Graham Hancock

We thought we were being pretty clever waking up at 3:30AM for the much anticipated Steve Jobs keynote speech. Besides, our antics at registration the day before (i.e. waking up only an hour early and leisurely waking over) had worked out pretty well, we were 40th in line for registration. However the registration line did not hold a candle to the Keynote line.

By the time Adams and I had arrived at the line it was just turning 4:00am, and the line was already 250 people strong. Eeek!We took our place in queue and started the long process of waiting. We heard reports the day before that they were going to let us into the building at 7:00am to wait inside until it was time to file into to auditorium.

So we waited, and waited, and waited… I grabbed some video of the line, and we waited some more. Media from all over were flocking to the line to interview people, and eventually 3 hours passed and we were finally let into the building and we got our first glimpse of the exhibit hall floor because that’s where they were holding us. Two more hours to go!

We made ourselves familiar with the folks around us, the atmosphere was great - everyone was talking and speculating about what was going to be announced. I liked that.

Eventually the time drew near, it was 8:45am, and the line hadn’t moved an inch. What was going on? 8:50, 8:55, were we going to get in?! 9:07, and the doors finally opened! The line snaked towards the door and we’re let onto the escalators. The presentation was on the third floor of Moscone West. We finally made it to the top and we rushed in to find good seats, the auditorium was already half full! We found some great seats on the left side just underneath one of the big screens in the room. We could see the stage just fine, and just as we were sitting down– the lights dimmed and Steve Jobs took the stage. Mission Accomplished! My first Macworld Keynote had just begun!