Filed under: iPad
I'm OK, You're OK: It's cool to be an early iPad adopter
I'm not sure there's a polite way to put this, so with all due respect to Smart Money, let me say: Well, of course.
According to the writeup, waiting a few months before buying your iPad "could cut your bill substantially." Author Kelli B. Grant quotes Rob Enderle, who points out out that early technology is issued with premium pricing and is often "riddled with glitches." While those might be valid reasons to wait, there's not much evidence for Enderle's assertion that "the first iPhone owners were pretty unhappy." Aside from the price drop, first-gen iPhone buyers (like me and Mike S.) have been pretty darn happy.
We are the People Who Stand In Line.
In my case, this is a hereditary condition. I blame my father, who would bring home the latest gadgets to an adoring family. We'd gather around the latest technology, glowing in its radiance, having an utter blast using toys that no one had ever heard of, let alone bought. We were the first family on the block (and possibly in the state) to have a microwave, a fax machine (the size, may I point out, of a small car), a personal computer, or a hand-held programmable calculator.
It wasn't just cool. It was awesome.
Thank you Dad, for being an early adopter. Thank you for showing me the way of the technology geek. Thank you for teaching me that you have to live life in the moment -- because if you don't seize today and play with it, tomorrow will never come.
Sure, something better and cheaper is always going to come along some day. Sure, the bugs will work their way out and the prices will work their way down. But if you don't hop aboard the adoption train, you're never going to get to Techsville.
Me? I'm going to buy a first-day ticket and have my fun from the get-go.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Joachim Bean said 3:06PM on 3-11-2010
Pre-ordering one tomorrow, I can't wait! :)
I'll probably won't see anyone else with an iPad in Ohio for a long time though. :(
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willyu34 said 3:37PM on 3-11-2010
preordering one for me, and one for my parents... and I have to drive down to the states to get them. XD
Ryan said 3:17PM on 3-11-2010
Joachim,
There will be two pre-ordered tomorrow by me... Just north of Columbus!
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Joachim Bean said 3:22PM on 3-11-2010
Hmmm.....
Just saying there's deep economic limitations for the iPad here.
Joachim Bean said 3:31PM on 3-11-2010
Also, the iPhone wasn't really an option for Ohioans until the $99 iPhone 3G came out.
Sorry for getting off-topic, but Ohio does matter, and it sometimes seems like I'm the only one who understands it. :(
Ryan said 4:14PM on 3-11-2010
Joachim,
While Ohio's economy is not well, I would say there are 49 other states in a very similar boat. While things have not been great, I still see people smoking, drinking, and yes buying apple products.
I know a ton of folks in Ohio running around with Iphone 3GS - I had two in our house before switching to VZ and the droid.
I own a retail business, so if anyone should be negative on Ohio's economy it should be me. But, it is improving.
Joachim Bean said 4:52PM on 3-11-2010
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry.
Sorry for getting off-topic. :(
joeybeast said 3:19PM on 3-11-2010
I don't usually get buyer's remorse from Apple.
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Raving Drifter said 3:49PM on 3-11-2010
Keeping up with the world is priceless
Redford Phyl said 3:23PM on 3-11-2010
I grew up on the cutting edge of gadgetry, thanks to my father and maternal grandfather. Definitely ordering a 64 GB tomorrow. I still use my 15 GB original iPod touch, and yes, I wish it had a speaker like the current one, but I can live with it as it is.
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Frank said 3:23PM on 3-11-2010
first-gen, stand-in-line-day-one iphone owner here, and i don't regret it a single moment. still using it, in fact. the iPadlet will be no different, i'm sure.
you forgot one other reason people are early adopters: we recognize that the technology is valid and due, and deserves to be pushed into the mainstream that much further. early adopting is our way of helping the technology move along. i'm willing to pay the early adopter tax so others can afford to jump on board later.
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doelcm said 2:27AM on 3-12-2010
I'm not nearly as philanthropic. I'm only an early adopter with the things I want.
Tim said 3:26PM on 3-11-2010
I have to say, I was a happy first gen iPhone owner as well. I kept it until the 3GS came out. I feel pretty certain that I will be a happy first gen iPad owner too.
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Talobab said 3:34PM on 3-11-2010
I was happy with my first gen iPhone too. In fact, when I switched to the 3G, I almost wanted to go back... That aluminum backed iPhone was great!
dndgirl said 3:31PM on 3-11-2010
You are so lucky to have had an early-adopter dad! The only early adopting my parents did was me, at age 5 weeks. ;-). But seriously, I will reserve my 46 gb iPad tomorrow and will be standing in line at the downtown San Francisco Apple Store on April 3. Can't wait!
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dndgirl said 3:32PM on 3-11-2010
Okay, clearly I meant the 64 gb iPad. Cuz 46 would just be dumb, right?
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David Frantz said 3:42PM on 3-11-2010
Interesting idea but I've not always have been an early adopter. I still don't have a large screen TV for example. When I look at these comments about iPad though I have to wonder.
First I don't see an early price drop coming as I'm expecting strong sales. In fact Apple may very well have a hardtime keeping up. Further I'm expecting them to keep the selling price constant with frequent updates/upgrades. At the current price points a flash update is already built in.
The possibility for disappointment is real though, but it won't be pricing. Instead I'm thinking people will quickly become frustrated with the amount of Flash on offfer. Even though we are running iPhone OS, iPad isn't a cell phone the demand for flash storage will be much greater. This will be even more frustrating when the next upgrade just adds more flash memory that should have been in the unit from the start.
As far as new tech purchases go I honestly haven't been this excited since iPhone came out. Even then I waited for 3G. Given all of the above I might just skip this round for rev two. It is hard to say iPad is more tempting than people give it credit for.
Dave
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Steve said 10:45AM on 3-12-2010
I'm not sure why you think it needs more storage? What are you going to be storing on it exactly? It doesn't even have a user accessible folder system (maybe a single shared folder and that's it).
jfwhite said 3:41PM on 3-11-2010
Loved the post. You are a brother in arms and a true kindred spirit! I have had a complete blast playing with new tech toys through the years. Can't count the times I've stood in lines, waited breathlessly for a UPS delivery, or enjoyed Christmas morning on far, far more days than one per year. Seriously, I have not regretted one nano-second of the experience.
I would only add that most of us early adopters are the guys and gals that relatives, co-workers and other sentient beings approach for advice when they want to buy new technology. We've learned a lot and most definitely paid our dues.... - J.
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Metaphor said 3:49PM on 3-11-2010
Seriously I could not agree more with your post....I work for an Apple Dealer in the UK but have an American Partner and she will be ordering an iPad for me tomorrow and bringing it over in a couple of weeks time.
Its that delicious joy of having a new piece of tech and playing with it....
Yeah sad but hey we want to be the 'first' in our own way!