Thursday, 24 February 2005
D'oh!
If there's one thing that technology - and my obsession love with it - has taught me, it's that you can never wait too long to buy. Something better is always right around the corner.
And conversely, whenever you do commit to buy one of these precious, precious items, it is fast eclipsed by its newer, faster, better - and cheaper - successor.
Exhibit A: It's less than two months after Heather gave me an iPod photo, at the time the top-of-the-line iPod model. Of course, today Apple updated its iPod line.
Yes of course, it was a gift. And totally unexpected. And very much appreciated. It's dead sexy.
I love the little gadget (or rather, the music it allows me to carry). Besides, the new "best" iPod photo doesn't include the dock and various cables that came with mine. Just a bigger hard drive, which - unlike the newly dropped items - is the one major bullet point that can't be upgraded.
But wait, let's continue down that path. Ladies and gentlemen (mostly the guys, because by this point I'm sure I've lost the three female audience members who accidentally started reading this), I present you with...
Exhibit A, revised: For the past couple of years, I've been intending (i.e. "waiting") to buy an IBM Thinkpad for myself. Partly because they use components that are well-supported by Linux. But mostly because they're damn sleek machines. And let's admit it, what good is a geek toy if it's not at least as dead sexy as its owner?
Hmm, wait a minute. Did I say "Thinkpad"? Why does that ring a bell? Oh, yeah. That's right. IBM sold the Thinkpad line, along with the rest of its personal computer division, back in December. Sigh. So I guess you can be too thin or too rich (or too expensive, as the case may be). And that would seem to prove that you can wait too long.
So, wait longer and win: Apple. Wait too long and lose: IBM. Does anyone else see a business opportunity for Madame Zaza the fortuneteller?