Hundreds of Long Islanders lined up at electronic stores to get their hands on Apple's new iPhone Friday.

Apple marketed the phone, which went on sale at 6 p.m., for more than six months prior to its release.

Dix Hills resident Erik Stern was among the fanatics lined up since late Thursday night at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington Station. Stern called the iPhone a "brand new revolutionary device" that he must have. "Once you go Mac, you can't go back," he added facetiously.

The iPhone's presale popularity won't be matched by affordability. The four gigabyte version is priced at about $500 and the eight gigabyte model runs nearly $600. Music from Apple's iTunes, picture downloads, personal organizers and, of course, cell phone service, are among iPhone's capabilities.

Critics, however, aren't hard to find. Some complain a user must go through six steps before making a call when iPhone is turned on. Others said iPhone can't send or receive picture messages from other types of cell phones.

Apple capped the number iPhones each customer can buy at two. The minimum monthly service fee is $60.

Related Information: Apple