I got up at 3:00 a.m. on Friday to pre-order a 5C from Verizon. I'm kind of surprised at the negative or apathetic reaction the 5C gets in comments across the Internet. I'm really looking forward to it.
Regarding the price -- since I'm in the middle of a contract, I had to pay full price. I know the 5S is only $100 more, but I think a lot of people don't take into account that many of us set budgets for things based on dollar amount, so even though the 5S may be "just $100 more," that still may put it above the dollar amount that we're willing to spend. I had been hoping for a lower price tag for the 5C, so when it came out at $550, I gulped but still went ahead and ordered it, but spending $100 more for the 5S was out of the question. I do realize that I'm paying thousands of dollars over the course of the contract so a hundred more or less is not that much in the greater scheme of things, but I feel like I made the right decision for me.
On the styling, I'm not convinced that the 5/5S style is necessarily the be-all and end-all. I owned a 3G and liked that design a lot, the black plastic and the curved back had to me a kind of retro-'40s futuristic feel. When the 4 came out, I wasn't that thrilled about the new design. I work with attorneys and so have seen a lot of iPhones sitting on conference room tables, and over the years the design has grown on me, and I appreciate it a lot more now. It looks beautiful, minimalistic, modern, and premium. But it still doesn't strike me as very user-friendly. I know the chamfered edges make it more comfortable to hold than it appears, but it still looks a bit forbidding to me as an object that, after all, we pick up in order to use.
So the plastic of the 5C doesn't bother me, and I actually like the curved edges rather than the right angles. It still retains the flat form factor which sets it apart from other manufacturers.
Regarding the colors, I have to say I'm taken aback by all the commentary that these colors, or even color in general, makes the phone suitable for "teenage girls." I'm a guy over 40, and I like bright colors. Also, as I ride public transit every day, I see plenty of guys with pink ties or pink shirts. Why not a pink phone? I wouldn't get the pink/red/coral one myself, but my point is these associations of certain colors to certain ages/genders really seems kind of arbitrary. I opted for the blue 5C. Since I work in a professional setting, I plan to get the white Apple silicon case. I like the combination of blue and white, colorful but not wild. Depending on how easy/hard it is to take the case on and off, I was thinking of also getting a green case for non-professional activities. The blue/green combo seems more relaxed and vivid, which I like. Hopefully the color police won't be knocking at my door. :laughing: