Hysteria.

That's the only word that fits. People camped out for days, sweating out the intense summer heat with umbrellas and smiles. The release of one of the most-desired products of all time was accompanied by mass hysteria. Even if some of the hottest places in the United States, people camped out overnight, fighting other tech fans, blistering weather, and a roll of the eyes from Apple haters.

You didn't have to look far to be touched by the iPhone. Not an Apple fan? No big deal! If you turned on a television...iPhone. If you read a newspaper or magazine...iPhone. If you looked anywhere, it seems...iPhone!

It started with a keynote presentation by Apple's CEO and perennial mind-blower, Steve Jobs. I watched this presentation the day of the iPhone's unveiling - January 9, 2007. The iPhone had been rumored for years. Apple fans speculated on what kind of advancements it would bring to the market, but even the best guesses weren't quite accurate. Touch screen, no stylus, and patented out the wazoo, the iPhone blew minds as soon as Apple fans worldwide saw it.

But it wasn't only the Apple fans that nearly blew a gasket; it was everyone. The iPhone is that beautiful, that simple, and in many ways, as revolutionary as Steve Jobs made it seem. Tech geeks and journalists have often referred to the effect that Jobs has upon those who listen to his voice as his "reality distortion field." Jobs can make ANYTHING seem cool. The amazing part is that the things Apple puts out are almost universally beautiful and intuitive. The iPhone is no different.

There are already complaints with the iPhone. Many of them can be addressed through future software updates (lack of IM). Others will require hardware changes (8 GB is NOT enough for several movies or TV shows). But one thing is certain: the iPhone is off to a blazing start. If it can ride the media wave it's currently on, it will continue to sell throughout 2007. If it proves to be as much fun to use as it appears, then it will revolutionize the industry forever.

That's not hyperbole. That's the iPhone.