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I finally got an iPhone 3G this morning. I had tried Friday and the 16GB black models sold out while I was in line. And, on Saturday and Sunday, all models had been out of stock.

Today, I arrived at the Apple Store at Short Pump Town Center in Richmond at 9:30 a.m. I was seventh in an outdoor line that by 10:15 a.m. had grown to 12 people. A line even after three days of iPhone 3G sales.

Many of us told our stories of how close we’d been to attaining our chosen iPhone model over the weekend, only to watch our hopes tragically slip away. But, today would be different. There was hope in the air and someone said they thought they’d seen a UPS truck out back.

At 10:15 a.m., an Apple Store employee walked out. Everyone in line was edgy, tense. Did a shipment of iPhones come in? Would there be enough for everyone?! The employee quietly spoke to the first person in line.

“I have a 16 gigabyte black,” he said in a faint whisper. “You interested?”

“Oh, God yes, yes I’m very interested!” was the hushed reply.

The Apple Store employee nodded his head for the customer to follow him inside and put a hand on the customer’s shoulder as they walked away.

I watched this happen five more times. Every time it was done with a whisper and a nod. This was interspersed with the earlier customers emerging from the store clutching their iPhone boxes, their faces filled with a euphoric glee as we congratulated them.

Then, it was finally my turn.

“I have a 16 gigabyte white,” came the whisper.

“Uh, well, I’ve kinda been holding out for the black 16 gig,” I said hoarsely.

The Apple Store employee reached into his pocket and pulled out a white iPhone.

“I only have the white. But, the white’s better,” he said, stroking the phone like it was covered in fur. “It’s gorgeous and you can’t see the finger smudges like with the blacks.”

As I thought this over, I glanced back at the people behind me in line, their faces a mixture of jealousy that I was getting an iPhone and annoyance that I wasn’t doing it faster.

“OK, white it is.”

“Good choice. You won’t regret it,” he said, nodding me inside the store.

Activation took mere moments and then I held the iPhone 3G in my hands. It was beautiful, perfection. I walked from the store into the sunlight, the people in line applauding my good fortune.

I have a Belkin holster for my iPhone that I purchased a year ago. It’s been OK. The case protects the phone well. But, the problem is that I have to take the phone out of the case to use it.

For 11 months, I never dropped my iPhone once. But, I’ve dropped it four times in the past month when it was out of the case. I don’t know what my problem is! And, the iPhone has gotten dented and scratched each time.

So, when I get the iPhone 3G on Friday, I wanna get a new case. If anyone out there has one you recommend, please let me know! I need something that stays on when the iPhone is in use, has a belt clip, and looks decent.