The world is changing at a breakneck pace, and just about all of us are along for the ride.
Technological advancement is an iterative process, punctuated infrequently by major innovations. Personally, I’m okay with this… it means that our computers and cellphones are steadily improving, with every few months yielding the latest and greatest the tech companies can muster. Then, every once in a while someone discovers or invents something that really throws things out of whack, like the first smart phones. So far, it’s worked pretty well.
Do I Really need the Latest and Greatest Computer?
As someone who constantly obsesses over what firmware and drivers my phone and computer are running, you may be surprised to hear that I’m actually against always getting the latest and greatest technology. I think that for many people, it actually makes more sense to rent a computer instead of buying one, or to wait a few iterations before upgrading one’s phone.
So with that in mind, let me suggest a few questions that you can ask yourself when you’re debating dropping $2000 on a brand new gaming computer.
- What tangible benefits will I get from upgrading from my current computer/phone/blender? Will this really improve my life and/or save me time or money?
- Can I afford this without going into debt or having to give up something more important, like food?
- Should I really get this new, or wait a bit longer and get it used or at a discount?
If you sit down and really think about it, I believe that your answer will often be a resounding NO! I’ve found that, with very few exceptions, when I wait a few days to think about a purchase, I often decide it simply isn’t worth it. The iterative approach of technology companies means that our gadgets will constantly be improving just a little bit, but that also means that if you buy into that (so to speak), you’ll constantly be spending money… money on something that probably offers very little or no real benefit for you personally.
Just my 10 cents worth.
Thoughts? Opinions?
Are you one of those people that lines up every year for the latest Apple iPhone, or are you still rockin’ a dumb phone from the early 2000s? Whatever your opinion, I want to hear about it in the comments below. To play devil’s advocate, I’ve actually made a few impulse purchases over the years that have worked out well, like the Raspberry Pi that I turned into an HTPC. It was inexpensive, and I don’t do it often, but it happens.
(Photos by Drregor and Indi Samarajiva)
Interesting topic. Ethics, economics and the consumption all need examined here.
Not by me – I love tech. I am still using my 1st gen HTC desire. The first phone i’v owned where the phone outlived the battery.
But I also own a playstation vita and the battery is closed within the casing. Like an Apple product the battery cannot be replaced. It’s this level of intrinsic obsolescence that has to stop.
And what’s that business about iphone5 having a different docking port? Are Apple users really going to bend over and take that?
The proprietary USB port on the Apple is both pointless, and extremely wasteful. I really, really hope they take a different stance on that some day.
Part of the problem is consumer perception. If people perceive a need for something they invariably buy it, so successful tech companies exploit this desire via their advertising campaigns. Chad is right, as it often makes more sense to delay upgrading to the latest `insert gadget here’ until early adopters have effectively ironed out software/firmware problems that the companies should have picked up in beta-testing.
Yes, agreed. I actually used to sell electronics for a living, long, long ago, and I learned pretty quickly that the second generation onward was always better than both the first generation, and the very last generation of that technological cycle.
As an example, Gen 1 CRT TV sucks. Gen 2,3, and 4 CRT are much better. CRT technology starts to hit the end of its lifecycle, and the build quality is once again rubbish.
Don’t be a hero, let someone else take the beach.