Are you an early adopter of technology? I’m not. Whenever Something New comes along, I almost always require some convincing. My first reaction is usually, “why in the everlovin’ dog turd in a puff pastry would someone need that?” Then, in a year or whatever, I’ve gotta have it.
While I love gadgetry, I’m also very skeptical of it. When a new fad appears, I generally view the early adopters as tragically pretentious, and have no interest in participating in their little festival of douchery.
So, I’m almost always slightly behind the curve. As the rest of the world was falling in love with digital photography, I was still threading Fuji film into the camera my parents gave me as a high school graduation present. And while every hipster worth his designer sea salt was sporting the white iPod earbuds, I was lugging around my Sony Discman, and a seven-pound tote of CDs.
I’m not exactly proud of my lack of vision, but it does save me money. By the time I get around to appreciating the value of something, the prices have usually dropped. A few of my co-workers in California paid more than $1000 for their first DVD players. A thousand bucks! I probably paid $239 for mine, because I was a year late in contracting the fever.
And our Big Ass Television would’ve cost us thousands of dollars more, if I’d been an early adopter. Longtime readers of the site remember my years-long hemming and hawing session surrounding the purchase of that sombitch. But, in retrospect, my indecisiveness saved us tons of money
The one exception, that I can recall, is the CD burner I had installed in a previous computer, a year after I bought it. When I ordered that machine I was going down the list of upgrades, and decided I didn’t need a burner (who makes CDs?). I probably could’ve added it on the front end for $25, and ended up paying a couple hundred.
So, it usually works out in my favor, but not always.
Current things I view as kinda stoopid, but will probably end up loving in the long run: Blackberries, car navigation systems (I’m already starting to soften on that one), electronic books (like Kindle), and anything to do with Bluetooth technology (I mean, seriously).
Where do you fall on the technology adoption spectrum? Do you jump right in with both feet, or do you need to be convinced like me? I doubt there are too many full-blown Luddites reading the Surf Report, since, you know, it’s on the internet. But who knows?
Also, what gadgets did you originally mock, and end up loving? Use the comments link, if you’ve got anything for us.
Yesterday I stopped at a convenience store on my way to work, with the intention of buying a bottle of water, or some iced tea. And as I was perusing the gargantuan selection there (sweet Maria), something caught my eye.
Sunkist orange soda! I probably hadn’t had one of those babies in 25 years, and wasn’t even aware it was still in production. Just a couple weeks ago I was telling the Secrets about my experience with that stuff, and they didn’t know what I was talking about.
When I had my paper route, you see, there was a small corner grocery store (Cliff’s Market), where I’d stop for a drink on most days.
And while I enjoyed the Sunkist orange, I couldn’t buy it – because it always made me crap. It’s true. Within minutes of downing one of those foot-tall glass bottles, I’d find myself doing a wide-eyed Frankenstein march down the alley toward our house, praying my sphincter would hold against the mounting pressure.
So yesterday I decided to buy one… I wanted to see if it still had the same effect on me. Extremely dangerous, since I was going to work, but this was science, dammit.I twisted off the cap as I drove, and took a tentative sip: yum. It tasted exactly as it had during the Reagan administration. By the time I arrived at my job, the bottle was empty and I wondered if my decades-long streak of never crapping at work might come to an explosive, scattershot end.
Yeah, but nothing happened. I felt completely normal. Wonder if all the beer I’ve downed during the intervening years has shored-up my stomach, and made it less thenthative? I’m not sure, but the streak stands.
What foods cause you to do the stiff-legged scramble? Besides the normal stuff, like Starbucks, etc. Anything unusual make you sprint down the hall? Tell us about it.
And I’ll see ya tomorrow.
WTF? Is there any reason why certain folk(s) here like to yank my chain? Did I do something to offend? As far as I can tell I’ve been posting things in a similar tone and subject to everyone else. I don’t know why I’ve been singled out for this sort of bullshit.
Don’t worry about it Gretchen. When you said you were an English major they probably thought you were like Diane on Cheers. I bet you are a very nice girl.
Sorry Gretchen. I told you I’d stop playing around like that and I have (I think).
I just watched a 9 minute video of “Tourettes Guy” and nearly pissed my pants. It’s not considered “pissing your pants” if the wet spot is less than the size of a golf ball, right?
Well if you’re gonna act like you’re two, Jason, then I suppose pissing your pants is appropriate.
Wait, did someone delete some posts or whatnot? I’m not seeing who’s being naughty to Gretchen, and I’m totally up for another rant.
Fill me in, please?
“Chester Jones”, right above me up there at the 2:19 mark. Add that to some of the posts on Tuesday and I’m ready for a thrown down myself, Tiff. Which, by the way, your rant was awesome to behold.
Back in ’81, while I was in college in Hoboken, NJ (the mile square city) McDonalds brought back the “McRib”, and for some reason, we were compelled to walk right past Blimpie Base #1 (the original Blimpie’s) and have a McRib right before our Chemistry lecture. About a half-hour into every Chem lecture, this intestinal blockage would form, which demanded attention, and I’d have to leave the large lecture hall, which meant opening and closing those huge, hundred-plus year old lecture hall doors. This would cause everyone to look at me and wonder why I couldn’t make it through one Chem lecture. What the hell is in those McRibs?
Speaking of King novels. I just finished Dreamcatcher. It wasn’t one of his best I’d say, but it certainly had a few unforgettable moments. Has anyone seen the movie? There are alien things that grow in peoples intestines he lovingly referred to as shit weasles. I’d have to say The Stand, The Talisman, Cujo, Carrie, and From a Buick 8 were about my favorites. I love John Saul and Bently Little too.
I can’t believe I’m posting this, but… Arby’s. Just the plain old roast beef sandwich with Horsey Sauce. Every time I eat one (and it isn’t very often, but you’d think I’d be smart enough to stop altogether) an emergency rapidly ensues. What is IN that “meat,” or is it the bread, or the Horsey Sauce? Who can tell? But whatever it is, it is very effective.
I am a medium adopter. Not bleeding edge by any sense of the imagination but not a Luddite either.
in January I had adopted five technologies that I can’t live without which I had frowned upon previously
1: My Garmin [it knows where I am going so I don’t have to]
2: My Palm email anywhere
3: Querty keyboard on my cell [no more guessing ]
4: EZPass no more digging for tolls or stopping
5:Nintendo DS Toys I love toys
Jeff,
FYI…your ads vs. reality Pulitzer caliber series is featured on Othercrap today.
Happy to say I realize I’m pretty much constitutionaly sound.
First computer, five years ago. One DVD, one VCR. No cell, no IPod. Didgital camera, (under $200, tons of features and I love it). Keep a GPS in my backpack just because. No remote backcountry hikes, just trails I know. No real tech stuff. I guess I have no need/ application for most the stuff. I just realized I don’t have an electric can opener. Is that odd?
Happy weekend to all.-d
Got a DIGITAL camera. crap!
I’ve not heard from you for a while now Jeff.
I hope everythings ok.
your colonial cousin ( re ‘the colonies’ not the other thing!)
Ian
Jorge, I was also referring to East of Eden as a book that most definitely is nothing like slamming anything in a car door.
Along with some of my favorites on there:
Middlesex, White Oleander, Midwives, both Wally Lambs, Breath Eyes Memory… those are books I read and re-read… at least 3 times for some of them, more than 5 for others.
GNDtn- My wife has one of the Wally Lamb books. Neither of us has read it, but on your recommendation I’ll read it as soon as I finish the book I’ve got now.
But know, if I experience any pain I shall have words for you. Strong, strong words. 😉
I’m an “early adopter” of updates.
thanks for nothin’ y’ Yuengling guzzlin’ pants splitter.
In about 1994 or 1995 I paid $100 for a 9600 baud modem. One Hundred Dollars.
This is kind of embarrasing, but the big ‘I don’t get it’ for me was… the internet. It seemed kind of interesting, but when Bill G at Microsoft sent out that big email that they had to get on the Internet thingee, pronto, I was pretty surprised. “What’s the big deal?”
Anyway, I still think I was pretty right on that one : )
Lately, it was text messaging. “Why type on those tiny keypads when you can just call?” Shows what I know.
Let me tell you buddy! I live in the midwest (columbus ohio) and up here we have a thing called White Castle.
The nickname is sliders because guess what they do.
Worst part is your runny crap smells just like them slill!