Why the desire to upgrade tech yearly?

[decafjava]

...and here is the results of upgrading constantly, not only yearly but even every two or three years...
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth

Hidden in an unknown corner of Inner Mongolia is a toxic, nightmarish lake created by our thirst for smartphones, consumer gadgets and green tech, discovers Tim Maughan.

• By Tim Maughan

2 April 2015
From where I'm standing, the city-sized Baogang Steel and Rare Earth complex dominates the horizon, its endless cooling towers and chimneys reaching up into grey, washed-out sky. Between it and me, stretching into the distance, lies an artificial lake filled with a black, barely-liquid, toxic sludge.

Dozens of pipes line the shore, churning out a torrent of thick, black, chemical waste from the refineries that surround the lake. The smell of sulphur and the roar of the pipes invades my senses. It feels like hell on Earth.

 

[kazmac]

I have the Apple magpie syndrome: they release something new computer-wise and some iDevices, and I so want it. Yes, weened from decades of advertising (I used to repeat tv ads verbatim as a little girl - shows you how much tv I watched.)

I am learning not to give into the wants and just allowing myself a bit of Oooh must have new Apple computer / iDevice hyperbole. I have been in the market for a new Mac since Mavericks and Yosemite nearly bricked my 2010 iMac. She's really struggling now and I need a new machine. I do see my next Mac giving me at least 4 years of good service. It's been great not having to shell out money since 2010.

I happily quit using iPhones last month and have a dumb phone and an iPod Touch. I sure don't miss giving AT&T an extra $35 for my phone bill every month and paying as much as a computer for a phone just makes no sense to me if you have other computers.

I am also kicking my Keeping up with the Fandom Joneses habit - buying every last dvd etc. So grateful that Celestial are releasing Shaw Brothers films on iTunes for $5/$8 each (SD/HD.)

So for me, I am moving away from being a consumer zombie and taking comfort in having tech that works and serves me quite well. Sure, I may get an iPad Pro somewhere down the line especially if schoolwork demands it, but right now, a Mac computer and an iPod Touch happily serve my needs and wants.

I won't judge others on buying new tech etc. every year. If it gives you pleasure to have the latest and greatest and you can swing it, more power to you.

 

[AustinIllini]

Yea, I was reading that exact thing as well. Overtime, I imagine we see phones have shelf life on par with current computers in regards to main usage

The difference is, a phone is much more dependent on its battery, and therefore has a shorter shelf life depending on your charging habits.

 

[2984839]

I'm the opposite. I don't like new tech, especially laptops, because the quality is so poor. Laptops are disposable devices now and they are built like it with poor quality plastics and cheap parts. Someone decided that laptops were just for watching widescreen movies, and thus aspect ratios have gotten wider and wider needlessly. 4:3 was awesome, 16:10 was worse but tolerable, and 16:9 is just a pain. The keyboards they put on nearly all laptops today should be thrown in the garbage. They either lack key travel or tactile feedback. Most usually lack both. All the rows of useful keys are gone. Displays are mostly glossy, which means they attract smudges and are hard to see in daylight. Ports keep disappearing at an alarming rate. Everything is glued and soldered together to make one solidified mass of misery that you can't repair or upgrade, even if you could find replacement parts.

When my T42 dies I'm probably just going to buy another one.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

I have learned to cope with this desire. Experienced showed that the newest is not always better or necessary to have. And that goes to software as well. Lately, I had bad experience with the newest releases, so I stick with the version that works and meets my needs.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I like new shiny things, plain and simple. The phone is the only thing I upgrade annually though.

Same here, small devices like smartphones are the only things I upgrade yearly(sometimes sooner).

 

[63dot]

I am curious to how you handle the upgrade wanting.....do you give in and do it anyways or are you able to resist? and why is is predominantly only phones?

I go every several years in general if taking computers and phones into account. A two year old phone or five year old computer can get the basics done and that's all I need.

But for phones getting the attention, that's the main tech product in last few years that dominate the press, and the sales of phones are what made Apple what it is, along with iPod and iTunes. The Macs are only a starting point but nothing that gave us true visibility. The next time you see a smart phone on TV, see what it is.

Yes, I would like an iPhone 6S+ but after all the reviews, it's just a tiny bump from the previous iPhone 6+. The supposed better camera isn't that much better and the touch features may be nice but not enough for me to ditch the 6+.

I don't put the too thin 6+ under any stress and it's never in back pocket so I don't have to get the 6S+ thicker/stronger body. I think iPhone 7, when it comes out in late-2016 will be great but I can actually wait past that and 7S family and wait until an iPhone 8 or whatever Apple decides to call their smartphone several years from now. I don't even use 10% percent of the power of the 6+ and I bet many here don't either so why the constant 12 to 16 month upgrading? We aren't replacing wiper blades!

 

[Eileen89]

I have to confess that every year I say I won't get the new iPhone. Then I watch Apples announcement of it and "Bam". The upgrade switch in my brain turns on and before I know what is happening, I'm sitting on the sofa in my PJ's at 3AM with my iPad and CC in hand waiting to order another one of Apples finest iPhones once again.
If I could just avoid watching Apples announcement..... But I can't, lol.

 

[Klaatu63]

I have two competing influences - one side of can't wait for the next best thing but the "other" side is a cheap old frugal guy that says if aint broke dont fix it. Take my iPhone upgrade decision, returned my old aged iPhone 5s to the Apple store with cosmetic damage. They gave me a NEW iPhone 5s. Now how to I justify a replacement. The cheap frugal side won, I will wait for an iPhone 7.

 

[Renzatic]

Same here, small devices like smartphones are the only things I upgrade yearly(sometimes sooner).

I still have my iPhone 4, though I will admit that I experienced a moment of temptation when I saw the iPhone 6+. That larger screen! So light in the hand! I thought it was something I absolutely MUST HAVE. EH ESS EH PEE!

...then I realized the only thing I use my iPhone for is calling, text messaging, checking the weather, music, maps, and occasionally internet browsing. Things my aged 4 still does quite well.

I tend to try to squeeze the most bang for my buck out of all my tech. I'll buy high, then keep it for years on end.

 

[smallcoffee]

Why is this always considered a bad thing? Upgrading frequently does not always cost as much as some think... I can upgrade my phone yearly for close to the cost of every other year.. About 150 more per year. I can lease a 31k car for about 250 for 3 years, or finance it for about 550 for 5 years. So over a 9 year period financing turns out to be about 305 per month. You'd still have some value at the end but for a lease you have less maintenance and wear and tear to worry about. These are all rough numbers and aren't exact, just saying it isn't a cut and dry as people like to make it seem.

I think it's more-so recognizing that companies and our government are encouraging us to continue to spend money, and be distracted with things like buying a new car instead of things that are certainly more important.

 

[ucfgrad93]

While I admit to drooling over new tech, I don't buy until it breaks. My newest computer is a 27" iMac that I bought new in July 2011.

 

[roadbloc]

People are just greedy I guess, but its their cash they're splashing, so they must think it worth it. I'm still using Macs from 2003 and a phone from 2009 but on the flip-side my gaming rig is pretty fresh.

 

[Apple fanboy]

People are just greedy I guess, but its their cash they're splashing, so they must think it worth it. I'm still using Macs from 2003 and a phone from 2009 but on the flip-side my gaming rig is pretty fresh.

We all find the money for the things we want.
For some it's s car, others an iPhone, for you your gaming rig. For me it's my camera equipment.

 

[maxsix]

Mobile devices, my MB, MBP, iPhone, Nexus, are both the tools for my job and my passion. Having current models is beneficial and enjoyable.

Cars are my other passion. My daily driver gets replaced at will depending on how much I'm enjoying the one I'm driving. I like variety, so I drive what appeals.

My others cars are selected based on a narrow set of parameters as I enjoy vehicles in different categories for the motoring experience. Because some models are particularly nice I have a few that I've owned for decades.