preorders, a mechanism that shifted sales away from the
big day. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are much larger when factoring in those 4
million first 24-hour preorders (and others) ahead of September 19 store
openings.
mob mentality driving it. I am reminded of Windows 95's nearly 20 years
ago. Some people will point to past iPhone launches as being as big or
bigger. No. iPhone 4 was the last gigantic debut weekend, before Apple
started taking preorders, a mechanism that shifted sales away from the
big day. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are much larger when factoring in those 4
million first 24-hour preorders (and others) ahead of September 19 store
openings.
If you're prowling about for either of Apple's newest handsets, I present 10 things you should know (in no order of importance):
1. iPhone 6 Plus is even bigger than you think.
Unless already using a phablet, you will find the Plus-size device to be
just that. It is ginormous. I stood alongside a woman in a Verizon
store yesterday as she compared her iPhone 4S to to the 6 Plus and
gasped: "It's so big!" Strangely, the store only displayed the larger
handset, which was sold out. She almost bought the 5S, until another
customer pulled out the 6. "Oh, that's good", she said.
Unless already using a phablet, you will find the Plus-size device to be
just that. It is ginormous. I stood alongside a woman in a Verizon
store yesterday as she compared her iPhone 4S to to the 6 Plus and
gasped: "It's so big!" Strangely, the store only displayed the larger
handset, which was sold out. She almost bought the 5S, until another
customer pulled out the 6. "Oh, that's good", she said.
2. Good luck finding iPhone 6 Plus. The thing is
sold out pretty much everywhere. I randomly called Apple Stores this
morning, and none had the thing. You can wait or go smaller, which is my
recommendation for the majority of buyers. By the way, shortages feed
the Apple marketing machine -- and I question how often they're
deliberate. Short Plus supplies ensure lots of blog posts, news stories,
and social shares, which are worth millions in free marketing.
sold out pretty much everywhere. I randomly called Apple Stores this
morning, and none had the thing. You can wait or go smaller, which is my
recommendation for the majority of buyers. By the way, shortages feed
the Apple marketing machine -- and I question how often they're
deliberate. Short Plus supplies ensure lots of blog posts, news stories,
and social shares, which are worth millions in free marketing.
3. It's a design feature, not a flaw. For reasons
that make no sense to me, the new iPhones have roundish rather than flat
sides. In my handling iPhone 6, it's a slippery sucker as a result. No
phone has ever made me worry about drops. I bought my first cell phone
in 1997 and have never busted one, but holding Apple's handset makes me
as jittery as watching the latest "Paranormal Activity" installment. If
you need a case to use a super slim smartphone isn't there something you
should question about the design?
that make no sense to me, the new iPhones have roundish rather than flat
sides. In my handling iPhone 6, it's a slippery sucker as a result. No
phone has ever made me worry about drops. I bought my first cell phone
in 1997 and have never busted one, but holding Apple's handset makes me
as jittery as watching the latest "Paranormal Activity" installment. If
you need a case to use a super slim smartphone isn't there something you
should question about the design?
4. So, yeah, you really want to slap a case on the back.
Apple's cases -- five in leather and six in silicon -- are excellent
choices and really are the only ones in stores today. They feel great
and provide the grip that should be on the device but isn't. What an
upsell gimmick, eh? So add at least $35 to your purchase price.
Apple's cases -- five in leather and six in silicon -- are excellent
choices and really are the only ones in stores today. They feel great
and provide the grip that should be on the device but isn't. What an
upsell gimmick, eh? So add at least $35 to your purchase price.
5. Do spend the extra $99 on AppleCare+. The plan
extends the warranty to 2 years and gives you up to two breakage/damage
replacements for $79 each. Given that these phones are larger than what
existing iPhone users are accustomed to, the slickness of the aluminum
back, and questionable roundish sides, drop risk should concern
everyone.
6. Try buying at your cellular carrier store first.
With past launches, the carriers sold out pretty fast. But in my checks
around San Diego yesterday, they generally had iPhone 6 all day with
much shorter lines. Outside Apple Store Fashion Valley, hundreds of
people waited three hours after opening, while only a half-dozen at the
Verizon shop less than a mile away. In the evening, long lines remained
at Apple but not at the carrier, which still had 64GB gold and 128GB
white iPhone 6 available.
With past launches, the carriers sold out pretty fast. But in my checks
around San Diego yesterday, they generally had iPhone 6 all day with
much shorter lines. Outside Apple Store Fashion Valley, hundreds of
people waited three hours after opening, while only a half-dozen at the
Verizon shop less than a mile away. In the evening, long lines remained
at Apple but not at the carrier, which still had 64GB gold and 128GB
white iPhone 6 available.
7. If you're creative, you can still buy even if not eligible for upgrade.
For example: If you have home phone service with Verizon. The carrier
also will sell you the Ellipsis Android tablet for $250, from which line
you can buy discounted iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. That will save you about
$200 off the full, no-contract price.
For example: If you have home phone service with Verizon. The carrier
also will sell you the Ellipsis Android tablet for $250, from which line
you can buy discounted iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. That will save you about
$200 off the full, no-contract price.
8. Don't buy either of the 16GB models. You will
regret the decision later on. Spend the extra $100 for 64GB. It's what
Apple wants you to do it anyway, otherwise 32GB would be the smallest
option (damn, retail tactics). The 16 gigger lets the company keep the
$199 entry price but, by comparison, makes the four-times capacity model
a better value -- long as you don't mind spending more. To
emphasize: You will want the extra storage. Just ask anyone trying to
scrape off 6GB of free space on older iPhones to install iOS 8.
regret the decision later on. Spend the extra $100 for 64GB. It's what
Apple wants you to do it anyway, otherwise 32GB would be the smallest
option (damn, retail tactics). The 16 gigger lets the company keep the
$199 entry price but, by comparison, makes the four-times capacity model
a better value -- long as you don't mind spending more. To
emphasize: You will want the extra storage. Just ask anyone trying to
scrape off 6GB of free space on older iPhones to install iOS 8.
9. Expect problems setting up with Apple ID and restoring apps.
As I often say, sync is the killer app for the cloud-connected device
era. But in observing two different iPhone 6 models, iCloud sync either
needs work or labors under the load of way too many people setting up
new devices all at once (hopefully the latter scenario). My restore from
backup is slow that a day after receiving the phone, it's not done. So I
tried manually installing from the App Store Geez. Should Beats or
Pages take 12 hours to download? As I write, they're not installed yet.
10. And finally, iPhone 6 is better than you think.
The iSheep -- as the Android Army and other fanboys call them -- can
only grow in numbers now. Because iPhone 6 is arguably superb (except
for the little dropsy thing). The device feels great, looks better than
in the photos, and performs outstandingly in all the ways that matter
most (my full review will explain why. I strongly recommend the 64GB model for most buyers, many of whom will be Android Army deserters.
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