I'm reading Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge. I find reading about how others develop products fascinating -- the problems and challenges, the thought process, the successes and failures, etc. I'm not far in yet so I can't give a complete review (very interesting so far though).

However, one interesting topic that is right at the front is discussing the idea from David Liddle that there are three stages in the development of a technology:

1. Enthusiast - this is the type of early adopter who buys or uses a technology because they're excited about it, regardless of whether it might be difficult to use
2. Professional - a person who uses a technology as part of their job -- where the technology has been often purchased by their employer
3. Consumer - people who are just interested in what a product can do for them and really just want it to work and aren't willing to put up with any problems.

I realized today there's a fourth stage however that David missed in his analysis:

The Technology Cultist.This is the person who is extremely excited about technologies that are rumored -- sometimes barely even speculated -- by many false prophets and prepared to buy a product before even learning anything tangible about them. They would pre-order the products if it was an option (and possibly keep money in an escrow account so that they can be the first to buy a new product as soon as it's announced). The flawless figurehead is worshipped, the products glorified, competitors products are sacrificed, and the teachings are spread to everyone they know.

This group is what every company desires from a customer.

It's just too bad I can't think of any perfect examples -- only one has even a passing similarity -- you may have heard of it (or it).