Apple lays down iPhone purchase rules -- max 2 per person

Apple just got all official with their retail sales for the iPhone. Read it, know it:

• All 164 Apple retail stores will close at 2pm and reopen at 6pm until midnight on the 29th.
• 2 iPhone's per person max.
• First come, first serve basis.
• Free iPhone training workshops will begin Saturday morning at all Apple retail stores.
• Apple's online store will also begin taking orders at 6pm PDT on the 29th. Free shipping.
  
• So you don't get caught out making a disappointing trip, Apple is also providing an on-line tool to check the iPhone availability at your local Apple store. Good thing, we think you're going to need it.

Read - The Rules
Read - iPhone availability checker

[Nick @ Jun 28th 2007 9:03AM]

let the anti iPhone hate begin.

[George @ Jun 28th 2007 9:21AM]

yeah geeks always come into forums and start hating on tech and star trek like shows. wish i could be cool like that. I mean honeslty anyone who has a life doesnt care about your opinions, who are you that your opinion actually matters..no one!

[Tyk @ Jun 28th 2007 9:03AM]

Meh... i want an iFone that is a phone first.

[Sanskrit @ Jun 28th 2007 4:31PM]

Agreed. With all the hype about the iPhone, has anyone checked to see if it actually works as a phone? Or is this all just a bunch of crap?

[Arkady Pogostkin @ Jun 28th 2007 9:11AM]

"Will be close", "first come first serve" -- are fifth-graders writing your morning posts?

[JT_X @ Jun 28th 2007 12:01PM]

Don't forget "iPhone's" as a plural of "iPhone".

[nxs @ Jun 28th 2007 12:03PM]

yeah, their "grammer" is bad :)

[DavidR @ Jun 28th 2007 5:55PM]

Fifth-graders are much smarter than that, just saying!

[John @ Jun 28th 2007 9:13AM]

I shall take zero.

Fix the keyboard.

[Jon @ Jun 28th 2007 10:05AM]

And re-instate the missing industrial standard features.

[Fred @ Jun 28th 2007 10:12AM]

Uh huh, oh and fix all that other stuff that I know must be wrong even though I've never even see one of these things in real life let alone used it. GET ON IT, STEVE!

[Eduo @ Jun 28th 2007 10:45AM]

With "industrial standard" I assume you're talking about industry-standards, right?

What's there to fix about the keyboard? It's not broken. It's just awkward and some people may not like it.

I don't like it, but I know it's me. I don't assume something's broken just because it doesn't fit my own personal taste.

[Nate @ Jun 28th 2007 9:16AM]

Thats cool, was expecting a one per person rule, though Im sure getting two will be frowned upon by people behind you in line.

[joeshmoe @ Jun 28th 2007 9:18AM]

I live in Australia and have a mac but will REALLY be happy when all this iphone rubbish is over with. Half the websites I used to go to for tech info are innundated with nothing but iphone this and iphone that.
You know the rest of the world does have more to do than read about iphones. give it a rest already.

thanks.

[Matt E. @ Jun 28th 2007 10:32AM]

Major applauses to you!!!

[Steve @ Jun 28th 2007 11:58AM]

Uhm... STFU and throw another shrimp on the barbie, eh?

Yeah, I thought so...

[Silver @ Jun 28th 2007 12:01PM]

Better yet, skip the iPhone stories you aren't interested in (just flick that finger over your scroll wheel, you can do it!), and get your Aussie browse on by reading about robotic Koalas instead:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/28/kobie-the-fondling-robot-to-the-gods/

Regarding the deluge of iPhone stories, how about giving the "give it a rest" comments a, um, rest? If there's bigger news out in the tech world (like the aforementioned robotic Koalas), go find it and enjoy. Quit cluttering my tubes with the incessant whining.

[7of7 @ Jun 28th 2007 9:19AM]

That's fantastic, a phone with an interface so confusing that you need workshops to learn how to use it. I guess it really must be running OSX.

[arthur barnhouse @ Jun 28th 2007 9:37AM]

Please just use the iPhone Free feed and shut the hell up.

[Nick @ Jun 28th 2007 10:07AM]

Apple cares about their user's experience and holds free workshops for them to learn or have questions answered. Much better than an animated paperclip.

[Jon @ Jun 28th 2007 10:11AM]

@Nick,

My mum, dad, aunt, sister, boss, friend, girlfriend, girlfriend's friend, old guy down the street etc., all never need to attend a workshop to learn how to use a PC, much less a phone!

Are Macs that difficult to use?

[fred @ Jun 28th 2007 10:21AM]

@Jon, it's not that they just automatically know how to use them, it's that the manufacturers of those machines just don't give a damn if they do or don't. Apple wants their users to get the most out of their purchase, and to spread the word that Macs ARE easy to use, and that Apple provides great service. Way to be intentionally obtuse, though.

[John @ Jun 28th 2007 10:22AM]

*facepalm*

[andi @ Jun 28th 2007 11:29AM]

By offering the workshops, Apple kind of accepts the kind of people who buy their things.. If anyone needs a workshop to learn how to use that phone, they don't deserve to live...


But then again, most of the ones who DON'T need the workshops know apple for what they really have to offer and choose other things...

cheers!

[Silver @ Jun 28th 2007 12:05PM]

"This message brought to you by Microsoft" - 7of7

Wish I could block this troll on Engadget like I did long ago on Digg...

[rp @ Jun 28th 2007 6:35PM]

@7of7
What does that "I guess it really must be running OSX" comment mean? Are you saying OS X is difficult to use? Coming from what standpoint, a 3 year old used to his Elmo laptop OS? How are you using ANY operating system then?

@Jon
I'm sure they know how to turn the PC on. Then what? Most users don't know jack about the potential of their machine. Most PC users I know don't know what it can do or how to do it. Yes, they can turn the PC and get IE up and running, but what else? You'd be amazed at how often I, a Mac user, am asked by PC users to help with whatever problem they're having or how to get something done.
Apple wants it's users to get the maximum out of their machine, even if it is very simple for you and I to figure out. They just assume (correctly) that most people don't understand computers as well as you and I. Why buy a computer with a DVD burner if you're not going to burn DVDs? A built in camera? Etc?

[everrette powell @ Jun 28th 2007 1:41PM]

last time i check innovation means something different and new, so that would require a learning curve, i actually respect a company that strive for innovation in their products and take the time to teach about the new features

[harpreet @ Jun 28th 2007 9:20AM]

"2 iPhone's per person max."

whose so desperate to go for 2 iphone's at once!!!

[Jason G @ Jun 28th 2007 9:31AM]

Charity dude that's waiting outside in NYC :)

[Sniglet @ Jun 28th 2007 9:45AM]

A married couple. (/me refrains from making some kinda 'if you had a girlfriend' comment)

You've OBVIOUSLY never dealt with a 100% spouse tax.

[Jon @ Jun 28th 2007 10:08AM]

"whose so desperate to go for 2 iphone's at once!!!"

Steve Jobs worshippers

[macona @ Jun 28th 2007 11:23AM]

To stop those people from throwing them on ebay.

[Argot @ Jun 28th 2007 11:51AM]

Well, two iPhones equals one Sony SE or Nokia.

[h8rain @ Jun 28th 2007 9:24AM]

I kind of want to know what the heck to they need to close for 4 hours, to prep for a phone launch? I know Cingular/AT&T does not close for hours when they first get in the new smartphone?

[Nick @ Jun 28th 2007 11:21AM]

cuz they want to.

[nxs @ Jun 28th 2007 12:04PM]

Apple stores will give out free coolaid to their apple store employees laced with X to deal with irate customers.

[mbm4cash @ Jul 6th 2007 11:06AM]

Actually, AT&T IS closing early and re-opening @ 6PM just like the Apple stores....

[engadget @ Jun 28th 2007 6:43PM]

Who camps out for a Curve?

[jbulava @ Jun 28th 2007 9:26AM]

Where did that image come from? It looks like Office has replaced Notes...and before YouTube was announced.

[Jeremy @ Jun 28th 2007 7:35PM]

I was wondering what other people thought that was. It looks like we (well, those that are getting an iPhone; I'm too poor right now) might be able to at least view Office documents, which would be good for the college student in class downloading and viewing notes or presentations or the business professional that is on his way to the office and needs to review stuff before his meeting. It would sure make it better than my HP iPAQ.

[Nick @ Jun 28th 2007 9:37AM]

There are only 34 states listed on the iPhone availability page. Apparently cheese heads aren't good enough for iPhones. Sucks to be them.

[Gelik @ Jun 28th 2007 9:40AM]

Funny, cause I swear I saw an article about a new Apple Store in Bayshore at 6pm on Friday.

[Nick @ Jun 28th 2007 10:20AM]

Yeah the Grand Opening is 6pm on friday.. and is supposedly only open till 10pm. And, like the synopsis said, iPhone stores are supposed to be open till midnight. Odd that they wont have iPhones considering Bayshore is supposed to be a higher end mall. At least wisconsin residents have summerfest to look forward to.

[tyler @ Jun 28th 2007 9:42AM]

Nice.. 6/10 of the 'Breaking News' and 'Featured Stories' on the right are dedicated to the iPhone. They might as well change their name to EngadgiPhone.

[arthur barnhouse @ Jun 28th 2007 9:46AM]

EngadgiPhone! Ohh Burn! You sure showed Ryan with that one.

[Gregory Andrew @ Jun 28th 2007 11:47AM]

I am now dealing with the 100% spouse tax. I will be buying 2 iPhones tommorrow, & probably be snarled at by the people standing behind me.

[monon @ Jun 28th 2007 9:45AM]

Ridicolous the Ipony, ridicolous this policy, ridicolous Engadget for pulling out this non-news.

[Fred @ Jun 28th 2007 10:23AM]

Thanks for the input Yoda

[modafroman @ Jun 28th 2007 9:47AM]

Ouch, that gotta hurt for Scott Bourne. He is trying to get 24 iphones... lol.

[XavGill @ Jun 28th 2007 9:47AM]

No MMS, no 3G, no browser flash, no camera flash, no auto-focus, no voice dialing, no replacable battery, no A2DP, no video recording, no mp3 ringtones, no ichat, no copy and paste, no keyboard, no GPS...

"evening calls" are after 9PM not 7PM, no downloading, no streaming, activation charge, no iPod without activation, two year contract...

Anyone know when the Samsung F700 is coming out?