Waiting at AT&T from 8:00 to 8:30 wouldn’t seem like an ordinarily long “wait” for a cellular carrier trying to distribute its hottest new phone on the market to-date, but for four high school students it meant losing sleep over. 

That is: 8:00 P.M. (Oct. 13) to 8:30 A.M. (Oct.14).

The iPhone4s was set to hit stores Oct. 14, and junior Zac Deshazo knew exactly what he would be doing the morning of. And he decided to share his idea with his close friends.

“I knew it would be a once in a teenage experience, and that it would be exhausting, but awesome at the same time,” said Deshazo.

Deshazo and three seniors (Justin Cox, Michelle Howard, and Samantha Teter) set up camp around 8:00 the night before and established games to pass the time, as well as a hammock to rest in when needed.  Despite having a hammock, only two of four fell asleep.

“I was so tired having just got back from my dance dress rehearsal, I had to sleep,” said Howard. “But I woke up at 6:00 a.m. when people started getting in line so I wouldn’t lose my spot.”

Throughout the night, they played games, watched movies, and ate.  The games included oshkosh, ninja, and ‘the game of things.’  Around 11:00 they went to the nearby Wendy’s and received free food from an unnamed source.  But, at the end of the day, it was all about the phone upgrade.

“My main motive for a new phone, and this phone, was because I needed an upgrade, and my current phone was running on fumes,” said Teter.

With the disappointment of Apple not releasing its iPhone5, the expectations of the iPhone4s were still evident.

“I’m expecting a better camera and better graphics,” said Howard.

To upgrade from a five megapixel camera with autofocus, tap to focus, LED flash, with a backside illumination sensor and a four-element lens is a lot to ask.

Was Howard expecting too much? She was due to find out, as AT&T opened freshly at 8:00 A.M. with breakfast and coffee waiting.

As the phones were being distributed, smiles started flashing on Howard’s new and improved camera.

Apple had done it again, upgrading to an eight megapixel camera with a five-element lens and even face detection.

“The camera is unbelievable. I’ve already taken about 50 pictures in one weekend,” said Howard.

As well as the great camera, a completely new feature caught her eye much more.

“Siri is probably the coolest thing ever, because I don’t have to text and drive,” said Howard. “All I do is just talk, and it types it for me.”

Aside from the phone, all four students agreed that the experience and hangout was the most fun part of all.

“My new iPhone4s is so much faster than my old phone, and overall it’s just a great phone,” said Deshazo. “Plus the camping experience was amazing.”