Posted by MOSFET on 04/22/06 01:00

(I also posted this on rec.video.dvd.players)

If you are surfing this group, it is very likely you (like me) are what
marketing types describes as "early adaptors". The kind of people who are
the first to purchase new technology. This, for me however, has been kind
of a double edged sword and I'm curious if others share this feeling.

On the plus side, I LOVE new technology and enjoy being the first to
experience cutting-edge products. For instance, I purchased my Denon
AVR-3600 (a Dolby-digital unit, one of the first with integrated DD
decoders) back in 1997 BEFORE the first DVD was available. I remember going
from video store to video store asking of they had ANY DVD's for sale or
rental. For a while, I knew every single DVD title that was available
(there were just a handful for a while). That was kind of fun.

But the downside with being an early adopter is that technology can change.
My Denon did not have DTS capability (but I guess I kind of lucked out on
that as DTS never really took off). But more pressing, my $1500 receiver
has only 5.1 channels (versus the 7.1 that a comparable unit would have
today).

And now there's this issue with HD DVD. I bought my Philips 34" widescreen
back in '02 for $3,500. Yet it appears that I may need HDMI inputs to play
HD DVD!

I know it's a given that prices will always fall with any new technology. I
tend to never be bitter about that as my AVR-3600 is built like a tank and
my Philips 34PW9846 has a build quality, picture quality and beauty that
clearly indicates top-of-the-line (I really do believe in the old adage "you
get what you pay for"). But it is the technology changes that frustrate me.
I have always been willing to pay a premium for being the "first one on my
block", but I would also LOVE to pay a premium to ensure a product remains
"future-proof".

I would love to hear similar stories from other early adopters.

MOSFET

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