early adopters

Hey you, guy who camped out for days to get the first iPhone. I've got some bad news: Your geek cred is in question. A new study released today by Massachusetts marketing firm Forrester Research says that early adoption of hot new gear is no longer the exception, it's the rule. Will we all one day end up tailgating for tech?

After announcing a $200 reduction in the price of its iPhone, Apple responded to angry reactions from its existing customers by offering them a $100 credit. Those unlucky early adopters will be able to use the money at an Apple store, or its online market.

CEO Steve Jobs says the price cut is part of a pre-holiday push, an effort to make the device available to more people. Others think the move may be a result of Apple falling behind in its sales goals. Jobs posted an open letter on the Apple site explaining the price change, but it's hard to tell whether he's really writing to his beloved customers or the stock analysts questioning his logic. There's also a weird paragraph that basically says, "Hey, this is what happens with technology. You should know that." Read the letter here.—Gregory Mone

For years, the phrase â€PDAâ€phone combo†brought to mind clunky bricks that appealed to only the most connectivity-crazed early adopters. But the latest incarnations of these devices, now known by the more marketing-friendly tag â€smartphone,†are finally fit for the rest of us. So why do you want one?Beyond the obvious calling capabilities, smartphones keep your calendar and address book close at hand (and ever more easily synced with your PC), provide access to e-mail and the Web,

For years, the phrase â€PDAâ€phone combo†brought to mind clunky bricks that appealed to only the most connectivity-crazed early adopters. But the latest incarnations of these devices, now known by the more marketing-friendly tag â€smartphone,†are finally fit for the rest of us. So why do you want one?Beyond the obvious calling capabilities, smartphones keep your calendar and address book close at hand (and ever more easily synced with your PC), provide access to e-mail and the Web,