The first iPhone release two years ago caused near-hysteria at local Apple Stores.
The iPhone 3G release last year also had long lines, along with horrendous technical problems for those buying and trying to set up their second-generation handsets.
This year?
Lines were much, much shorter (due in large part to those who were able to order their iPhones online, I'm sure), and there were apparently few technical problems for those activating their shiny new Apple phones.
I had no trouble getting going with an iPhone 3GS loaner I picked up at the Mall of America's Apple Store.
Fewer than 100 queued up at the megamall, but I'm told 200 or more were lined up at the Rosedale Apple Store. My pal Mark Fawcett snapped the picture above.
I took this sample video with my iPhone, uploaded to YouTube from the handset with absolutely no trouble:
Here's a Texas report from my Houston Chronicle counterpart Dwight Silverman. (He's boycotting the space between "3G" and "S" and I'm joining his revolution. ¡Que viva la revolución, carajo!)
Here are tweets from iPhone buyers at various locations around the Twin Cities a bit earlier this morning:
dmesserly: I arrived at 6:45 - probably 200 here already? No rioting so far. Concierges serving coffee to people in line.
dmesserly: My 3GS is setup and synced. *NO* problems or hitches buying, activating or syncing. Entire process = totally slick. AMAZING
joshlewis: In and out of the AT&T store in 8 minutes with my new white 32GB iPhone. Who's got two thumbs and is a happy boy? This guy!!
joshlewis: New white iPhone 3G S, I dub thee "Kubrick." You shall replace my 2G iPhone "Monolith." Also, I wonder how long I can keep that trend up.
Update: Getting more reports from local iPhone buyers via tweets, DMs and e-mail. They report short lines, smooth transactions, painless activations.
Update: My friend Mark Fawcett told that he lamented how quickly and smoothly iPhone purchases went this year.
He liked the long lines and endless waiting of past years because he could hang out with his fellow Apple fanatics during their little "tech Woodstocks." He bought pizzas to share, and passed out decks of playing cards.
This year, he took along a little projector for use with his iPhone so he could have a movie showing. Alas, there was no time.
