I'd say the difference today is we're not defining "technology" only as a thing that you buy. The quote is about what we called "early adopters" or those that went on to buy cell phones, iPods, etc.
Today, electronic communication devices are ubiquitous, but I believe it still holds true that a younger generation is first to use them in new ways (social networking).
Perhaps what gates a generation from adopting a technology today is not as much financial resources, but getting permission from the parents to have access
