Comments on: Bring a credit card if you want an iPhone, and you only get two

Apple decided this week to require a credit card or debit card to buy an iPhone, and there's now a two-iPhone limit at its retail stores.

[Info_Max]

What kind of a brain washed moron would use iPhone!!

Really, What kind of a brain washed moron would use iPhone!! I mean as a phone iPhone is no better than any other mobile phone. So the main advantage of iPhone as hyped by Apple is supposed to
be that it gives you access to the Web.
I have used iPhone for a month now and I must say this is one of the grandest false advertising I have seen based on the claim that iPhone
gives you good access to the web.

After all:

1- Who wants to look at the web via a 3inch screen!!! Most web sites are ABSOLUTELY not functional, usable, via a display
screen of less than 12 inches.

2- But MOST IMPORTANTLY: how the HEK are we supposed to fill a form at a web site via iPhone? After all the Keyboard of the damn thing
is on the same screen through which we are looking at the web. To fill a form via iPhone is even slower than typing a SMS message. It is
absolutely retarded. I mean a form that would take 1 minuet to fill via a normal computer (laptop) will easily take 20 minuets to fill via
iPhone!

Apple (Big Media in US) call this progress?
Amazing, Japanese give us Prius that gets 60Miles per Gallon thus cutting our gas bill by 70%, French gives us TGV that enables us to
travel center city to center city in lap of luxury & fast & for 1/3 cost of flying, what do we get from USA (Apple) a mobile phone with useless
access to the Web and priced 3 times of a typical mobile phone.

[Joe A Flores]

YOU CAN'T AFFORDED!

A MORON LIKE ME, AND 1.2 MILLION CAN AFFORDED.

[roncoe]

Well...

There are 1.4 million of us, and counting, brainwashed morons
using iPhone. I have to say, having used a fair amount of
phones in my lifetime, it's simply the best phone I've ever had -
- bar none. I've used the RAZR (loved it for years), Sony
Ericsson T68i and others like it, I use a Blackberry for work, my
wife has used numerous Windows Mobile PDAs and phones (all
crashed routinely and were prone to data loss and
synchronization problems).

We may indeed be a group of morons, but we are absolutely
enjoying our iPhones. I was in an Apple store today, and there
are a lot of other folks out there who can't wait be be morons
too.

[moofer]

Pot meet kettle...

What a nimrod...

The iPhone is brilliant. Clearly you've never used an iPhone, or
you wouldn't be making retarded statements like this. Most
websites work fine, filling out forms works gracefully, and with
the gesture-based UI, zooming in/out of web pages is
effortless. You don't have the faintest idea of what you're talking
about.

When I get an SMS from someone on a normal phone, it looks
like:

meet u @ 4

When I get an SMS from an iPhone user, it looks like:

I'll meet you at your place around 4:00 - can't wait to see you!

Which would you rather read? If it was really slower, why are the
messages written in English, and in complete sentences?

3 times the price of a normal phone? My cell bill went DOWN by
$11/mo when I switched to my iPhone plan... plus, my data is
now unlimited. The only thing that's 3 times larger is the
battery-life... which is a good thing, because this phone gets
used about 3 times more than a normal piece of **** from Nokia
or Motorola.

Crawl back under your rock.

[proadventurer]

You lie! You do not have a iPhone

I don't believe for a second that you have one. If you really owned one you would know how easy it is to fill out a online form. You would also know that they are quite different than a regular cell phone.

[Jortibereal]

Are you sure you've actually used an iPhone?

Sure, the browser on your laptop is gonna give you an easier time on the internet than you'd have with an iPhone, but uh...you do get full, non-crippled browsing with an iPhone. On a web page, you can drag the view around and zoom in and out, and the keyboard isn't nearly as slow to use as you claim. Sure, maybe it's not as convenient as using your computer, but c'mon, you're using a mobile phone. It's not meant to replace your computer; it's meant to allow you quick access to your email and to websites on the go.

Oh, and wait until the iPhone gets wheels and an engine before you start comparing it to a Prius. Apple and oranges, my friend.

[OmegaWolf747]

Eye candy, little else

The iPhone has a few toys that n00bs will like, such as the touch technology. Once that has worn off, they'll find it clunky to use compared to a phone with a keyboard or keypad. My little VM Snapper is actually more functional than an iPhone. I mean, sure the iPhone has an MP3 player in it, but I have an iPod.

[afterhours]

It's evident you don't have an iPhone

perhaps what someone sold you off of eBay was a Zune in an
iPhone box. When you hold it to your ear, and it only plays 'Start
Me Up', you'll come to understand once again you've been suckered
by Redmond. Drink the koolaid, friend -- you aren't bright enough
to use an iPhone.

[vegamanfraud]

This Brain Would

You have no idea what you are talking about.

The iPhone is a pretty amazing tool.

No morons need apply for it: I am happy to use it for the
advantages it gives me over pretty much any other phone and
those using them.

if that edge makes me a moron so be it. But to bail all over this
phone, simply demonstrates your flaming post, angry attitude
and lack of experience with the device.

To describe the device as having "useless access" to the web is
ridiculous. If you only really knew. I save power with this
device. I buy with device. I am free of my laptop. I sell websites
with this device, and ads and videos too. This device has paid
for itself 3 times over.

Return to first grade, and repeat.

[GGGlen]

What kind of a brain washed moron makes the points you just did?

Since when the heck did Apple become The US's Big Media?
Geez... these i hAtoRz teh aPPlezezs crowd now leap to any length
of illogic, just as long as it lets them hAtez teh aPpEles.
Btw, the Prius is one of the most toxic vehicle on the planet.
Try looking beyond your selfish desire to save a dollar, do some
homework, and just see what goes into the production, usage,
storage and disposal of the batteries... not to mention the coal that
we burn to charge them up.

[3tire]

What kind of a brain washed moron would use iPhone!!

Apparently a moron who spends hundreds of dollars THEN decides he doesn't like the web on a three inch screen. You couldn't figure this out before you bought it? Or even when you had it in your hands at the store???

[gwilliamp]

More than 1 card?

I have more than 1 card so surely I can buy twice as many as I have cards (NOT that I would because, they are ......)?

Further to this, I prefer to use cash. NO SALE!

A stupid policy that is as well thought out as DRM. All they are doing is criminalising the decent majority. It will fail as their target group will quickly work round it.

This and their OSX BSOD makes them look DUMB.

[SteenMachine]

You're an Idiot.

The decent majority should have a credit card or two to put the purchases on. Who carries around ~$800 (or more for more iPhones) to purchase electronics equipment?! That majority are probably those who are interested in the black market, which Apple is rightfully trying to limit and protect their investment and partners. The credit card helps tracking. You CAN also use a debit card, which is the same as cash.

So, No Sale b/c you have to use a card?! What a ridiculous comment. Moron.

[Grasor]

Legal tender???

Isn't it illegal to not accept legal tender i.e. Cash?

[moofer]

Did you read the article?

The article clearly states the U.S. Treasury Department's stance on
"legal tender" and even linked to their website.

[magicman73]

No, it's not.

As the article states, it is not illegal for a business to not accept cash and can institute a card only policy.

[rdupuy11]

for DEBTS

You must accept payment in cash for a debt.

You don't have a debt to apple when you buy an iphone, that isn't how it works. It's a trade....phone for payment. You and apple can negotiate any system you want, except of course, in practice, you either accept apple's terms or walk away.

I chose to not buy an iPhone...I think that is the appropriate response.

p.s. I love how all these news sites on the internet, don't even try to be traditional journalists anymore.

I read one site, that talked about, Apple is expected to place 2 million more customers in at&t jail by next year.

I think people were always biased....now they dont' hide it, its a much more interesting, and honest, type of journalism.

[J.G.]

Merchants can refuse YOU

After reading people claiming merchants have to accept cash on several tech sites today, I realize common sense is not so common. Of course, merchants can refuse cash, credit cards, checks or to serve a would-be customer at all. THINK, people.

The only people likely to be stymied by the new policy are resellers.

[aSiriusTHoTH]

sure lovin my 8525

I'm sure lovin my HT 8525, right about now. Will love it a lot more when I get my 8925.. and pay half less than an iphone and get 50% more features...

[moofer]

HUH?

Let's take sprint for example... the price for this phone is the
same as the iPhone... The plan is the same price, you get 1/3 as
many SMS's, you have to pay for data as you go where the AT&T
plans offer unlimited data, and you don't get as many minutes.
As for 50% more features, I think not. Plus, all those buttons will
do a great job at collecting dirt and finger-funk, and they'll
always be buttons. Apple's phone is 100% controlled by
software, which can be improved/changed as UI advancements
materialize. Your phone is as good as it's ever going to get,
where the iPhone is going to get better and better.

[Dagryme]

I have em both

The 8525 is a great phone and so is my RIM if you have the time to
manage all the functions, which I do not. I need simple access to
e-mail, the internet, my address book, my calander, and teh ability
to sinc it all to my home computer. If you think any smart phone
besides teh Iphone will do that without IT support you are on
something.

[nicmart]

Explain libertarianism to this author

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that addresses the power
of the state over individuals. It has nothing to do with retailers
demanding credit cards. In fact, a libertarian would support the
right of a retailer to enforce whatever rules he wishes in the
selling of his party to willing buyers.

[OmegaWolf747]

What about the individual?

I'll have to disagree with that statement. Libertarianism is about protecting the rights of the INDIVIDUAL, not the business. As a customer, I have the right to walk into the store, plunk down the cash and buy all the iPhones I can afford. Apple has no business imposing a restriction on what I can buy.

[Tom Krazit]

I'm asking for a second opinion

We do have a few resident libertarians in the office who I didn't consult over the weekend, and I'm asking them for their opinion. If there's general agreement with you and the others who think I got this wrong, I'll update the post, and I apologize.

It does seem to make sense to me that anyone who stands for personal freedom would not want to have a purchase method forced upon them, but I also see the other side, in that philosophy would also extend to businesses having the freedom to choose how they wish to be compensated.

[LarryLo]

Starting to rethink converting to Apple? :(

I am willing to forgive the crazy high prices they charge for hardware because I get a great OS, and I know they will hold the price forever and a day. But then they start trying to control how I pay and how much I buy, because of some people using their products in ways they were not intended....well I think back to Guy Kawasaki talking about how Apples first mac was meant to be a "spreadsheet database and word processing machine, and they produced a desktop publishing machine by mistake". Apples original success was exactly because they let people do what they want with their hardware.

Since Vista came out, I have been waiting to buy a MAC (a Mac pro or a macbook pro when either is refreshed) In that time I watched Apple as a company, all the great new products they put out and I got more and more excited. Lately though the excitement is fading. Between this silliness, the iphone locking relocking, and third party apps for iphone and ipod touch. I am seeing an alarming trend. Apple seems to be drunk with its own success and seems to taking their customers and potential customers (like me) for a ride.

[MCOjerry]

Nothing New

Apple has always been very careful about protecting their product.
That's why you can go buy a $300 POS Windoze machine at
Walmart, and Apple machines are sole in select stores with strict
control over build and why Macs perform better that most Windoze
machines.

Get your Mac, you WILL NOT be disappointed.

[3tire]

whatever

Dude, reread your whiny post. If those are still valid reasons to you then, Good Lord man, don't buy a mac. But I'm thinking there's going to be some other thing that makes your life miserable. Like a Sears refrigerator or a Kia station wagon....

[OmegaWolf747]

iPhone over-hyped

I'd much get a T-Mobile Sidekick or a RIM Blackberry with large displays and built-in QWERTY keyboard. I do a lot of text messaging, so these would be of more use to me than the iPhone.

[vegamanfraud]

Maybe Not

I type far faster on the iPhone's virtual keyboard than I did on my
full keyboard Treo and original Blackberry and faster than I did on
my Blackberry Pearl.

And then there are the other features of the iPhone.

They add up to put this phone in a class all its own.

No Comparison in day to day use.

[GGGlen]

Hmmm

Must be why the guys in our company that already OWN
Blackberrys (and I'm not one of them) are replacing them with
iPhones?
I don't text, either, but no one texts like Pete and he's the next to
switch ;-)

[Vegaman_Dan]

Sounds reasonable

For you, the features and abilities of the iPhone do not meet your needs wherease those offered by T-Mobile and RIM do.

That's a responsible way to look at it. No blame cast on any model or OEM.

[chonnom]

iphone hooplah

*yawn*
I lived in East Asia for tha past 8 years and I cam back to this kind of nonsense. You people are paying big bucks for 3-5 year-old technology. Heck, my Korean phone (Samsung), that I paid $200 for had a 4 megapixel camera. My Japanese phone had a 2.5 inch screen and a bar-code reader (Japanese ads in public places have barcodes that you can scan if you see something you like; no more "what was the phone number again?"). Both countries are 3g and Korea is working on the next step. I never had a dropped call until I came back the US. Richest country in the world and we can't even get out phones to work right.

iPhone owners. Congratulations on your status symbol; have fun using it with the inferior network that's as slow as molasses.

FYI:
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/the-tech-observer/2007/07/19/dispatches-from-the-next-generation-eye-opening-korean-cell-phones?addComment=true

http://www.nttdocomo.com/technologies/present/index.html

I'll spend the $400 for a phone in the US when I can watch TV on it like I did on my J-phone or use the internet at break-neck speeds like I did on my K-phone. iPhone, no thanks; I'll wait until the service catches up with the phone's tech before I think about buying it.

Just my 2 cents.

[MCOjerry]

Not too popular

I agree with what you are saying, but I'm not too sure that the
services you speak of would catch on quickly here in the US.
That might be why the cell companies are slow to pick them up.
Personally, I think I would like to be walletless.

I am on Verizon, and I know they are very leery of picking up
new phones. They have the crappiest line up of phones EVER,
and always have. I have an LG EnV because of the QWERTY
keyboard. They are slow to adopt new models, and blame it on
their extensive testing to make sure it will work on their
network. If they would lower the prices of phone (really lower,
not just at new contract time), people might not be so upset if
they end up with a phone that they don't like so much, or
doesn't perform well. They'd just replace it.

I would love an iPhone, but i won't switch to AT&T. I'm happy
with my Verizon service...no dropped calls, reasonable text rates
and good customer service. It doesn't hurt that I get a discount
through work :-)

[vegamanfraud]

Nah, You are just ignoring features

Nah, the stuff you mention is nice and all, but you are ignoring
many strengths that the iPhone has in terms of interface, 3.5"
screen, durability, browser, wide data coverage thanks to edge
--- yes edge is slow VASTLY more available than 3G in rural
areas -- so iPhone is great for travel, camping, etc.

I watch TV on my iPhone -- I simply record it via my eyetv and
watch. I plan my TV so I do not want or need realtime access.

The 2megapixel camera is actually a plus in that I can easily
send photos via email -- don't need the extra res -- I'll grab the
D80 or D50 for that.

[GGGlen]

Backwards thinking

If no one provides a better product, or no one buys the better
products, there WILL BE NO BETTER NETWORKS COMING.
Out of curiosity... just which one of your Korean or Japanese
phones are you using, here, in the USA and using all of their
advanced features?
I thought so.
Just another aPpLez hAtorez.
If the iPhone was sold by Microsoft, you'd be wet with anticipation.

[Vegaman_Dan]

SE Asia is a test bed

SE Asia has always been ahead of the curve for cell phone tech as that's the test market for a lot of the features. It makes sense as it's a small geographic area with a high number of users. Some tech and features make it out of that area on phones offered worldwide, while others do not.

There's some pretty neat stuff coming out.

[partytildawn-20159620461052270]

Apple Self Destructing

Is Apple attempt to self-destruct? Apple has spent the last 12 months attempting to alienate itself from its entire customer base, and it seems to be reaching that point quickly over the iPhone. I will never purchase another Apple product again until the entire management team from top to bottom are fired.

[deanrd7]

oooh that'll show 'em

People like you are so full of their own self-importance.

[setgo]

Ha! Your Joking Right.. Right...

Steve Jobs To Shareholders - "We have just fired our entire management team and I am submitting my resignation because partildawn won't buy another Apple product." Dude... Please. lol

[GSRich78]

Are you serious?

You should stop drinking and partying till dawn. Seem like you're
the one self destructing.

[MCOjerry]

So...

...what Apple product do you own? An iPod Shuffle? Big loss to
Apple.

[J.G.]

Resellers are not Apple's base

Neither are people with poor grammar skills.

[GGGlen]

Try the facts

Over the last 12 months, Apple sales are 35% higher than last year
(computers), and the sale of iPhones are on the rise.
Define "alienating" for me, won't you?

[3tire]

This was my replay to someone else but it works here

Dude, reread your whiny post. If those are still valid reasons to you then, Good Lord man, don't buy a mac. But I'm thinking there's going to be some other thing that makes your life miserable. Like a Sears refrigerator or a Kia station wagon....

[Vegaman_Dan]

Self destructing? No. Changing? Yes.

Apple is migrating away from being a computer company where their roots are and moving more towards a consumer electronics company instead. The change in their name alone reflects that as does their product offerings.

That isn't a bad thing, but like all changes, some people won't like it. Give it time and see where it all settles out. If there is enough business in consumer electronics to support them without their religious fan base for the OS, then that might work out better for them. If not, perhaps they can move back.

Let's see what happens in ten years or so.

[Nodack]

I hate whiny people

It sounds like Apple is being smart to me and making sure the
iPhones get into the hands of the right people instead of people
trying to resell them for profit.

Good job Apple!

It also gives you whiny people something else to complain
about.

Whine, whine, whine. Apple is so mean blaa, blaa, blaa.

Cey me a river.

[LarryLo]

You should really reconsider?!

Bro these are not concert tickets, there is not some finite amount....and if Apple was able to sell 1 million iPhones since July, that means they have plenty more to sell.

This is Apple trying to control who buys them and what they do with them. At the very least, its very unapple like and stinks of over control, and the worse is greed, because the iphones being bought here are being resold in Europe and around the world, so it makes it more difficult for apple to squeeze foreign mobile providers for a peice of the monthly revenue in exchange for iPhone exclusivity because the iPhones are already loose there.

No one is saying mean. They are saying controlling (which is really ironic given apples roots) or just down right greedy, and those my friend are legit complaints. Especially because apple is only around today because of a group of hardcore Apple fanatics that supported it through the lean years. Their current posturing is a bit of a slap in the face to all apple fanboys.

[spacemanspitt]

the real reason

The real reason they are limiting the consumers is to stop the phone hacking. About 2 weeks ago Apple released a firmware upgrade, which fixed the security holes. One of course being the ability to use the iPhone on other networks (thus to export to other countries). The second was to fix a hole which allowed users to hijack phones and then to spread viruses and to use it to spy on people (including the camera and all the files). By limiting the amount of phones a user can purchase they hope to halt the hacking... or at least slow it till after the holidays - no sense scaring the consumer who makes or breaks your company... if they only knew ;)

You can bypass their restrictions by pretending you owned a mail company, but still using your home address (123 main st, becomes 123 main st box 142) and using prepaid credit cards (but different names), like the ones they sell at grocery stores, then ordering online.

SpacemanSpitt
rpg-exploiters.com

[stansz]

Really that big of a deal?

is this really that big of a deal? i mean how many of us are legitimatly going in and buy 2+ iphones?

i can understand why apple is protecting themselves...but i think its futile, i mean few years down the line the iphones are going to be fully unlokced with available third party software..they are just holding onto it a little bit longer

i perseonally would never buy an iphone..blackberry if i wanted something for work and email...i have htc 710 with a great qwerty keyboard and windows mobile 6 which (albeit a little slow) works fine....i dont surf the web from my cell phone, i only use the wifi to sync my email and chat on msn ...it plays mp3....

i dont see anything in the iphone that cant be foudn in other, cheaper phones (aside taht its by apple)

[catch23]

No, but it once again

proves you do it Apple's way, or hit the highway.
Or get something with MS mobile, Blackberry, Palm or anything else and do it your way, not the way your told.

[GGGlen]

Try new glasses

"i dont see anything in the iphone that cant be foudn in other,
cheaper phones (aside taht its by apple)"

How about a WiFi enabled phone with a full featured web browser
that has a flippin' video iPod built in to it?
Heck, it only took me 2 seconds to find that information, give me
10 seconds and I'm sure I could find more.

[rdupuy11]

Doesn't get libertarians

Libertarians would support the rights of any two parties to interact and trade as they see fit to negotiate and that includes Apple.

The author is completely off base, and apparently doesn't understand libertarianism at all.

Apple has the right to do this...I find it unfortunate at a personal level, because I'm not going to buy an iPhone precisely because I don't want AT&T service.

But I would never imagine a single libertarian that I have ever met, who would have desired that the government pass a law to force Apple to engage in business that they don't want. That isn't libertarianism....that is liberalism.

This author needs to buy a clue.

[slapmaxwell]

Agreed

Just as Apple has the right to do business in this manner, I have the right to steer clear of it if it conflicts with the way I wish to transact business. And believe me, I will.

Well, besides the lousy ATT service, too. :-)

[SmartAlx]

Neither do you

Libertarians know that the biggest problems with our government stems from corporations' influence over the government. They are against corporations holding too much power, not only over the government, but also over us. Apple isn't an individual like we are. It is a very powerful corporation: an especially dictatorial one. You certainly can't disagree that Steve is a pretty strict dictator. So Libertarians are most certainly on guard about what Apple is doing.

The writer WAS absolutely right in using 'Libertarian' in his article.

[ev61]

The REAL reason...

iPhones are sold below cost. Every iphone sold causes apple to lose money. Everytime that phone is activated and used on the AT&T network, Apple is paid, by AT&T. Every month, apple gets a percent of the monthly bill. So, if these phones are being sold by 3rd parties and activated on the AT&T network, there really would be no complaint from apple, but when they are not, they lose money on the hardware.

The reason I won't get an iphone is it doesn't run a slingbox app, so I will continue to use my ipod touch and my motorola q.

[cary1]

maybe not

The price difference between iPhone and iPod touch 8GB is $100.... which is appropriate for difference in functionality.

Since Apple makes money on iPod touch only through hardware sale (after making an awful lot of profit), I think $400 for iPhone covers the hardware cost and apple is not selling them at loss

[kevindarling]

No it's not sold below cost

It's already been shown that iPhones cost about $200 to make. This is confirmed by Apple's "repair" cost of $250 (in effect, they just sell you a new or refurbished phone if you break yours).

It's much more about control, extra monthly income and contracts with carriers.

iPhone's first year will go down in computer history as a lesson on how NOT to treat your customers.

[rdupuy11]

pre-paid credit cards

Paper trail....it won't be long before someone uses prepaid credit cards to buy an iPhone. It's not that hard.

Now whats going to be funny, is when you go to buy an iPhone for your personal use, and Apple decides not to sell you the phone. What if you bought one for you and your wife, and you buy a 3rd one for your daugher as a graduation present.

Won't that be hilarious when they won't sell you one.

You will just have to wonder about Apple and their brilliance when that happens.

I walked into the Apple store on my way home from work on Friday to get Leopard, and they wouldn't sell it to me...I was too early. Well, I had things to do, so I left....empty handed....just marvelling at their brilliance on that move.

Sometimes you let a sale walk away...and you lose the sale.

[GSRich78]

And your point?

Who graduates on christmas? This policy is just for the holiday season. Every store has a policy on selling item at certain time. New movie releases are usually sold on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure the store get them before that, but aren't allowed to sell them before the release date. I'm glad Apple didn't sell you Leopard. Next time go to the back of the line and wait like everyone else!

[Wind_Freak]

hmm

So because they chose to operate their business on their terms
and not yours for the moment you refuse to do business with
them...ever again? or just until it is convent for you to buy it on
your terms.

Imagine telling the cable company to do business with you on
your terms. (maybe you should) 11-4 my ace.

Its more like if you were a business owner and you were tired of
waking up at 5 am so you set your store hours at 9 am not 7 am.
Now someone gets angry with you for not being open at 7
am...Screw them get your sleep and operate on your own terms.
let the sale walk away because you are standing for something.

[J.G.]

You're that special?

All sales of Leopard where embargoed until 6 p.m. in the time zone of the store kickoff day. Why would anyone expect the embargo to be ignored?

[GGGlen]

Cutting off your nose...

...to spite your face.
I suppose you're still running OS X 10.0 too, right?
I mean- After all those times you've walked away from the sales
events, all huffy-puffy in your righteous self indignation, you just
decided that you'd never upgrade?
Yeah, I thought so.

[dona83]

Cell phones are the worst gifts

You buy them a $400 cell phone and they're stuck paying $1440
over 2 years in service charges.

[J.G.]

Unlocking issue still open

I want to clear up a glaring misconception about unlocking cell phones. There is not a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court holding that unlocking cell phones is legal. Nor are there any lower courts decisions saying that. In fact, no courts have considered the issue so far. What does exist is an opinion by the Librarian of Congress saying he thinks that unlocking cell phones does not violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. However, it is not certain he has the authority to make that determination, rather than Congress or the courts. That is the current state of law regarding the issue. To say otherwise is a gross overstatement.

I don't believe Apple's new policy regarding selling iPhones will impact legitimate buyers very much. My understanding is that store personnel can check a buyer's purchase history and conclude that he is or is not a reseller.

[crusadex]

sigh

Welcome to the age of commercial eugenics.

[Fborba]

I say NO to iphone and leopard as well !

I had decided to buy the first Apple notebook after they went Intel compatible and give it a try. That would be 2nd half of 2007. Iphone was in my kids desire list as well. After "apple&ATT" showed their jaws on mandatory monthly plans & no discounts I DID CHANGE MY MIND NOT ONLY ABOUT IPHONE BUT ABOUT APPLE ITSELF. I'M NOT BUYING ANY APPLE PRODUCTS. Congratulations to France who has a law against LOCKING PHONES.

[chonnom]

funny if you think about it

You're right about the france thing. Just look at what Microsoft is going through on the anti-trust front in Europe. Unfortunately, the unlocked iphone in Europe comes with a hefty price-tag; I heard it'll be around $800 (US).

Locked phones are just stupid.

[crusadex]

An apple a day keeps the buyers away

What a dense company.I have 2 ipods and they are way overrated.
To say you can't spend your cash on them?
sounds like they want to be able to track buyers in some scheme to keep them from using the beloved Iphone with other carriers,or at the very least to get demographics for marketing purposes.
bleh

[emag]

Much ado about nothing

It's legal, it isn't the first time it's been done, and it's easy to circumvent. Apple's marketing people need to get a life....and another job.

[trueb1tch]

prepaid credit cards

in this age of pre-paid debit cards it looks like
it should be fairly simple to work around the 2 phone restriction if only you will use your imagination.