father posts

Is it too early to think about pre-ordering an iPad? The WSJ's Smart Money website looks at the options for early adopters, and comes to the surprising and novel conclusion that it costs more to buy early.

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.

The early adopter tax, along with any associated tech risks, has not escaped the notice of most tech enthusiasts. In the end, it's not much of a factor. We don't buy early because it's a good deal. We don't buy early because it's fiscally sound. We buy early because the technology is cool and we simply cannot or do not want to wait for our preciousssssss to finally come home with us.

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.

If your father is anything like my father, he loves getting Father's Day gifts with that personal touch ... but since monogrammed golf clubs are a bit out of my budget range this year, I'm going with an iPhoto book instead. Nothing dresses up a coffee table like a professionally printed book full of pictures of the grandkids all slathered in mud.

Apple is ready to help with the giftgiving; there's a 20% book discount (use code 'springbooks' at checkout) through June 15. Standard shipping books need to be ordered today (June 3) for delivery by Father's Day, and express shipping gets you an extra few days (June 8 order deadline).