Pete and repeat

Recognize this graph? I used it in my first ever blog post to explain why I was so slow and hesitant to start a blog. Well, believe it or not, the same phenomenon has occurred with our new iMac.

In marketing there is a model known as the technology adoption life cycle model which is used to describe the five groups of buyers to whom a product is sold during its life cycle: Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards.

The Innovators are technology enthusiasts- they are the first to try out a new technology, but they represent just about 2% of the population.

Early Adopters, also known as visionaries, are somewhat keen to try out new technologies. They represent a larger slice of the market (10-15%), and they tend to have much more influence in an organization than do Innovators.

The Early Majority, sometimes called pragmatists, represent the bulk of the market (45%). They tend to buy in to new technologies only after they perceive solid references and safety measures that guard against potential failures.

The Late Majority, or conservatives, are also a very large portion of the market (35%). They are extremely cautious when buying into a new technology and want to see proof of results before they will accept a product's usefulness.

Laggards are skeptics who would prefer to avoid new technologies altogether. They will buy only if they really must and represent 5% of the market. 

Am I consigned to a life of technological laggardness?  I was resistant to getting a new computer (budgetary reasons being the main consideration), and have always referred all problems, syncing, uploading, importing, application, etc. questions to J. I am a "skeptic" in believing that technology will make my life better. I want to use my familiar old school pen and pencil methods.

But I'm starting to change my mind.  Today when I set up my calendar in iCal, with colors for each member of my family and saw how recurring events went up in a flash I realized that this program could be a huge benefit to our family life. When my friend H came over and gave me some tips on iPhoto, system preferences, and the dashboard I realized that I could learn to navigate around the computer on my own without calling to J for help. When my phone syncs with my calendar, email, photos, music, contacts, and other possibilities I'm not even aware of I realize that this technology could change my life for the better.

 In short, in just 4 days I have seen the "usefulness" of the iMac and wonder why I didn't want to get one before. I heart this machine and am excited to see what she can do. I will not be afraid to try out different applications and learn how to fix problems. I will solicit tips from other iMac users. And in the future I won't be so resistant to new technology.

I decide to be a technology laggard no more.