Posted by Barry Kelman on 04/27/06 10:00

"Voinin" <vboing@boing.biz> wrote in message
news:124j2ff2q9jli59@corp.supernews.com...
> 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.

I had the same problem with my Pioneer. I found it pretty easy to strip down
and re-assemble.
I concider it one of the best DVD purchases I ever made.

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