Posted by Voinin on 04/22/06 01:42

MOSFET wrote:
> (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.

I'm not what you'd call an early adopter. I never had the money to be
one. However, I've usually jumped on the technology bandwagon when I
saw something that I liked.

I suppose the closest thing to being an early adopter was when I bought
my first DVD player, a Pioneer player that held 300 discs. Flat-panel
TVs weren't available yet, not to mention HD TV. So it doesn't even
support progressive scan, not to mention HDMI. But it was a nice unit.
Unfortunately, a mechanical failure meant I had to take it apart to
get the discs out. It just needs to be put back together and I hope to
do that sometime soon.

However, there is no way you're going to find anything with digital
electronics that is going to be future proof. Those days are long gone.
The 1956 Sylvania TV that I had as a kid, if it was still working,
would still be valid today, albeit being black & white, 50 years after
it was built. However, in a couple of years that, and my current TV,
won't be worth spit, except with a set-top box.

Let's face it: the only thing you gain by being an early adopter these
days is that your investment will last longer than late adopters, if the
hardware itself holds up.

--
You know boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like women. You just have to
read the manual and press the right button.

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