Chasing the Latest and Greatest
 

Do you find yourself constantly after the latest and greatest technology?

If you are anything like me (a huge nerd) you probably own or lust after the newest gadgets and gizmos. It is an expensive hobby and really never ends. I got my digital SLR, a Canon T1i, shortly after it was released. I have used it and loved it, but it wasn't long before I was lusting after the 50D and now more recently the 7D.

Yesterday, we went to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Being the nerd that I am, I wanted pictures, but didn't want to carry my big, expensive camera nor risk getting it damaged. I dug up my old point and shoot and charged the battery. After getting home and looking at the pictures, there are some pretty awesome shots! Obviously, it doesn't quite have the same capabilities, but realistically it can do about 90% of what my big, fancy camera does and it is generations behind in technology.

Here is one of my favorite shots of the day with the old point and shoot:

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...m/Web-2177.jpg

So I guess the point of this thread is do you really need the latest and greatest technology? Have you found an old piece of technology that is still doing a great job?

I long ago broke myself of the habit of going for the latest and greatest. It's too expensive and troublesome to always try to be on top -- there's always something faster or shinier or better. I've instead cultivated the habit of buying to my needs. Thus we have a $250 laptop that is certainly not the fastest or best, but does precisely what I wanted. Would it be nice to have a laptop that I could play games on? Well, sure, but that's what the desktop is for.

My one concession to having 'the best' is my new phone. It's a Nexus One, and while it's not the biggest and baddest phone on the market anymore it's still near the head of the pack. Comparing it to Magpie's Magic+ it's much faster and smoother -- I probably could've done just fine and saved money with something that wasn't quite as powerful, but I think it was worth the expense. I also expect it to last me several years, so that helps to justify the expense.

I can't afford to chase after the latest and greatest. This isn't to say we don't like electronic gadgets around here. We do. I buy most of my electronics refurbished: my iPod was a refurb, my digital camera is a refurbed point-and-shoot, my netbook is also a refurb. My laptop was bought new but it's four years old and needs to be fixed. All of our desktop computers are from the Pentium 4 era.

I think that even if we did have money to do so, we probably wouldn't be that interested in having the latest and greatest; there are better things to spend money on.

I generally go with high-end items, but don't replace them for a while. They usually last longer so I don't have to keep buying replacements. I also tend to lean toward practicality, and not something that has a bunch of bells and whistles I'll never use.

Unless you truly are rich, it's pretty much impossible to keep up with gadgets because they end up being outpaced within months or even weeks.

I LOVE to travel, and that is where the majority of my extra money goes. I don't own a smart phone, and while I do have a macbook pro, i bought a refurb unit and use them for years. my first laptop is now 4.5 years old, and while it still works its running off Tiger 10.4 and so has become a media station laptop instead.

I just got a flat screen earlier this year at the instance of my parents.. this TV will probably last me 10 years. I will usually buy something in the middle to lower top third of price range. I don't want to replace it every six months if it breaks or becomes completely outdated, so that extra money is enough to meet my needs plus maybe 10-15% more.

For me, my technology is either a gift or it has to be financed. For that reason, it is never the latest and greatest. I shoot for longevity as well. I probably use my tech gear at least 2 to 3 times longer than the average person. So for a couple of years after I get something I look normal, but a couple of years after that (or more), I look like I'm not all that interested in technology because my stuff is so old. This isn't true, I'm a big tech geek. I just can't afford the stuff.

As an example, I usually run my PCs into the ground. I normally only buy PC games after they've been out for a couple of years or more and they're really cheap. It's often the case that my PC can't run the latest games, so I have to wait until I replace the PC to buy them. By then, they've been out for a long time and the next great age in gaming is already under way. I'm a laggard that way, I guess.

I don't have a smart phone. I probably won't have one for another couple of years unless I get one as a gift. If it's a gift, it will be one that is deeply discounted probably (so a bit older).

I just can't justify buying the latest and greatest when I know it will cost me twice as much by the time I finish paying it off, especially when it will be half the price if I buy it when it's older.

I've gotten to the point now where I usually only buy a tech product if I need it for work reasons (and even then it's usually to replace something broken or obsolete). Gifts are for fun.

I tend to buy higher end things; but I also use them until they drop. I'm not really prone to upgrade-itis.

I ...am living in another time...a time of cassettes....even 8 tracks. I said this to CD and he gasped and asked why I dont listen to CD's. Well, because they jump like records use to, when I walk with them. So I gave away my portable CD player with headphones and reverted back to my cassette player.

I dont have a flat screen tv. And I only have ONE tv in the entire house.

my laptop is an old dell someone painted pink for me and cost me $200.

I have a cordless phone. I am quite proud of myself. I paid $30 for it.

CD talks to me in tech-ese and I just tilt my head and he says I get a look on my face...so not in this time period. He promises to teach me things...heh...

but I have to share with you a little story between us. He asked me if I had a MP3 player. I had no idea what that was. Once he was able to get me to grasp the concept, I said I didnt need it because my cassette player worked just fine.

but tonight, he got me one. And I fussed..until he sent me floods of music...music that lifted my spirits and my heart and made me feel gasp and swoon and cry and laugh....I was like a child on Christmas morning...it was the most precious gift...the gift of seemingly never ending music....

what a good BF he is...

so I guess I dont chase the latest and the greatest..my BF does and I get the second hand effect...

I used to lust after the "latest and greatest" until I came to the unfortunate realization that 'greatest' had been replaced with 'cheapest.' Now, I yearn for the best, no matter how old it is nor how big.

It's not just a quip, they really don't make shit like they used to.

hey IM2Smart....thats a great photo for an old time camera!

Generally, this is true for us as well. Also, we do a bunch of research before actually purchasing something. Consumer Reports (I access it via the public library) is very, very helpful.

Thanks! I've got the camera setup to take pictures in DNG format so I can squeeze every bit out of this little cam! I'm pretty thrilled with the results and will likely carry it around more.

I used to but then I realized when I have something new and cool people are always wanting to talk about it. I'm way to anti-social for that.

I did for a few years when I was deep in the tech industry. I kind of had to since the community I was supporting was doing it I didn't have much choice in the matter. At least the company helped pay for some of it. There was a good portion that wasn't covered by them and I still had some tech gaps.

Now, I don't bother. I pick up tech if it satisfies a need. Right now I need an ereader. Well, I want one. I've been waiting at least 2 iterations and I'm finally ready.

It was a Zen Stone, pink of course and it was the best 40 dollars ever spent.....
really it was