Didn't the iPhone 4S (pre-order)arrived at home the same day the in-store sales started? iPhone 5 pre-order ships September 28th.

Yes, on the 4S.

According to an Apple email, received today, it will available in stores on Sept 21.

According to my pre-order receipt from AT&T "Your iPhone has been reserved and should arrive as soon as Sept 21." So it looks like I can expect mine the same day that it's available in stores... No reason to stand in lines...

Yes I did the same with Verizon and they say it will come on the 21st.

IOS 6 will be released on the 19th and this should make the 4S almost as good as a I Phone 5. That is the big plus with Apple you can update your existing device easily and keep them current. My MacBook Pro is 4 years old and still going strong.

Sure but Apple will inevitably, sooner than later, render your device obsolete when a new OS comes out that is not supported by older hardware. We just sold a Mac Pro (not a MacBook Pro) that no longer was upgradable because its Intel chipset was not supported by the newer OS versions. Same thing with the iPhone 3G not working with iOS 5.

I know that is the way it goes with Apple and people can take it or leave it but I can't agree that Apple helps users stay current with a simple OS upgrade. They don't make any money that way.

I am surprised that they are still updating 3GS with iOS6.

Just checked now and it says online that it will ship in 2 to 3 weeks.

Actually, AT&T says even worse right now "14 to 21 business days" :( That's more like 3 to 4 weeks.

I still expect to receive mine on day 1 (Sep 21st). I will actually be out of the country when it's scheduled to arrive so I don't mind if it's a few days late though...

Just preordered mine as well. The only trouble with the iPhone 5 is you will not get video out to your idrive as its output is now digital and the idrive only accepts analog. So unless the new BMW cradle has a builtin converter you will loose this feature or you will have wait until you buy a new X5 with the new idrive that's coming out.

Not quite accurate. Regardless of OS up-grades few devices are rendered
Obsolete. I have a non intel Mac Pro that is hardware upgradable and
Still does the job. So it really depends on the needs of the user.

There are many users of older machines running older Mac OS versions
who have kept their Machines for the specific purpose of running older OS versions.
Those machines run applications that newer machines no longer
Support. Nothing obsolete about that.

I suppose it's always dependent on the needs of a particular user. Heck, I'm sure that there are some people happily using an original iMac, translucent CRT body and all.

Our situation was absolutely a dead end. Hardware was too old to support newer OS which is turn limited us to use of an older version of Adobe Creative Suite (PShop, Illustrator, etc). Newer version of Adobe stuff required newer OS. Newer OS didn't work with older hardware. Result? What was a $3000 Mac Pro was a beautiful room decoration. We sold it on eBay and someone will get use out of it for whatever limited purpose they have.

Do I think that Apple has planned obsolescence? Absolutely. Just look at the new generation of MB Pros and Airs. They are awesome machines but try to add RAM or change a battery. No dice. So much is proprietary and even soldered in place that the user is hogtied.

Do I think that there are people who feel the need to upgrade despite not really having the need? Absolutely. This is not planned obsolescence or the fault of Apple but rather a self imposed obsolescence by those who feel they need to be on the bleeding edge.