It's Official: Early Adopters are Jackasses

Hardware and technical stuff
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A new study by Mindset Media and Nielsen Online has created a better profile of gadget lovers who tend to buy new technology early and often—and it’s no longer believed that they’re just “wealthy young males.” Instead, the early adopter type tends to score high in leadership and assertiveness, but low in modesty.[INDENT]Avid tech consumers were also likely to be low in modesty and may be perceived as conceited or arrogant by others.
Low levels of modesty also correlate with what Welch calls “badge-buying”, or a tendency to buy luxury brands. “So there’s an element of pride in being able to have the latest and greatest, not just in the realm of technology, but in all other areas.”
[/INDENT]The researcher behind the study said it could have implications for technology companies looking to attract new consumers. Coming soon: a gadget with the tagline, “You’re better than everyone else. Now prove it.”

Why, I’m shocked! Shocked!! Still gonna get an MSI Wind as soon as I can find the 6 cell battery model… BUT NOT AN IPHONE!!

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I think they have a different definition of gadget than i’d imagine. An MP3 player, cell phone, and headset are hardly what I’d consider “high tech” considering MP3’s were around before Netscape (1993?)

The type of people they are describing are show-offs on a budget. If they could afford $20k watches, they’d be using those instead.

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I disagree. It all depends on who exactly you’re trying to impress. Folks into techie stuff don’t give a shit about a $20k Rolex because the group they’re trying to show off in front of would see that as a stupid purchase and something to be ridiculed. Having, say, tri-SLI 280 GTX’s hooked up to a 107" plasma screen is a different thing altogether.

It’s a different world - the $20k Rolex wearers and their crowd aren’t that impressed by the gadget crowd either.