Somewhere along the way I got a reputation as being a gadget geek techie, and I don’t know when or how.   For the purposes of this self-defensive post, I will define "gadget geek techie" as someone who simply has to have the latest and greatest gadget and really get excited by the technology and gadgets by themselves.  I say I’m not one of "those people."

Here’s what the argument that I am one might have going for it: I do have a couple of XM satellite radios, and a Palm Treo 650 that I pretty much live by.  I have a wireless network set up in my house, but I think everyone else does these days too.  At this point just about anyone can set one up.  I dabble in things like MySpace and this blog, but you’ll quickly realize that I don’t do a lot of fancy customization with either.

I use Vonage as my home phone service, but that happened only late last year and they’ve been around for a while. I have my own domain, but don’t know anything fancier than HTML which I think everyone knows now thanks to MySpace.  I read WIRED and keep up on new trends (such as blogging and podcasting – more on that later) but that’s because I’m in marketing.

Here’s what would be arguing against it:

• I didn’t get my first cell phone until 2001
• That first cell phone was a good ‘ol Motorla Star-Tac and I sometimes wish I had that phone again… it still had the best audio quality out of any phone I’ve had
• The second cell phone I got – at the end of my two year contract with Verizon – had color screen, and that was it… no camera or anything
• I got the Treo 650 at the end of another two year contract last year and got it to replace a cell phone and a four year old Sony Clie that was dying on me.
• Speaking of which… I also got my Clie in 2001, hardly an early adopter of PDA technology.  I bought mine and a few months later they started coming out with the $99 packs for graduation and father’s day….
• I had an ancient Macintosh Performa up until October of 2004, and it served me well for all those years.  When I got a new computer, it was because I had to, and the computer I got was an off-the-shelf HP computer package from Best Buy, not a high-end super system.  I didn’t even get a flat-screen LCD panel (a decision I’m regretting and thinking about getting a replacement – only because I’d like the extra room on my desk, not because I have monitor envy).
• The only thing I’ve done to the HP computer is install the wireless card.  Kinda geeky, but not nearly as tough as some people would think
• Yes, I bought a laptop.  No, I don’t use it all the time.  No, I haven’t modified it since it came out of the box.  No, it isn’t a top-of-the line.  Its an Avertec middle-of-the road sufficient-for-me-when-I-need-it laptop.
• Perhaps most shocking of all to everyone who knows me – both as this supposed gadget geek and music-lover is that I DO NOT OWN AN IPOD!  Nope, I don’t.  Wouldn’t mind owning one and might get one eventually, and would gladly accept one as a gift (hint hint), but otherwise, I’m not in a rush to get one.

So that’s my story – I know about technology and have this here blog (that is barely a year old) and my own domain, and have a nifty cell phone, but that’s about it.   However, I do stay up to date as to what the major trends are in technology, so I guess the best you could call me is an early mainstream adopter.  I’m not a cutting-edge or early adopter, but I do get into things just as they start to go mainstream.  Which is unfortunate for me, since nearly every bit of technology I’ve bought has gotten cheaper within 6 months of me buying it.  So watch this blog as your own personal guide when to buy your next gadget… if I buy it, wait a few months and get it for half-price!