11:14 PM | Comment (0)

Yes, I got one. No, I didn't wait in any line. Portrait was taken with the iPhone's built-in camera. improvement over the Razr's camera I think.

Apple certainly played the PR angle brilliantly. Has there ever been a consumer product so hotly anticipated?

I pretty much ignored the hoopla though. There was no way I was standing in a line for more than a few minutes when they'd be available from the online store. So I had a nice dinner with friends then was getting ready to scope out the local AT&T store. Literally putting on my jacket when I got a text from Chris with the news that the mega-line at the Stockton St. Apple Store had dissipated.

So Marc and I headed downtown instead. Once we arrived, I strolled right into the checkout queue. Only about 10 people in front of me when I arrived. Walked out of the store less than 15 minutes later with my colorful but starkly black bag.

First impressions are good. iPod, phone and SMS functions are all strong. Email seems superior to any other mobile device I've used. (Never have had a Blackberry in all fairness.) I'm less wowed than expected by the web on it though. Even with the finger flick navigation and pinch zoom, the experience doesn't come close to surfing from a wide-screen desktop display and RAM-laden CPU.

The biggest hole for me is the lack of any IM capability. Every mobile handset I've ever had could connect to the AIM network in one way or another. The omission is so obvious I can't believe it was unintentional. Something must be waiting in the wings.