Event Coverage

Read these hilarious reactions to the original iPhone's unveiling ten years ago today

By James Lu - 9 Jan 2017

Read these hilarious reactions to the original iPhone's unveiling ten years ago today

Yep, the iPhone is officially ten. Ten years ago today, on 9th January 2007, Steve Jobs unveiled the very first iPhone to the world.

The first iPhone was pretty basic. It ran on EDGE 2G wireless (which is basically dial-up speeds), there was no App Store (that came in 2008), the keyboard didn't have a landscape mode, you couldn't change the default black wallpaper, and it cost US$499 for 4GB internal storage!

It wasn't even available locally! (We didn't get the iPhone until Singtel brought in the iPhone 3G in 2008). For some real nostalgia, here's our review of the iPhone 3G from nine years ago.

Despite its shortcomings, the iPhone pretty much single-handedly started the smartphone revolution. It was a forward-looking device that really did "change everything". Ten years later, it's easy to see how historic an event that unveiling was, but back then? Let's just say, reaction was mixed.

Check out this ancient comment thread on Engadget (preserved for posterity thanks to the Internet archive wayback machine). Here are some of the highlights:

“Apparently none of you guys realize how bad of an idea a touch-screen is on a phone. I foresee some pretty obvious and pretty major problems here. I’ll be keeping my Samsung A707, thanks... Color me massively disappointed.”

To save you a Google search, this is the Samsung A707 (ah yes, that historic landmark):

Then there's this guy:

“Im not impressed with the iPhone. As a PDA user and a Windows Mobile user, this thing has nothing on my phone. It sure is good at what it was designed for, a phone that entertains and talks… other than that, i dont see much potential. How the hell am I suppose to put appointments on the phone with no stylus or keyboard?! I can sync it with my computer, but when Im on the go, I cant do either!

No thanks Apple. Make a real PDA please….”

Remember when you only had to charge your phone once every couple of days? 

“5 hour battery life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS IS A JOKE ITS A PHONE NOT A LAPTOP”

To be fair, it still takes Apple a year to develop ONE PHONE, and Samsung still releases new phones every few months.

“lol last i checked many companies tried the tap to type and tap to dial … IT DOESNT WORK STEVIE, people dont like non-tactile typing, its a simple fact, this isnt a phone its a mac pda wow yippie…

I mean it looks pretty but its not something i foresee being the next ipod for the phone industry...It took apple how long to develop this ONE PHONE, samsung and motorola release new phones every few months lol, and constantly innovates and gets better, im sorry but if im sending text messages i’d rather have my thumb keyboard than some weird finger tapping on a screen crap.”

At least this guy knew:

“These comments remind me of the folks who thought the original iPod didn't stand a chance.”

And finally, a bonus reaction from none other than Blackberry (then Research In Motion) Co-CEO, Jim Balsillie:

"It's OK - we'll be fine"

Source: Engadget via bgr, Wall Street Journal (for Blackberry quote)

Join HWZ's Telegram channel here and catch all the latest tech news!
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.