FWIW, here's the plan that resulted in me being #1 in line Saturday morning...
Tue - Called all local Sprint Stores, Best Buys, and Radio Shacks to ask about availability and expected lines Wed - Stopped by Sprint store to confirm availability and ask about pricing/plan options (I had read all about this, of course, but wanted to see what I was told in the store) Thu - Stopped by my nearest Best Buy to ask same questions (pretty much got the same answers) Fri, 4;30p - Call Sprint Retention to discuss some questions and potential issues (long story); response was positive Fri, 6:00p-ish - Called Best Best Buy and confirmed availability (still expecting single digits) and inquire about expected lines; based on calls they were expecting a line and possibly some "campers" Fri, 9:00p-ish - Tucked in last of 3 kids and packed my gear for a potential all-nighter as Best Buy Fri, 10:15p - Kissed wife and headed to Best Buy fully ready to camp out if necessary Fri, 10:20p - Arrived at Best Buy (fortunately I live very close) to find an eerily empty parking lot - so far, so good Fri, 10:25p-ish - Another vehicle arrives and appears to be #2 in line Fri, 10:45p-ish - Yet another vehicle pulls up near the aforementioned vehicle, rolls down the window, drives off and vehicle #1 follows never to return; I'm all alone again listening to Best Buy radio blaring from atop the building into the still night Sat, 12:35a - After concluding that it was safe to leave for a while, I headed home to grab a few winks Sat, 2:15a - I head back to BB to look for potential campers; found none; waited about 15 mins and headed back home for more shut-eye Sat, 4:30a - I head back to BB to hopefully beat early-rising Pre-mongers; empty lot again; anticipating 5:00a-ish arrivals, I parked my lawn chair in front of door so I'd be ready to stake out my place if/when necessary Sat, 6:50a - The second possible #2 arrived giving me the skunk-eye; he parked and began reading his newspaper Sat, 6:55a - First employee arrives, to be followed by others, including BB Mobile reps, over the next hour Sat, 8:35a - A walker approaches the door out of nowhere as another vehicle arrives looking "suspicious"; I quickly move into my lawn chair; walker and vehicle both go away (??) Sat, 8:40a - Most recent #2 just drives off after nearly two hours--go figure (????) Sat, 8:50a - BB Mobile Mgr comes out to give me the scoop on how they'd work - basically they'd come out to get me and any other early arrivals (remember, at this point it's just me) in the queue, confirm eligibility, and activate phones beginning shortly after 9:00a, so by their 10:00a opening, we could just enter and pay and go home Sat, 8:55a - Actual #2 arrives and hangs with me as I fill him in on the forthcoming process at, 9:01a - I run to store next door that just opened for a much-needed trip to "go see somebody" (as my late grandmother used to say) :) Sat, 9:30a - #3 arrives and BB Mobile staff emerges to get things under way Sat, 10:00a - Store opens, I walk in with others to finish up; by now all five of their Pres were spoken for Sat, 10:55a-ish - After mistakenly turning on my device whilst examining a case, resulting in a pre-mature activation attempt and subsequent total reset that required a new authorization code from Sprint that came after a lengthy hold by the rep(!), I paid and walked out the door with a smile on my face Sat, 9:30p-ish - After tucking in the kids at the end of a full day, I am finally playing with my new toy (and checking email!) So far, Pre delivers as promised, although I will agree that after nearly four years with a Treo 650 and 755p it is different. Still, I have yet to feel any significant disappointment. Can't wait to take it fully through the motions... :) --- In [email protected], "marechaux1757" <marechaux1...@...> wrote: > > I got to the Sprint Store on 18th Street in DC at about 6:45am, and was #10 > in line. There were maybe 50 peeps by 8 am. Staff assured us they had > enough for everyone. > > I'm sure there will be many more detailed reviews, but I have to say it was a > singularly unsatisfying "unboxing" experience -- in that you don't get to do > it. All the more frustrating because the staff is fumbling their way through > at the same time. > > The Pre is as promised - very lovely, responsive, works just like the videos. > My overwhelming impression, though, is that it's more iPhone than Treo, and > I've used Treos for so many years that this is quite jarring. Where is my > right arrow to page through the links on a website? Why can't I use my > fingernail to pinpoint something on the screen? Where is the menu button??? > > I'm sure I'll get used to it. But I already miss my Treo. >
