The Cost of Being an Early Adopter

Being an Early Adopter (EA) has a cost, sometimes it can be rather steep.  Take 6 years ago when I bought my first HD plasma TV - $3500.  We all know what HD sets go for today.  How about the Nintendo 3DS I paid $249 at launch, within a few weeks it dropped to $169.  Or the Nexus 7 16gb at launch $249 now $199.  I remember talking to the staff at GameStop last March about the cost of the Sony PS Vida.  I mentioned that I thought the price at $249 was too high for mass adoption, that I was going to wait until the price dropped.  They responded by saying that there was no way we would see a price decrease before 2013.  Having just been burnt by the 3DS I decided to wait.  In August I picked it up at Sams Club for $199 and felt like I got a great deal.  Last week I walked into Sams and they had them clearanced for $129!  I could go on and on....  For those of you looking for a great deal on a hot cell phone, the Galaxy S3 is going to be $.96 this week at Sams.  And yes I have already moved on.  So it is worth being an Early Adopter, is it worth being on the bleeding edge?  I certainly believe that it is!  We work out the bugs and even more importantly we pave the way for the enviable price reductions.  Plus, to be perfectly honest, most of us EA's have become bored with the technology and are ready to move on by the time the price reductions come.  The next latest and greatest is already calling our name.  The world needs us, we are good for Company profits, we hasten Service Pack 1, we write the reviews that influence your buying decisions and we absorb the high cost of entry by purchasing at launch price.  I know that the 7 hrs, so far, I have spent on the phone with the Microsoft Surface support team will pay off for the next wave of adopters.  Remember those great Nokia commercials "The Smartphone Beta Test is Over", that's us.  What's in it for us?  We get to satisfy our primal urges by being pioneers, playing with the technology first, finding the bugs, talking with support and in our own small way influencing future development.  We may not be Lewis and Clark or Christopher Columbus but we serve our own special part in the exploration of new technology....

Authored on my Early Adopter Microsoft Surface

Is Consumer Customer Service Dead or Just on Hiatus?

For many years Apple was considered the bellwether of consumer customer service in the tech industry.  I can remember going to the Apple Store Genius Bar few years ago with my son's shattered iPhone 4 - you know the one that has a glass front and back - that he have saved for several months to buy.  The friendly Genius Bar rep responded "no problem sir I can see that this is the first time that you have brought this phone in for service, I can replace it at no charge".  Outstanding customer service, I spent the next several months extolling the virtues of Apple's Customer Service.  I also ended up buying several additional Apple products over the next few of years.  Fast forward a couple of years, I visited the Genius Bar with my son's shattered iPod Touch, the one he was about to sell to buy the 5th gen Touch, "we can replace your son's damaged, under warranty, Touch for $100".  I know, all good things must come to an end.  In my previous post I mentioned the outstanding way that Microsoft handled the Windows 8 / Surface Launch, in fact I think I said it was the best launch party I have ever seen!  I had the occasion to visit the Microsoft Store yesterday due to a small defect that I had noticed with my Surface Touch Cover.  I was immediately greeted by a friendly, cheerful, brightly colored t-shirted Microsoft rep, say that 10 times fast - I dare you, after I explained my concern the brave, clean and reverend rep - wait I think I'm describing a Boy Scout, well anyway this rep took me to their leader, well actually their manager.  The manager looked ay my wounded Touch Cover and responded "no problem sir I can replace that for you, what color would you like and since you were our first customer to buy a Surface, here's a $25 gift card for your trouble".  Outstanding customer services, as I walked out of the Microsoft Store I chatted with several other friendly brightly colored t-shirted reps, asking me how I liked my Surface.  Now I know how Norm felt as he walked into Cheers everyday, I think I'm home...  Maybe customer service isn't dead.  Stay tuned for a future post - Is It Freaky Friday or has Microsoft Become More Apple than Apple?

Microsoft Surface Might Just Be the Real Deal...

If being the first person in Kansas City to purchase a Microsoft Surface Tablet/PC/? make me an early adopter, so be it. Though I am an equal opportunity early adopter, I have spent my share (and probably a few other people's shares) of time camping out in Apple's lines. When I showed up at the Microsoft Store at 6am Friday morning I didn't know what to expect, would I be the first or the 51st to arrive, after all, since the Xbox launch several years ago Microsoft hasn't really had any large "fanboy" product launches. Over the course of the next 4 hours the line gradually began to fill in, it was interesting.  Were not talking just the typical Microsoft "fanboys", they ranged from 8-80 carrying murses, iPads, iPhones, Android phones/tablets and yes even a few Windows phones.  Some were truly early adopters, like me, others were drawn by the hope of a truly connected Microsoft ecosystem (phone-tablet-Xbox-Live-PC), and some were just curious.  Microsoft had hired an event planning team to play music, keep us entertained and hand out unlimited snacks and refreshments - we're tailing a large red wagon full of candy and fruit snacks.  There was a large kiosk set up with double sided touch screens with Xboxs and Kinects.  Store staff circulated through the line giving demos on Surface and its accessories as well as answering any questions that we had.  At first touch I was in love, the build quality of Surface is something to behold, from it sharp and bright 16 x 9 screen to its VaporMg case to its thoughtfully designed kickstand. Not to mention the Type and Touch covers, in one word - Wow!  We are talking real integration here - not an add on like we used to...  When the doors opened at 10am, the 4 hours line really flew by thanks to Microsoft's team - take note Apple, we were treated to the best personalized user sale's experience that I have ever witnessed.  One by one we were escorted by our own individual Microsoft Store Rep to a seat where we were offered soft drinks and given a personal tour of our New Surface, which was fully setup and personalized for us before we left - bravo Microsoft - you nailed it.  I have never experienced such euphoria at a product launch.  I am now six days in, and I can't put it down, it goes everywhere with me.  I have owned countless tablet and mobile devices through the years, they don't call me Inspectorgad for nothing, for the 1st time I am not just a content consumer, I am a content creator!  This combination of software, hardware and Type/Touch covers really work!  it took me about 15 minutes to get used to the Type cover, it's amazing - clearly a technology innovation.  Having a full version of Office not just an Office viewer or compatible program is huge, Microsoft Office is the world's dominant content creation tool.  I hope my Macbook Air doesn't get to lonely, a layer of dust is starting to form.  Have you tried a Surface yet - let me know. Now if only my carrier was going to offer a Window 8 phone sic I might just have to switch carriers!  I think that Surface just might be the real deal ...