Shiny tech is our passion. When something new comes around that really gets our gadgety juices flowing, it's really hard to resist clicking the Buy Now button in hopes of being one of the first to own the Next Big Thing in tech. Some of us are better at holding back than others, while the REST of us get finger cramp every time the Track Now button lights up with the location of our package.
You know who you are.
Our entire day is spent following that lovely brown box every step of the way until it reaches our doorstep. And once it arrives, we can't resist telling the world via social media that it's in our hot little hands. I'm quite comfortable calling it a sickness, but I'm a gadget geek at heart anyway.
And so we ask our staff this question:
When shiny, new gadgets are announced that really catch your eye, what determines whether or not you'll be the first in line to buy it on day one?
Hiemanshu Sharma: I am never really going to get something first day, I always wait for a week before I get a review. I usually do a quick lookup for reviews, the hackability and such before getting one. But if I really had to make a choice, I'd go with specs, make of the gadget, and the cost, of course. Something like a Nexus 7 is a no-brainer for the price it offers, but I'd think twice before paying for an International version HTC One X or SGS3.
Jesse Mendoza: Money, of course! But seriously, for me being the ultra gadget geek that I am, I'm not shy to admit I'm one of those first adopters. That doesn't mean I don't think through things before making my purchase, however. My most recent purchase was the Nexus 7 tablet. I'm a big fan of the 7 inch form factor in tablets because of their portability. I sold my iPad 2 earlier this year and haven't missed it since owning the Nexus 7. The fact that it was a Nexus device with Jelly Bean on board was also appealing since my daily driver is a Galaxy Nexus phone- the two work great together and I have been happy with my purchase ever since! Not to mention the $199 price point was hard to beat. And yes, I pre-ordered it on day one.
Tom Fleming: What makes it the shiny new device is what I am looking for. My most recent purchase was the Nexus 7. I already had a tablet, the Transformer Prime, but I loved the idea of the smaller 7 inch form, and wanted Jelly Bean. That being said, I've come to the realization that I like my devices to be stock Android, and am not going to jump at something that has Blur or TouchWiz layered over it. I know I don't like those devices, so I wouldn't jump for one with them.
Andrew Allen: I would have to say the usability for me as the end-user is high on the list for me. Money is always an issue as well, but if the platform doesn't fit with the rest of my home environment, usually, I'm not interested, except just playing with it in Best Buy. I will most likely never adopt a full time Apple product due to their closed ecosystem and not playing nice with Linux, etc. I also enjoy having the newest and greatest. It's nice to be pushing the technology envelope.
Patrick Campanale: I can't say the last time I actually bought an electronic device. My last one was the HP Touchpad, and that was because I'm a huge webOS fan. But if I had to pick what it would be for me to get something new, it would have to be specs and price. As a high schooler, price is everything. The Nexus 7 looks to be the perfect tablet, and I hope to pick one up soon!
Marc Zeffren: I'm an early adopter, an impulse buyer. But eventually I do come to my senses. If not for the return policy, I'd be in big trouble. I like to try new things all the time, but only if it's truly different. I am not going to buy a new HTC device just because it came out, only if it clearly stands out from the device I have now. So when the SGS3 came out, I got it. But I did come to my senses and returned it after a week, after realizing that I would rather have a Galaxy Nexus with Jellybean over a bloated touchwood device. So yes, if something really catches my eye, I will probably get it, but will I keep it? Only if it is truly great.
Tony Robinson: Pricing and personal financial stability is a concern. I NEVER live beyond my means. Also, the ability of said device to fit into my daily life is vital. I purchased the 32G TouchPad for $149, but quickly realized it didn't fit into my lifestyle which is primarily iOS and Android. I was pulling for webOS for sure. The iPad Mini (if this happens) is quite tempting. I may either sell my current new iPad if I end up preferring the 7-7.85" form factor. I was tempted to purchase a BlackBerry Playbook when it first launched, but knew it wouldn't fit anywhere into my daily lifestyle. I am, however, intrigued by BlackBerry 10 and upcoming devices. Let's hope this is sooner than later.
Kayla Ward: I am never a day one person, mainly because of money. I don't see spending my rent money on something I already see flaws in... like (sorry for the bluntness) if it runs Android. I am very fortunate in that I receive many devices as loaners before I would consider buying them. At that point, my biggest concerns include OS, whether it fits a particular need or want in my daily life (note taking, etc), uniqueness, and flawless industrial design. Specs have never been a big concern of mine, nor the ecosystem, nor apps.
Andrew Clausen: Depends on how expensive it is and the specs on it. Like with my new MacBook Pro, for example. When they were announced I looked at how expensive it was and what specs it had compared to last year's models. Also, I read many reviews on how they performed too, because if there's one thing I've learned, it is that great looking specs don't always perform up to snuff because of cheap parts (i.e. hardware, software, etc.)
What about you? Do you consider yourself and early adopter? Or would you prefer to sit it out to see what comes next? Sound off in our comments!
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