var json_comments = new Array("
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henwy
June 11, 2009 3:10 PM
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As long as people have their widgets, all is right with the world

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2 replies
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Inglix_the_Mad
June 11, 2009 5:10 PM
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@henwy: Meh, everyone has their vice be it electronics, cars, motorcycles, fine wine, exotic foods, cigarettes, or even betel nut.

I try not to judge because I have: 3 servers, 4 towers, 3 notebooks, and a netbook. Granted it's my wife and my own work that causes us to have that much equipment, but the support equipment, extra wiring, et al, you wouldn't believe our electric bill. Then again some of it is used for play...

Hence why I don't typically judge other people's vices.

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dohtem
June 11, 2009 6:37 PM
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@Inglix_the_Mad: I am quite surprised you did not mention hookers or coke in the list of vices.

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cabjf
June 11, 2009 3:12 PM
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Apple is usually pretty good about that. If you buy something of theirs and they update it within a month, they will usually let you upgrade. It offsets how secretive they can be about upgrades.

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4 replies
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SharkD
June 11, 2009 6:27 PM
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@cabjf: Actually, Apple gives you 14 days (same as their return policy) for price adjustments.

In the case of purchasing a soon-to-be-obsolete item after it's replacement/update was announced, but before it's available, Apple usually either provides an automatic upgrade path.

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ncpeters
June 11, 2009 3:59 PM
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@cabjf: This isn't an Apple decision, it's AT&T. Apple just provides the product, AT&T sells it.

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XTC46
June 11, 2009 5:30 PM
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@ncpeters: It is Apple allowing it, becasue apple is allowing ATT to return the open (non broken) older model so att doesnt take a hit. The model she bought will still be for sale though, so its not a big deal to either party.

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superberg
June 11, 2009 4:46 PM
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@ncpeters:

Yes, but the same is true (or has been in the past) for their computers.

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BenderRodriguez
June 11, 2009 3:13 PM
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When buying any Apple product, one should always expect something newer and possibly better to be released within 6 to 9 months.

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2 replies
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acknight
June 11, 2009 3:14 PM
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@BenderRodriguez: You can scratch Apple from that sentence for just about any area of computer or other electronics purchase.

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LegoMan322
June 11, 2009 3:34 PM
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@acknight: Yep...was just going to say that. Apple is not the only one who updates an average of 6 months or so. They are just widely known for doing since Jobs' keynotes and their secrecy.

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Applekid
June 11, 2009 3:41 PM
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@LegoMan322: Although true, only Apple products and the surrounding hype around them manage to completely make you feel like a douche for not having the latest and greatest.

I recently bought a video card one generation behind the current one yet I don't feel nearly as bad as being the one holding the 1st generation Nano mere weeks before they released the less scratch-worthy 2nd gen.

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edwardso
June 11, 2009 5:39 PM
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href=\"#c13538867\">tkdnate: a fart app? Where do I sign?

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TheBursar
June 11, 2009 4:42 PM
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@Applekid: The other issue here is Apple's secrecy. Usually, you know about products in the pipeline and the expected features and you can make an informed decision whether to get current gen or wait.

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SteveBMD
June 11, 2009 3:13 PM
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This is what happens when your self-esteem and self-worth is derived from an object you carry around in your pocket.

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14 replies
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jkinatl2
June 11, 2009 4:14 PM
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@SteveBMD: Mine's not so much *in* my pocket, but I think I get the genreal idea.

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nakedscience
June 11, 2009 4:11 PM
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@SteveBMD: You know very little about the woman that this article was about, and yet you assume that her self-worth is based on a cell phone? Really?

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
June 11, 2009 4:03 PM
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@SteveBMD: I have my phone so I can access e-mail, goof around on the internet, and play games every so often. It's just a neat little gadget that is a hell of a lot of fun to play with. My self-esteem and self-worth are most certainly not derived from an object I carry around in my pocket.

Well, unless you count my enormous genitals, that is.

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Darklighter
June 11, 2009 6:39 PM
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@RecordStoreToughGuy: I would like to know why you're carrying your genitals in your pocket. Were they severed in an unfortunate accident?

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 3:58 PM
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@SteveBMD: Not sure what stick is up your butt, but plenty of iPhone users have them because they're useful, functional and aesthetically pleasing. Would you tell Blackberry users they're putting their self esteem in their pockets? Or Pre users? Or G1 users? The iPhone is a device, like those others - the fact that you so obviously hate Apple and the people who use its products is clouding the fact that a lot of people just like having gadgets that work well and help them accomplish a lot of daily tasks.

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takes_so_little
June 11, 2009 3:40 PM
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@SteveBMD: You're projecting your own insecurities onto the OP. Nowhere in the article does it mention she needed the newest phone in order to feel good about herself. If I had a choice between the two phones, I'd choose the 3gs as well, because it's a better phone.

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Riff Raff
June 11, 2009 3:38 PM
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@SteveBMD:

Maybe I want a cell phone that has access to

- Great functionality, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.

- Various & useful apps.

- A slick interface.

Those millions of iPhone owners would tell you that the phone fulfills all of those functions. Hell I would want one for those reasons. The only thing holding me back right now is the price.

So, yes, I'm sure some people equate certain phones with status symbols. I, on the other hand, will look at an iPhone, and the first thing in my mind is \"$70/mo\".

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Chmeeee
June 11, 2009 3:24 PM
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@SteveBMD: I don't understand the relevance of your comment. It seems like a lot of people think the only reason iPhone users have the thing is for some sort of status. I could care less what people think of my phone, its a goddam phone for crissakes. I just like the thing.

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nakedscience
June 11, 2009 4:11 PM
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@Chmeeee: \"I could care less what people think of my phone, its a goddam phone for crissakes.\"


Aaah, so there is still room to care!

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ophmarketing
June 11, 2009 3:35 PM
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@Chmeeee: Some people have a really hard time with that concept. It seems that someone can only be in one of two mindsets:

Either they worship everything Apple does and have to have an iPhone because it somehow completes them and makes them worthy of walking the earth, or they disdain Apple and everything it stands for and can't comprehend how anyone would be so slavishly devoted to a company that they just have to own their products.

There doesn't seem to be a \"hey, it's a pretty useful device and it does what I need it to do in a way that I like\" camp.

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korybing
June 11, 2009 7:24 PM
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@ophmarketing: \"There doesn't seem to be a \"hey, it's a pretty useful device and it does what I need it to do in a way that I like\" camp.\"

Oh there is, it's just that they're much less vocal about it and don't feel the need to be validated by opinions held by strangers on the internet, so they tend to stay out of fights.

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LegoMan322
June 11, 2009 3:32 PM
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@Chmeeee: I usually think the best metaphor for things like this is back when guys (probably still do) compare horsepower or engines of each others car. \" Mine is a V8 with 465hp...yeah well mine has a turbo injection which creates 50 more horse power than yours!\"

Once the iPod first came out, everyone was comparing how much music (I have 4GB...I have 6.7GB, I have 4000 songs...I have 10,000 etc) they have verse each other. It would literally turn into a debate or a pissing contest...more a pissing contest.

It is just a matter of pride that you are up to date and have the lastest and greatest, but isnt that what advertising and this country is all about?

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floraposte
June 11, 2009 3:27 PM
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@Chmeeee: Plus there's a certain irony in how invested some people are in not having an iPhone, which is just as brand-centric as wanting to have one.

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yagisencho
June 11, 2009 6:54 PM
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@floraposte:


That, or they don't want be trapped in a 2-year data plan with AT&T (or pay full retail for one of the things). I'm invested in not spending that money.

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MrGutts
June 11, 2009 3:16 PM
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@SteveBMD: How about items on your wrist, ears, neck and certain other anatomy's? They count also I hope?

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brandonmaldonado
June 11, 2009 3:16 PM
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Anyone know if you can do this with the refurbished models?

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1 replies
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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 3:26 PM
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@brandonmaldonado: Yes. You'll just have to pay the difference between the refurbished price and the new 3GS price, in addition to the restocking fee.

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 3:28 PM
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Grr. I think I bought mine a little before that. I wonder if they'll still let me exchange it.

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2 replies
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brandonmaldonado
June 11, 2009 3:34 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: I bought mine on the 3rd, so I'm not sure either.

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Karita
June 12, 2009 12:21 AM
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@MosesKabob: Ugh, so did I. I don't have a huge burning desire to get the new one, but I'd probably do it if they let me. I might check into that.

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ophmarketing
June 11, 2009 3:31 PM
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The Macrumors.com web site has a nice \"Buyer's Guide\" feature that lists each Apple product, along with a history of upgrades and a recommedation to \"buy\" \"wait\" or \"neutral\" depending on its typical upgrade cycle. Not foolproof, but very useful for people who don't keep track of every product upgrade.

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1 replies
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s73v3r
June 11, 2009 6:48 PM
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@ophmarketing: Not to mention, depending on how long ago she bought it, Apple's WorldWide Developer Conference was coming up, and that's typically one of the times when they bring out some big product announcements.

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Joshua Davis
June 11, 2009 3:32 PM
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Since the iPhone is always updated in early June at WWDC, doing some basic research would have spared her some hassle.

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5 replies
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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 3:44 PM
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@Joshua Davis: My problem is that I needed a phone, and my contract with Verizon was ending before Apple was going to announce their new phone. So either I could go without a phone at all for a month and a half (impossible), or I could get a free phone (but then I couldn't get the discounted upgrade on an iPhone because I would be neither a new customer, nor eligible for an update).

So I got the 3G knowing that it was possible a new one would roll out in the summer or fall. I did get on the phone with the store, though, and they'll call me back when they find out whether I can exchange my phone, considering I'm only like 4 days outside the cutoff - which does seem a tad arbitrary. Why May 9? Seriously? Why not just make it May 1.

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Christopher Wilson
June 11, 2009 4:40 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: You wouldn't go without a phone. You would be on a month to month basis with verizon. Your contract doesn't automatically renew and your service doesn't get shut off when your contract ends. The contract ending simply means you paid back for the phone's subsidy and you're free to stay or leave.

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 5:16 PM
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@Christopher Wilson: So I didn't know that at the time. What's done is done, I'm over it. I'm just waiting for the store to call me back to tell me whether I can bring my 3G in for a 3GS. I'm not heartbroken if I can't, but it would be a perk if I could.

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tackhouse1
June 11, 2009 4:19 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265:

Just a question. At the end of your contract with Verizon are you allowed to go month to month? Or are you required to sign a new contract? T-mobile allows you to go month to month at the end of your contract (for the same cost and terms).

My point is if that was the case, I don't see the rush to sign with a new carrier. But I have never been a Verizon customer, so I don't know.

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EYESONLY
June 11, 2009 6:01 PM
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@tackhouse1: Yes, it defaults automatically to month-to-month.

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oneandone
June 11, 2009 7:13 PM
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@EYESONLY: Yes, month-to-month - but you will get quite a few calls to renew (like what happened to pecan pi) & offers to upgrade your phone, etc. Mine started about 2 months before the contract expired.


When I got to month-to-month, they kept everything the same - rates, employer discount, etc. I'm back on a contract w them now, since I wanted a new phone, but I didn't have trouble for 5 months w/o a contract.

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oneandone
June 11, 2009 7:13 PM
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@oneandone: Sorry, that was meant for tackhouse1.

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 4:36 PM
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@tackhouse1: Ahh, I forgot to explain the secondary problem. I had the original Verizon plan that Mr. Pi and I were both on. He joined the plan about 5 months after I started mine, and we made it a family plan because it was less expensive than having two individual plans. Because I started my plan at a different time than his, our cancellation dates would not have lined up, and would have never ever lined up until we both canceled at the same time.

Honestly, I didn't know Verizon did month to month because I kept getting phone calls from Verizon asking me to renew and I didn't want to. So my mistake was not considering that maybe they did month to month...I had never heard of them doing that. I had just left a family plan with my parents and was on my own contract, so I was never versed in month to month or anything like that.

So in retrospect, if Verizon did do month to month, we could have saved ourselves some hassle. But to further complicate things, Mr. Pi needed a phone that could go overseas so we had to get him another phone anyway. In retrospect, I don't think we could have done it another way because he would have had to renew a contract with Verizon (when he wanted an iPhone) to get a discount on a phone that would work overseas. It was that or pay full price for a Blackberry, which he didn't even want.

So I think all things considered, we had to switch to AT&T because it's what we wanted. His contract was up and mine wasn't - I could have gone month to month after mine ended, but he couldn't have because he needed a phone that would work overseas.

And then we'd be in the same bind we were with Verizon - having one family plan with two contract end dates.

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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 3:54 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: May 9 is 30 days before the announcement of the new phone. :)

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 4:00 PM
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@tkdnate: The announcement of a new phone was going to be made at WWDC, but there was speculation that the phone wouldn't actually launch until July or maybe later in the fall. I knew it was going to be announced at WWDC, but I thought it was probably too far off for me to wait and go without any means of communication (aside from email).

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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 4:26 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265: Oh, definitely understand that. I was responding to your question of \"Why May 9?\" and the seemingly arbitrary nature of that date. It is 30 days prior to the announcement of the new phone.

So if you bought it within that 30 day period they'll allow you to exchange your device for the S, even if, normally, you would have been outside the 30-day return policy.

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idip
June 11, 2009 3:41 PM
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@Joshua Davis: Not everyone follows the product release dates of phones.

Most people who buy cell phones will go into the stores and buy whatever they like. Perhaps one could say the Apple/AT&T employees should have told the customer a new phone would be coming out?

So in this instance, she did nothing wrong. She went and bought the phone she wanted, she probably even went to the Apple website which made no mention of a new version coming out. Basic product research was covered.

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kim_c_hammer
June 11, 2009 3:33 PM
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I called 866-499-8008 (AT&T's online sales company), and was told I could have the $100 credited back to the card I used for the purchase of the phone (I bought it last week; it's a long story why, and I knew I was taking a gamble that the new iPhones would be announced on Monday. But, whatever.) I'm holding my breath until that actually happens, though. I also had to call AT&T twice before I got a hold of someone who knew what was going on.

The first lady I talked to told me that I'd have to mail the phone back to AT&T, they'd reverse my upgrade, and then I could rebuy an iPhone at the reduced price of $99. That seemed really stupid/insanely genius on AT&T's part, so I called back and talked to someone else who gave me the other number to call.

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1 replies
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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
June 12, 2009 8:15 AM
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@kim_c_hammer: Sorry for your dillema, but they sort of dropped the new iphone on us like a bomb. It was like \"oh hey, new iphone\" and then the phone queues EXPLODED.

Seriously one day was normal, the next it was like 200 people in queue constantly with something like a 30 minute wait to speak to someone. Crazy. Anyway, its quite possible that you spoke with reps who hadn't gotten the memo yet. So for that, I'm sorry. I hope your future AT&T CSR experiences are better.

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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 3:36 PM
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Of note: The restocking fee is 10% of the new lower $99 price, so actually should only be around $10.

Also, these policies are for iPhones purchased from AT&T channels - online, AT&T corporate stores, etc. People who purchased devices from Best Buy, Walmart, or even Apple, will need to return to the point of sale for information on how that chain plans on handling returns and price guarantees.

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1 replies
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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 3:46 PM
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@tkdnate: I talked to an Apple store sales person today, and that's exactly what he said. That each store is handling things differently, and there's no \"across the board\" guideline.

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seamouse
June 11, 2009 3:38 PM
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@SteveBMD: I was always under the impression that that was normally kept it our pants (for men at least).


hm...

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Anonymous
June 11, 2009 3:44 PM
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Whenever you buy an Apple product, you have 2 weeks to return it, and have to pay the restocking fee. So even if a new product comes out, if it's within 2 weeks, you can return your old one, pay the restocking fee, and get the new one. I'm not thinking that AT&T was so much prepared for it, but was simply following Apple's protocol.

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morganlh85
June 11, 2009 3:49 PM
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I'm pretty sure their policy is to let a customer exchange ANY phone within 30 days of purchase, so it's not that extreme.

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1 replies
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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 3:53 PM
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@morganlh85: True; but they are essentially extending the return period to include those purchased 30 days from the date of the announcement, up to the date of release.

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bravo369
June 11, 2009 3:50 PM
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honestly i don't know why this is getting so much press. this happens with all phones. I bought a verizon env2 for really cheap because i re-upped my contract. They then came out with the env3 which i no longer can get at the cheap new contract price. I would have to pay twice as much. so i'm sorry that iphone users don't have the latest and greatest but it happens. just think, when your contract is up and you have a credit towards a new phone again, you'll be getting a newer phone while all those iphone 3gs users are complaining.

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2 replies
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mikesfree
June 11, 2009 3:57 PM
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@bravo369:


Really, no joke! Thats like buying a car and getting mad when the next years model comes out.

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redkamel
June 11, 2009 4:02 PM
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well, you can usually google and check which apple models are due for an update. And they only have big releases a few times a year, with warnings of what those days will be. It takes about 10 minutes of googling to see if what you are buying will be replaced soon...which is a hell of a lot easier than other companies. The cult has its uses.

Also, does anyone know if you are allowed to upgrade your phone, but keep your original contract? can they deny you the option to renew your current contract?

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:07 PM
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Well, my experience has been, I've tried the iPhone. The people I know in my circles hyped the hell out of it until I finally caved and got a Gen 1. Still have the Gen 1, but have also had 2 3G's. It's been over a year now and I honestly can say that, while the iPhone is kind of cool in a \"hey-check-out-this-other-silly-thing-it-can-do,-it's-kind-of-cool\" way.... it really seems to be just a ton of excess.

I've got 3 screens of apps on it of which I use maybe three of the main ones that actually came with the phone. iPod, Settings, Phone. The rest really is just fluff and useless junk that I lived without perfectly fine before. Does anyone really need these retarded apps? The whole thing is just a massive money leak. The phones are expensive to begin with, the plan is expensive, and the ongoing purchasing of childish pointless apps just keeps the leak going.

I've given this thing about a year and a half worth of trial and evaluation and I fail to see how this is benefiting the human race in any way. I've concluded that it really is just wasteful. Especially with the constant need to keep getting the latest and greatest. It never ends. It's never good enough.

I've since terminated the 2 3G phones (and paid the ETF) and will be terminating the Gen 1 next week and going back to an inexpensive non-\"smart\" phone with a pay-as-you-go plan reducing my monthly phone expense to about $10 and without the need to continually upgrade to impress people sitting at the next table at freakin' Olive Garden. I don't expect my computers to make phone calls, and I don't expect my phone to edit video, play feature length movies and produce spreadsheets.

How much of your day is spent staring at your phone, pecking away at the screen? And how much of that time is actually productive? There is life beyond your phone. All this madness and mayhem this week over these phones is stupid. Having remorse over your phone is stupid.

It's a phone.

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6 replies
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itmustbeken
June 11, 2009 4:31 PM
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Our@BZMedia: How much of your day is spent staring at your phone, pecking away at the screen? And how much of that time is actually productive?

How much time did it take you to write this diatribe?
----------
sent from my iPhone

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:46 PM
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@itmustbeken: \"How much time did it take you to write this diatribe?\"

About 5 minutes.

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nakedscience
June 11, 2009 4:16 PM
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@BZMedia: For someone who is so blase about a cell phone, you sure went on forever.

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:19 PM
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@nakedscience:

Wasn't my intention to be blase. Just my review of the iPhone experience over the last year & a half. Not just with the phone itself, but everything surrounding it. The new releases, the pressure and expense of upgrading, the plan cost increase with every new release, the million apps that let you pop virtual packing bubbles or watch electronic fish when you get bored, etc.

In a nutshell, I've been, I've seen, I have not been impressed.

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tkdnate
June 11, 2009 4:37 PM
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@BZMedia: It sounds like you're right, the iPhone isn't the device for you. For some others, it is.

I have around 3-4 screens of apps. I paid for 1 of them. The rest were free. I don't use all of them everyday, and I've had more; any that I don't use regularly enough I delete, as I can obviously live without them

I've never downloaded a fart app. Never bought Koi pond. Have tried out a few of the sillier ones with interesting features, but they soon went the way of the scrap heap. There are very useful apps out there if you need them; if you don't, well, the phone has a lot to offer even without them.

Like the commercial says, I have the internet in my pocket. Anywhere. Don't need to rely on someone else's PC, or whether or not I have wifi. If I want to be connected, I am, and if I don't, well, then it's just a phone.

I have an original. Never upgraded to the 3G. Not enough of a pull for me. Will likely get the S, though. The video recorder and improved camera are the big pull for me. It's convenient always having a camera on hand to catch those moments.

I will concede on the plan cost increase, though will also point out the increase from the original to the 3G actually brought the iPhone in line with the rest of AT&T's (and Verizons', for that matter) smartphone offerings, and the S will cost the same.

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 4:11 PM
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@BZMedia: Who installed three screens of apps on the 3G? Mine came with only half a screen of apps that were all the standard ones. No one is making you purchase apps, and a lot of them are free.

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:15 PM
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@pecan 3.14159265:

I did. It's tough to be talking about something unless you've experienced it. If I said I never installed ANY apps, you would be saying that I don't know anything because I've never tried any.

Well I have tried them. I KNOW they are useless.

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nakedscience
June 11, 2009 4:26 PM
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@BZMedia: I just love that you are making a huge generalization: \"All app are useless to everyone! I KNOW TIHS!\"


You aren't everyone, you know.

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:43 PM
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@nakedscience: You're right. I'm not everyone. If I may be more specific with you, that was my review and my opinion, based on my experience. I'm not anti-tech. In fact I'm very pro-tech. I'm currently surrounded by all the latest and greatest in computer gear. But I feel the iPhone mania of recent years is much overblown as the gear and service do not provide enough real world value to justify even a fraction of the expense and headaches. I say \"I know this\" because I've bought the phones, I've bought the apps, I've dealt with AT&T, I've watched the insanity taking over the general public.

You are free to do whatever the hell you want to do. Just as I am free to post my review. Just because you disagree with it does not change my experience of it.

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Anonymous
June 11, 2009 5:08 PM
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@BZMedia: \"the gear and service do not provide enough real world value to justify even a fraction of the expense and headaches\"For you. I ride the train 2 hours a day commuting to NYC and I would shoot myself without my iphone. I listen to music, read the NY Times, the AP, watch a video, play a game...it's more than worth the expense to me. I use it as a phone maybe once a week.

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neekap
June 11, 2009 4:23 PM
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For what it's worth, my wife and I switched from Verizon and got two 8gb iPhones about 2 1/2 months ago since my employer has a deal with AT&T for 20% off service. Last week two \"mysterious\" $100 credits showed up on my AT&T account.

As for @BZMedia and his post above mine... $99 for an 8gb iPhone isn't really all that bad, compared to other phones on other carriers with similar features. Some people only want/need something that makes/receives calls, others want more of the features that the iPhones offer.. I've found mine extremely useful on a few occasions. Using the GPS/Google Maps on a recent trip to Connecticut when I had to find something to eat for dinner, and being able to forward an e-mail to someone who needed something while I was out and not near a computer are two fine examples. Sure, there's a lot of wasteful apps on the iPhone. But one could say the same thing about the other carriers like Verizon that offer those games like Bejeweled that you can buy for $7.00 and play on a tiny screen, or all of the stupid ringtones.

Also, nobody's forcing you to use all of the apps on the iPhones. I bet AT&T loves the fact that they're making all of that money off of your early termination fees.

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Skin Art Squared
June 11, 2009 4:31 PM
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@neekap: \"I bet AT&T loves the fact that they're making all of that money off of your early termination fees\"

But they're not. A $175 ETF pays for itself in less than three months of not paying for the plan itself. The more expensive the monthly plan, the better the ETF is for the consumer.

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Haggie1
June 11, 2009 4:29 PM
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This isn't generosity on Apple or ATT's part IT IS THE LAW.

All cell phone companies have to provide a 30-day window in which you can return your phone and cancel your contract without penalty.

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nikkimarie
June 11, 2009 4:47 PM
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I tried to do this this morning with T-Mobile! I bought a Sidekick LX in March ($200), and they released the Sidekick LX 3G in April (now it will cost me $400, but $200 for new customers or upgrade eligible customers)!

I called this morning and I was politely told to \"check eBay\" for a good deal on a new phone because they were obviously not going to help me.

She even gave me advice on the safety of buying things on craigslist and eBay.

Not even a credit was offered or anything. I have been a customer for over 6 years!

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superberg
June 11, 2009 4:47 PM
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One should always check the MacRumors Buyer's Guide before picking up a new Apple Product. They track the frequency of changes in hardware and estimate when a new one is arriving.

[buyersguide.macrumors.com]

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Anonymous
June 11, 2009 4:53 PM
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Keep in mind if you have a business account they wont let you do the swap. I spent over an hour with AT&T ( my co has 76 lines with them) The rep told me I'd have to mail the phones that qualify back in to them and wait over a week to recieve the new 3Gs. So a business customer can certainly lose a phone for a week. that makes perfect sense.

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GoonieGooGoo2
June 11, 2009 4:56 PM
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I don't know how many of my iPHONE owning friends have complained about AT&Ts service........

What kills me is the apps sales for iPhone when there are tons of free apps out for WinMo & Blackberries....

My favorite thing is showing them my fully customized Samsung i760.....with Sirius Mobile, Slingplayer Mobile, MAME, SKYFIRE and many other free apps......all for free and running at the same time....then I tether it to my netbook to surf the net.

Then just for sh-ts & giggles I switch it into a full iPHONE emulation skin with icons.......and send out a picture message and start typing with the slideout keyboard.

Jesus phone my butt.

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Black-Cat
June 12, 2009 6:56 AM
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@GoonieGooGoo2: So right. Windows Mobile is the only way. There are so MANY apps for WinMo phones and if you understand how Windows works, installing them is easy, and that's where the problem lies. WinMo phones require you have a brain to use them; iphones are perfect for mindless tools. Enjoy your weak ass phone and quit bitchin about AT&T you dumb asses! You wanted that phone...

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majortom1029
June 11, 2009 7:40 PM
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@GoonieGooGoo2: I have an ipo touch and an att fuze and also preordered the iphone 3gs. The amount of apps on the iphone is a lot more then whats available on windows mobile smart phones.


Also with windows mobile smartphones you can spend days trying to find the right program then go to install it only to find out that the app nets the .net framework installed.


The iphone has much better support for it and some cool apps that just dont exist on the windows mobile smart phone.

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pecan 3.14159265
June 11, 2009 5:08 PM
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@GoonieGooGoo2: There are thousands upon thousands of free apps in the Apple app store. There are tons of sales of apps because a lot of people choose to spend money on apps. I have about 10 apps on my phone and all of them were free.

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Bush2008
June 11, 2009 5:21 PM
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Restocking fee? That's pretty crazy. Best Buy doesn't have any restocking fees on any of their phones.

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dollywould
June 11, 2009 5:38 PM
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@takes_so_little: Ding ding ding!

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cartagenero
June 11, 2009 5:39 PM
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i just recently bought a refurbished 3G for 100 does that count? at least for some sort of refund I mean you can now get a brand new 3g for the same price of the refurb. it just doesn't seem fair.

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Chazon
June 11, 2009 6:19 PM
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Crap!! Just pulled out my sales slip, April 27th. Missed it by this much!

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sruss13
June 11, 2009 6:24 PM
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I bought mine online on May 6, but didn't get it until May 10. Wonder if it's eligible. Doubt it.

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taterpie
June 11, 2009 7:00 PM
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I went to see my local ATT store yesterday and they *refused* to do the exchange for me. Why? Because I had bought my phone ON May 9th. Reluctantly I accepted the $100. But I feel pretty annoyed and I won't be renewing with them when this contract is over.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
June 12, 2009 8:19 AM
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@taterpie: What? May 9th should be included in the thing. Call Customer Service!! (611) they will point you to your local ATT store but if anything they can notate your account to theoretically bonk the store reps on the head.

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jessi5000
June 11, 2009 7:31 PM
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does anyone know what the policy is for recently purchased iPod touches? if you're within 30 days could you get the upgrade free instead of for 9.99?

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sanjsrik
June 11, 2009 8:40 PM
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Look, if you buy an icrap, you deserve to hate yourself for it. Seriously. WHY? Get an MP3 player and be happy, at least that will better than 2 hours of battery life with a replaceable battery.

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MsAnthropy
June 12, 2009 2:55 AM
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@sanjsrik:

Wow, you can call people and browse the net (and take photos, and blahblahblahblah) with an MP3 player now?

\"icrap\" - how very, very witty!

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Anonymous
June 11, 2009 9:40 PM
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I purchased a new iphone from AT&T on the 14 of May. After reading this I of course headed out to the store I bought mine from. Everything went smooth, you have to pay the $250 up front for the pre-order, once you pick up the phone $230 will be credited to the card you used.

I asked about scratches on the phone and the rep told me that it has to be in \"like-new\" condition... well mine is not in \"like-new\" condition. I spoke with his manager on duty and showed him the scratches on the back and the little dent in the corner when it fell. He said it will be no problem and I got his business card for good measure. Either way if they decide the phone isn't in good enough condition they will credit the full charge if I do not accept the new phone.

One neat thing I liked about the store I went to was they are allowing people that pre-order the phone to come in two hours before the store opens and pick up their new ones when apple releases them. Too bad for me I start work too early to take advantage of that, but nice for people that don't want to wait in line. They are located off 252 broadway in san diego, ca (no i dont work for them).

All in all I am very happy with AT&T and the iphone... this is coming from a loyal T-Mobile customer for many years.

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MsAnthropy
June 12, 2009 2:54 AM
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Bah.

Wonder if Apple might consider a similar policy on the 13\" MacBook I bought about two weeks ago...

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SlappyFrog
June 12, 2009 6:14 AM
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C'mon people....anyone with half a functioning brain cell was pretty sure there'd be a new iPhone at WWDC, you're telling me she couldn't wait a month?

F--- this.

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Black-Cat
June 12, 2009 6:52 AM
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It's amazing! Another dumb ass buys an iphone and is unhappy because of something Crapple does; in this case crank out another version of the world's shittiest phone. Too bad for you tool. HAHA! You deserve what you got!

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Spectre1125
June 12, 2009 9:34 AM
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@korybing: PDAs have been around forever.

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Anonymous
June 13, 2009 12:40 AM
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Wait. I just bought a $99 price 8 GB 3G less than a week ago (actually the day AFTER the new price point was announced). So, does that mean that I can take back my brand new $99 3G, pay $10 (or $20) for restocking and get a brand new 3Gs? If so, then I'm doing it because it means I'll have saved $80+ and still get a new 3Gs.

That can't be right, right?

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Anonymous
June 16, 2009 9:20 PM
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ATT will honor this replacement policy - that was the official line I got from an ATT email and also from the retail store. BUT if you bought your phone from an Apple retail store then you are out of luck. They appear to be sticking to the 30 day only return policy.

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Charley Bodkin
June 17, 2009 3:45 PM
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what happens if you bought your iphone 3g sometime in march and then you broke it after may 9th and got it swapped out for a new iphone 3g for 199? technically you bought a new phone, just not a new contract. also, if i have misplaced the receipt, will they be able to know when i bought it using the iphone's serial number perhaps?

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