As owners of the Apple iPhone recently learned, it rarely pays to be the first to buy into a hot new technology.

"Sure, there's some intangible value to being the first kid on the block to have that new toy," says Denny Arar, senior editor with PC World magazine. "But -- and I can't think of a single product where this isn't true -- the first generation is bound to be buggy. Plus, you have to realize that the price is going to drop eventually."

The...