Go ahead and hold that bad boy high. You remember those stories they use to tell about when commerce centered around the whole loyal customer bit, the one that usually contains the old saying “The customer is always right” or something similar like “The customer is king” now I wonder if that ever really was the case or if this is a myth, an urban legend if you will.

Jason, why are you so mad you might ask, whatever could make you so frustrated? Right now it’s Apple. Oh it’s not really their fault I mean they are in effort trying to improve things for potential customers but that’s the crux of it, potential customers. The same for cell phone companies, it’s all about the new customer, who gives a $#!+ about the loyal customer, the early adopter, the supporter of your efforts to make improvements, to advance your business and all it hopes to be.

I guess all that died when some obscure little piece of electronics was devised that allowed for the advent of the computer because it sure seems to me that since the exponential growth of technology has begun those few of us who might choose to be a part of that innovation, if only in the financially painful role of consumer, always seem to be getting the short end of the stick, specifically in that afore mentioned financial area.

Now I know what you are saying, I’ve said it myself many times before it makes no sense to be the first in line, because the price will most certainly drop, the product will get better everything will be better if you just wait. You are of course correct, the best option is always to wait and that had been my course of action for quite a long time, that was until Apple really caught their stride, this point in the time line of it’s evolution may be argued by many, most if not all who are better qualified than I to make such observations. But for me that moment came about the time the Macbook was released in its “Don’t %^(& with me I’m a black Apple laptop” form factor. I of course was instantly enamored, and yes I was well aware of the hundred dollar premium seemingly for the color alone, it didn’t matter, it was the laptop I had been waiting for Apple to deliver and it would be mine. That was the beginning, next it was the 80gb video iPod, then it would be of course… wait for it… the iPhone (hear angels singing).

Now as wonderful as this spiral into technological adoption hell has been, know that I have felt every bump on the way down.

With the Macbook it was the switch to the Core 2 Duo processor that occurred, I am convinced, days after my purchase. I took this in stride, reminding myself that this was inevitable, technology evolves and if you choose to adopt these are the pitfalls you must face. Then with the iPod, I had waited and waited through version after version with a diligence so powerful and so rare that it could have only been broken by my first taste of this technology crack with the purchase of my Mackbook and I happily succumbed to it’s draw and added it to the collection December 2006. Only to have the iPhone announced shortly into the new year.

$@#%@$@#$%&!

Well it goes without saying that I was no match for this item, this glowing, shiny, beautiful embodiment of all that technology promised from days gone by, it would be mine! And it was opening day June 29th. I didn’t even have to wait in line, I had been held up in my apartment most of the night after work fighting the cold sweats, the urges, the desire to run, nay, fly to the nearest retailer to make it mine, but alas I was no match and I made it to the store shortly before closing walked right up and walked right out with it in my hands. Only to spend the next 48 hours trying to get it activated, but that is not where my frustration lies, no. My anger, my disappointment, my consternation is in the fact that today, 64 days later, they dropped the price by $200 dollars.

64 days! Now I knew this would happen I was in the process of preparing myself for this day, I say in process because I could not in my heart of hearts believe that it would come soooooooooo soon.

Alas, here it is. It has happened and I weep softly in the thought that if I had not been so weak if I had only had the power, the determination to hold out as I had been so good at doing before that I could have had this marvelous product and $200 extra dollars. It’s just too much to have to deal with.

Damn you Steve Jobs, Damn you to hell sir for making me love your products so much and then tossing that love to the side with your innovation and price cuts, you heartless bastard.

Damn you to hell sir.