iLoser retains place in line, crisis averted
By Evan Blass 
posted Jun 28th 2007 3:17PM
posted Jun 28th 2007 3:17PM
Rarely does a reader-submitted tip appear so urgent that we feel the immediate need to leave the comfort of our cushy home office, but when we heard that Greg the iPhone Camper [a.k.a. New Jersey highway maintenance worker and professional line sitter Greg Packer] -- affectionately dubbed "iLoser" in the media -- had been dragged out of line at Apple's Fifth Avenue store along with the rest of the wackos hopefuls, we were obligated to spring into action and investigate. Well it turns out that the reports of Greg's preemptive removal were greatly exaggerated, as the man himself was right there yucking it up with reporters and curious passers-by just like he has been since Tuesday morning. Keep on reading for more pictures of this unlikely internet celeb, along with a few shots of the madhouse that the corner of 58th and 5th has become...
[Thanks, Jonathan]
Airlines are poised to cut more capacity this year as the industry battles declining demand and a brutal economic environment. To be sure, all airports are struggling with the same issues. Delta has fallen on hard times. Delta airlines have been limping along for years. I wonder if they could use quick loans in order to stay afloat instead of clipping services like the other airlines. They have begun eliminating flights, but not to worry too much as most eliminated flights are international. The likelihood that you won’t get as many flights down to Grandma’s house isn’t a real worry. Airlines have been hurting for years, as the spike in fuel prices a few years ago cut deeply into their coffers and profit margins. The largest airlines were among the most hurt – like Delta.
mmmMmm
Geeez people!!!! It's HIS ASS and HIS TIME. He can do whatever the hell he wants with it. I'm sure there's a rich hotel heiress somewhere who thinks I'm a loser becuse I work for a living all day.
It's a free country. Let him have his 5 minutes. Dude will probably end up on Letterman or something.
I just hope he doesn't fall asleep at 5:45 tomorrow.
Dad?
Er, Dad?
How does he use the restroom?
when you're a man, the world is your bathroom!
Mayonaisse jar?
Honestly though, he goes inside the Apple Store on 5th Ave right there. Its open 24 hours a day.
the same way i did when i camped for my PS3 :]
Obviously you're not a Golfer.
i wonder if that chump will even buy an iPhone.
He probably thinks there's a sale on apples. Oh wait, I'm sure he doesn't eat fruits or vegetables.
Ok now I have it. Someone told him there'd be cookies.
I don't think so...This guy just likes to be quoted. The AP even warns its reporters to avoid this guy. He goes to events to try to get attention so he can be in the news. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer
that guy is skinny
It seems from the first pic that Greg brought diapers, so he should be fine.
iDontCare
iCareEnoughToPostInThisThreadJustToSayIDon'tCareButEveryoneKnowsIActuallyCareALot
iDontCare that uDontCare so StFu
I love that you dont care enough to read the article and then, in a non caring way, post a comment.
ok so where's he hiding the iPhone tattoo... ... wait... no... if you cant see it when he's got his clothes on, I really dont want to know
It really does look like the Zune guy. Handlebars and everything! haha
wow...that would have been the last person i would pick our of a crowd as an iPhone user. Wonder if he even knows how to text message someone...
I dunno, looks pretty much like the average Apple-loser to me...
If the iPhone is Paris Hilton, does that make Greg Nicole Richie (IE, the ugly one that everyone wants to go away)?
pretty sure if you spend a week in line.. you have no life.. what about a job?.. its a phone.. sure i want one like crazy, but i wouldnt wait a week outside in manhatten for one lol.
In North America people get things called 'vacation' or days when they're not required to be at work. Just because someone spends a week doing something doesn't mean they have no job. Infact it says right in the article that he's highway maintenance. Those type of jobs are usually term jobs anyways. Try reading the article.
MATT, not to turn this into a cultural discussion but America is actually leisure time deprived compared to the rest of the world. So cut back a bit on that patronizing tone. Now, regarding this guy... in an "interview" by gizmodo he said he was retired.
I dont get why people are hating on him. Are they upset that he got there first?
I don't get it either. It's as though reading about gadgets at your job all day is morally superior to waiting in line for the real thing. I say if this guy wants to wait in line for a whole week, then knock 'em dead, pal. Good for him for doing what he wants to do, in the face of all the naysayers.
No they are upset he is a fat slob waiting in line for a $600 phone and asking for food, donations and handouts.
Actually, I think that most people who work for a living feel that "line sitters" are throwing away their time. As one person I know puts it: "It must be nice to not have any responsibilities or bills."
:-) If you can afford to do this without mooching off of people, then by all means go ahead. I don't care. I know that I have to go to work every morning so I can't be there. (That and I don't have $600 to drop for a phone and $2k for a phone plan.)
he is THE face of apple.
im a mac...indeed
How would you like to be sitting next to him for 8 hours in this sweltering heat wave we've been getting in the Northeast?
Look at the guy......You think he would hesitate to shit in his pants?
If you guys haven't found out, he probably doesn't actually care about the iPhone...
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer
Nice link
Wow, this guy has a problem. It seems like he really wants to be famous, but doesn't have any talents that would bring him fame, instead he just shows up at events that will be covered by the press before everyone else so he can get his two cents in print.
Mom?
The chick in the purple got a hot bod.
I think she's the woman from the Bronx that was number four or five on line. She said that she'd pick up an iPhone for her father if he let her wait on line. She does have a nice onion. I mentioned before it would be a good place to pick up digits and get media coverage.
Whats the betting that after all the hype around him he will make money from interviews and Apple will probably give him the phone for free because of all the publicity he has generated.
If thats true, then Engadget must be making a grip of money.
The girl in the maroon dress has a fatty!! for you old people, a fatty is a good thing when it comes to ass. I'd love to hit!!
Actually it's not. How is a fat, unproportionate ass a good thing? I'm not sure which girl is wearing a maroon dress, but the only girl with a decent body out of any of those pics is the one in the 2nd and 3rd photos.
Cover up that ass cameltoe FFS! EWWWWW!
OH GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THAT DUDE IS PACKIN'!!!
He's fat? Is that it? I'm sure everyone here is a male model. I haven't heard that he's begging. He didn't ask me for anything when I walked by. Maybe he just likes being interviewed. Is that so bad?
It's just a big 'oooooolllll fat guy.
Or Jabba the Hut...one or the other.
This guy brings up some serious doubts about Apple's marketing acumen. Until this week it's been a flawless and brilliantly executed plan to manipulate the mindless to run out and buy the product.
There is always going to be someone out there who wants their 15 minutes of fame. And with all the ihype, they could've been handing out barbecued rhinoceros turds and there would be people who wanted to be first in line. Sorry, 'handing out' is bad way of saying that – change that to 'selling Prepackaged....'
Steve, is this who you want as the iconic face of the iphone buyer?
Next time, for everybody's sake – hire someone to stand in there and not turn everybody's stomach.
What are you talking about, Greg is a man of the people! Long live the Packer!
I wouldn't mind covering my hands with those hand warmers. I'd take that over Gregs hairy bagpipes.
What is with everyone slamming his weight? Like you all are so perfect in life...move on please, and look in the mirror. Geez...
right on mark. I would consider myself good looking but hate when others slam someone for their appearance. He's accomplished something with himself and seems like a nice, what have you detractors accomplished?
Is this guy related to Zune Tattoo Dude? I think he's a plant by M$.
Dammit i have the same chair as him. now every time i sit in it i will think of that no-life fatty!
This guy doesn't even care about the iphone. He is just an attention whore. He is begging for donations on his blog, too.
Last night on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Keith mentioned that the guy in line was a "1st in line at various product launchings whore" (my words), and that he just likes to get attention and say his name on the air. A quick search and I found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Packer
Nice find, sad though; really really sad.
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!! 100 articles!?!?!? He's probably the biggest attention whore i've ever seen!
dont make fun of kim for waiting in line though. i waited in a line a meijer the night before the psp was out,heck that turned out to be a waste of time.
We now need a non-iloser feed
I was told Engadget is about gadgets, per say the iPhone RSS shit posting, and so I beg to question, why is this on Engadget? Unless this man is a gadget this is total bullshit news.
Dude, it's gadget related news because the guy is waiting in line for a gadget (i.e. iPhone)... get a grip.
Engadget is only covering this like they did the launch of the PS3, 360, Wii, etc....
Man, geeks are a fickle bunch. Engagdet readers labeling anyone a loser is ironic. Especially a person in line for a gadget.
I was trying to figure out who he looked like and then it hit me; picture Peter Hook + 30 pounds.
No sir -- he is most definitely a fat Bill Paxton
That actually made me laugh out loud. And want an iPhone even less than before.
I'm imagining this guy now when I think of Apple. Their clean image has been besmirched.
He's the typical fat American that all those European's have been telling us about. He's giving us all a bad name. Someone should bring him a treadmill and some cortislim.
u see the Greg has a 102.7 t-shirt they probably paid him for that
FRESH, read his shirt, is probably the last thing this guy is at this point in time.
this guy has been waiting outside since tuesday??
I am 3.5 hours from NY city, and my store in the middle of nowhere is getting 30 iPhones!! ((im not supposed to know, so dont tell anyone)). So when i leave work tomorrow at 5pm, im going to go get dinner, then stroll into my local store, and pick mine up....
P.S. anyone want to pay me to wait in line :)
Someone needs to go through that line and do a survey on the average income of the people there. My money is that its no where near what the average iPod user makes.
Hey Joe Dirt, you know what "Priapism" means?
Why is every one waiting there? Can't they find a shorter line at any ATTWS store or other apple store?
Loser is right...
Hey, if the guy wants to be first in line to get an iPhone, I say, "Go right ahead." But to be quoted in the Times as stating, "I'm a big fan of Hillary and Bill's. I want to change her mind about running for president. I want to be part of her campaign." I say, "WTF!!!"
I'm not even remotely interested in the exploits of this man. I'm more interested in getting more pictures of those two lovely reporter ladies.
He looks like a nice guy... and seem to be really enjoying himself, he cracks me up all the best dude.
Greg Packer is a god
The haters are such losers. They have to put someone else down to make themselves feel good about their own loser selves.
BTW, he's been there since Monday morning. Not Tuesday.
Sweet jeez, he could use that hot, ass-cameltoe of his as his toaster.
Whoa. I am genuinely surprised at the harsh words reserved for this guy. I've been reading Engadget for a long time, and the readers have always been civilized and respectful of people (especially fellow tech enthusiasts). Calling this guy "fat" is really outside the lines of what I've come to expect from our comment sessions.
So, is this guy the Dude Leboski or what?
He must've LOVED sitting in the 90+ NYC weather the last 3 days.
This proves not all Apple fans are hippie veggie-eating douche bags
More power to you fat dude! Don't understand all the hostility against this guy. Last time I checked, I don't remember seeing a weight limit in the system requirements of an Apple product.
Anybody think that he's just there to buy one and sell it on eBay?
Sonuvabitch should have fasted while he was at it.
So where does he shit?
i'll stick him up for his $600 later tonight
wow. after he gets his iPhone i sure hope the first site he visits isnt this one.
I'm gonna crack if his card gets declined at checkout.
anyone understand the term "profession line sitter"???
he is being paid by some rich bastard to sit there and get an iphone for him.... so it isn't a waste of anyone's time.... considering how far in advance and all, i'm sure he's being paid fairly well.... better than he would be paid at his other job if he is choosing this over that.....
Why does waiting in line for an iPhone make this guy an 'iLoser' ? He has the spare time and patience that most of us would love in our lives.
Somehow, I'm not feeling very envious.
I would iFuck the girl in purple though.
I hope it makes you feel better to make ignorant statements like that. She looks like she's 14 at best. Regardless, I am sure she'd have no interest in you whatsoever, so I guess fantasy is all you have.
Good thing im 16 amiright? Don't be sad because you're antisocial.
And also, starting bullshit on a tech blog? Give me a break man, go serve a better purpose.
Holy shit man, you're right. I didn't even look at her close enough, but she looks way too young. I retract my former statement, but keep my latter statement.