Hey Apple, The way we see it you have one of two choices. In less than a day, you can tarnish Apple’s brand or lock your fan base in for life. And you can probably do it in 15 minutes or less on Friday during your media circus.

Is it a strange feeling for you to be the brunt of so much non-flattering hubbub over your new flagship iPhone 4, which looked like a dream device just a few weeks ago. The iPhone 4 was your best product launch ever—given the debut of the iPad that is saying a lot. Then came the antenna reception issue, Consumer Reports and now a million one liners have turned things around.

The pundits can talk form over function and worry about the long-term hit to Apple’s brand, but there’s really an easy fix. Do a total iPhone 4 recall. Issuing a bunch of bumper cases that cost you about $1 to $5 (maybe less) is a lazy man’s fix. Apple has not ever done lazy and shouldn’t start doing it now. If they do, where would all of their fan boys be? (Probably in line for an EVO 4G from Sprint if they are smart)

Sure there’s a semi-heavy financial hit to a full recall—a $1 billion or so charge according to Wall Street.

Bottom line: If you go with the bumper case fix,  Apple will still be selling a defective product. The antenna issue is real and Apple shouldn’t rely on a case and tell customers to hold the iPhone 4 correctly. The case has a role though. You should hand that puppy out to hold customers over as the supply chain gets retooled. You know you’re going to have to halt sales for about a month. There’s a balance between art and engineering. You went a little too artsy with the iPhone 4 and sacrificed quality. It happens. (How does that foot taste Steve? Did the whole thing fir in your mouth?)

Meanwhile, you have a great opening to do a full recall. Every analyst says that a recall is “highly unlikely” so customers aren’t expecting a massive goodwill gesture. You know the expectations game. People going into Friday’s press conference expect bumper cases and an apology. Give them a full recall and Apple can show they love their customers as much as they love the company’s products. Wall Street analysts will spin things your way no matter what you do.

You know the options. You can go cheap and hand out bumper cases and still hear the jokes. You can do some in-store modifications to the iPhone 4 and then fix the problem for future buyers—ruining relations with your early adopters. Or you can suck it up and do the full recall.

Better yet, Don’t! I am sure that Google will love you for it as Android sales grow!