Individual Entry: My Essential Gadgets
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April 06, 2009

Introspection : My Essential Gadgets

Been thinking about the stuff is my life and in particular how often I replace it. This is in part an exercise in budgeting and in part a considering of my footprint on the rest of the world. There’s my clothing collection; but that has never been a significant issue (usually Anne has to nudge me when it is time to get new clothes). I also buy books, games and DVDs; but unless and until people stop making DVDs, I don’t see myself having to replace any of those. So that leaves gadgets, and I believe there are 7 gadgets which are a part of my current lifestyle which will periodically need to be replaced.

Desktop Computer.
This is a big gaming rig – fast processor, lots of RAM, heavy duty Graphic cards, etc. I replace it whenever the current generation of new games no longer runs on it; but I tend to buy the top of the line when I do replace it so it lasts as long as possible. I have tended to buy a new desktop every 3 years or so, although it seems to be slowing down a bit so I might be able to get 4 years out of my current box.

Laptop Computer.
Used to read Email at all times and some light web surfing when I travel. The main requirement is that it is small and light (I am currently using one with an 11 inch screen that weighs under 3 pounds). Because I don’t need any fancy functionality, I don’t expect to replace it until it breaks down, which is hopefully at least 4 years, if not more.

Television
I tend to be way behind the curve on TVs – my eyesight and hearing just isn’t good enough to worry about top quality. I only switched to HighDef last year. I replace TVs when they break down, and I hope they last 5 years or more.

Video Player
I currently am using a DVD player that is part of my TV, and as with TVs I don’t see that they are improving enough to warrant replacing them unless they break down. The other factor is switching to Blu-Ray; but I don’t see the need to do that unless and until they stop making DVDs of the shows and movies I am interested in. While I am sure that time will come, it isn't on the horizon yet.

Cell Phone
I’ve been waiting to buy an iPhone since they came out; but I’m not interested in one until they have at least 32Gb of storage in them so I can use it to replace my iPod as well. Hopefully this year. Once I have a 32Gb iPhone, I don’t expect to see a reason to upgrade it until it breaks (most of the new features in phones just don’t interest me).

MP3 player
As noted above, I have an iPod now; but once I get a 32Gb iPhone, I expect to punt on this category and not replace it.

Digital Camera
I just replaced my old one; but it was 8 years old. Cameras do continue to improve so I expect to replace this one while it is still working; but not for several years.

eBook Reader
The new item in this list, and I don’t have a clear idea of how quickly the technology will improve in ways that I care about. I’ll take a guess now that I will replace it every 3 years; but it may be as often as every 2 if the Kindle drives some real innovation in the market.

So, most of the gadgets I use I only replace when they break down. The three exceptions are my desktop computer (every 3-4 years), my digital camera (every 8-10 years), and my eBook reader (every 2-3 years at first).

Posted by Steven at April 6, 2009 05:00 AM