Passersby on Walnut Street clutched designer coffees and listened to the music of buskers as they gathered across the street from the Apple store yesterday to see something unique to the tony shopping district, a block-long line.

They were watching a crowd queued up for the chance to drop more than $500 on a cellular phone. Although not just any cell phone.

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They brought their check books and charge cards for a chance to buy the iPhone, a touchscreen Apple product that merges telephone, media player and web browser into a single device that has a hefty price tag, but fits in the palm of a hand.

Two Carnegie Mellon students were first in line. They arrived 24 hours early to find an empty sidewalk and set up camp outside the front door. Dan Lin, a sophomore electrical engineering major, said he was no fanatic. In fact, he didn't plan on setting up the phone right away. He was more interested in getting to a movie theater in time to see the new Bruce Willis action thriller, "Live Free or Die Hard."

Musician and self-described Apple fanatic Josh Mobley stood in line to see the phone even though he can't afford to buy one. He said it would cost more than $1,200 by the time he bought the device and switched phone plans. But curiosity drove the Shadyside resident to wait two hours for a chance to try one out anyway.

Liz Perry, an artist, blogger and technology guru for the Ellis School, is a long-time Mac user and no stranger to the Apple store. She made the short walk from Friendship to be 29th in line.

The iPhone represents a new technolgy goal for Ms. Perry. Holding up her black iPhone bag she said it was the first time she's bought a cell phone.

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