Early Adopter Blues....

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

MOSFET - 22 Apr 2006 02:14 GMT

(I also posted this on two video groups, but you guys are my favorites)

If you are surfing a group like RAC, it is very possible you (like me) are
what
marketing types describes as "early adaptors" (unless you have a specific
question and are not a "regular"). These are the kind of people who are
the first to purchase new technology, I get the sense many of you are.
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 an integrated DD
decoder (prior to that, you bought a DD-ready receiver that required a
separate converter) 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
rent. 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
accept this and
tend to never be bitter about that it as my AVR-3600 is built like a tank
and
my Philips 34PW9846 has a build quality, picture quality and beauty that
clearly indicates a top-of-the-line unit (also, 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", a guarantee few products can make.

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

MOSFET

Reply to this Message

Captain Howdy - 22 Apr 2006 10:58 GMT

My first dvd player was a creative pc dvd with a decoder card that I have
wires to my TV, because it was cheaper then any stand alone unit by $150-$200
at the time. Blockbuster and Rogers Video (biggest video rental chains in
Canada) did not carry DVD's at all at that time, but as luck would have it
there was a fair size video store near by that just jumped all over the dvd
format and always bought 2 or 3 copies of all new releases. The best thing
about having a dvd player then for almost the first year you would walk into
this video store and get brand new dvd releases on a Friday or Saturday night.

The DTS format is very much alive and 90% of the movies the hit theaters are
recorded in both DD and DTS. Problem is that DTS does not make it onto a lot
of DVD's and this is the biggest flaw that dvd video has, as anyone can tell
you that DTS puts DD to shame.

I have a Yamaha 5.1 & DTS receiver that I used for years now and this thing
still sounds awesome. I did end up buying a Pioneer 6.1 & DTS receiver that I
end up hooking up to my wife's TV just because the sound did not compare to
the Yamaha.

I have heard that the HD DVD players are to be released shortly in the USA,
Sometime in June for Canada. Luckily I have HDMI on my TV.

Technology has to change that's how the big money is made. There is no such
thing as "future-proof". I would hate the idea of having an 8-track in my car
or even a cassette player with some crappy converter to play cd's or dvd's.

>(I also posted this on two video groups, but you guys are my favorites)
>
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>
>MOSFET

Reply to this Message

MOSFET - 22 Apr 2006 19:33 GMT

> Technology has to change that's how the big money is made. There is no
> such
> thing as "future-proof". I would hate the idea of having an 8-track in my
> car
> or even a cassette player with some crappy converter to play cd's or
> dvd's.

Oh, yes, I TOTALLY agree. I'm not saying that everything should stay the
way it is. I guess it just seems to me like the RATE of change has become
EXCESSIVE. For instance, to me this just seems like a TERRIBLE time to buy
any type of video equipment. If you take a look at the products at this
year's CES you will see TONS of new COMPETING formats, new higher screen
resolutions, new LARGER screens, new projection technologies, etc. So
today if you go out and spend $8,000 on a new 57" 1080p LCD, IT WILL be
obsolete in 2 years as Quad HD (3840 x 2260) will be the new HOT
standard!!!! I guess it's a little like buying a new computer, you just
have to accept the fact that in six months your processor will be
"old-news".

I guess my real gripe here is that manufacturers should invest a bit more in
making their products "future-proof". With everything "software-driven"
these days, that doesn't seem too hard. I also believe these manufacturers
should get together and agree on a common format before a product is
launched, i.e. Blue-ray vs. HD-DVD. Just look at history (Beta vs. VHS),
only one will ultimately win. But the LOSERS will certainly be YOU AND ME,
the early adopters!

MOSFET

Reply to this Message

Tony F - 23 Apr 2006 09:28 GMT

I myself am NOT an early adopter. There are many new technologies that come
out that I will never get for years afterward. For example, I got myself a
Sony DVD player many many years ago that isn't DTS compatible. It's not a
progressive scan. It was, however, their reference standard flagship unit
for that particular year (early 1990s?). Anyway, my television is a simple,
standard, rear projection 50", non-HDTV tv. The picture quality is just
FINE for my use, and my DVD player is up to par with this technology. Ipod?
Nope. I have a very simplistic mp3 player that holds a couple hours of
music and I use it while I exercise. Heck, I finally got around to putting
a 5.1 DD system in my car just last week, and these systems have been
available for years.

Anyway, that's the way I am. I'm happy.

Tony

Signature

2001 Nissan Maxima SE Anniversary Edition
Clarion DRZ9255 Head Unit, Phoenix Gold ZX475ti, ZX450 and Xenon X1200.1
Amplifiers, Dynaudio System 360 Tri-Amped In Front and Focal 130HCs For Rear
Fill, Image Dynamics IDMAX10 D4 v.3 Sub

2001 Chevy S10 ZR2
Pioneer DEH-P9600MP Head Unit, Phoenix Gold Ti500.4 Amp, Focal 165HC
Speakers & Image Dynamics ID8 D4 v.3 Sub

2006 Mustang GT Coupe

Reply to this Message

MOSFET - 23 Apr 2006 19:06 GMT

Heck, I finally got around to putting

> a 5.1 DD system in my car just last week, and these systems have been
> available for years.

You're not an early adopter, Tony? What do you call putting 5.1 DD in your
car? I don't have DD in my car.

I think it kind of depends on how you define "early adopters". To me, it
has less to do with how long a particular product class or technology has
been available, and more to do with how many people are actually using it.
As far as 5.1 DD in the car, VERY few people have this. This will change in
the future, of course, but I predict that the automakers will actually take
the lead on this (not the aftermarket industry as per usual). IMHO, it all
comes down to that pesky "center-channel thing". Higher-end cars are
already incorporating 5.1 DD with center-channels, obviously this issues is
much easier to deal with if the car is designed from the outset with a
center channel incorporated in the dash. As this becomes more and more
prevalent in higher-end cars, it will work it's way down until 5.1 DD will
be a "MUST HAVE" (like the subwoofer) for any self-respecting car audio
enthusiast.

MOSFET

Reply to this Message

Tony F - 23 Apr 2006 12:49 GMT

Yeah, I have to agree with MOSFET on this one. There are times when I'd
like to walk over to some punk's car and reach through his open window and
punch him in the throat and tell him to turn his f.cking stereo down. But
to present your argument in such a WEIRD way completely ruins any chance of
garnering anyone's support, or at least my support.

Tony

Signature

Reply to this Message

Tony F - 23 Apr 2006 12:50 GMT

Oops, I posted this to the wrong topic. Sorry, Nick.

Tony

Signature

Reply to this Message