Technology changes fast. And new advancements are announced with great fanfare. The promise of changing how we interact with the world is just as standard on new technological devices as a power-on button. This promise sounds good to us. And so we buy and buy these devices in incredible numbers. Meanwhile, our old devices sit around because we’re not sure what to do with them. Is ever-growing device clutter inevitable?
Experts in the tech world make a distinction between technical obsolescence and functional obsolescence.
Technical obsolescence occurs as soon as your device is surpassed in its features by another device of its type—for example, the maker of your smartphone comes out with a newer model ten months after you bought yours.
Functional obsolescence, on the other hand, occurs only when your device no longer works like it’s supposed to. That happens, for example, when the software it runs ceases to work properly and is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
A lot of us are tempted to buy something new soon after reaching the point of technical obsolescence. If we find out that the cool new gadget we bought last month has been replaced on the market by an even cooler one, then we want that one!
I would argue that we should wait until we get closer to functional obsolescence with our devices. So what if we don’t have the newest thing? Who’s really going to care?
Now, I am not against the development or use of technology. In fact, I’m pleased to say that minimalism is more possible today than ever because of technology. In my phone, I carry movies, books, music, maps, a calendar, plane tickets, and an address book (just to name a few)—all things I don’t have to maintain in bulkier formats. Technology is one reason minimalism continues to grow; it has never been easier to own less.
But I fear that these days many assume new technology automatically makes things better and only adds convenience. This is not true.
In fact, when we don’t consume technology in a mindful way, it often adds clutter to our lives. It quickly drains our energy, our time, our room, and our bank accounts. Who among us hasn’t wasted an entire afternoon trying to get a computer to accomplish one seemingly simple thing?
When deciding whether to buy or to hang on to devices and gadgets—both in the present and the future—the filter we need to employ is the simple question “What problem does it solve?”
Technology should make our lives easier by solving problems both at home and at work quickly and more efficiently. But if our technology is not solving a specific problem for us, it is only adding to them.
Eliminating the clutter caused by holding on to old devices (and cords and batteries) that we are no longer using is often just a matter of taking the time to dispose of them properly. Most areas have electronics donation and recycling centers.
But what about our future purchases?
Buying a new phone just because the upgrade has become available is foolish if it doesn’t improve your life. The same could be said of cameras, home entertainment equipment, and computers. You don’t need a bigger-screen television if you can see fine with the one you currently have. Rarely do people regret waiting as long as possible to upgrade their technology. You don’t need to line up to purchase a new product just because the corporation that manufactures it says you need it.
What you need to do instead is count the full opportunity cost of your purchases. What else could you do with the money you won’t spend if you pass up a tech purchase? Pay down your debt? Enjoy a weekend vacation? Replace that worn-out mattress you’ve been using longer than your last phone?
Start asking if new technology is really improving your life or taking you away from what matters.
Hanging on to technology for a while isn’t the end of a dream. It’s the beginning of making greater progress toward what you want out of life.
“Device Advice” is an excerpt from The More of Less.
Dax says
Good read, as usual.
Never made a distinction between technical obsolescence and functional obsolescence until now. When you work in my industry (Telecom) “obsolescence” is a big selling point for upgrades.
From a personal perspective, sometimes it is hard to resist that next new gadget, especially if you can afford it. Working on it…
Elle @ New Graduate Finance says
Spot on.
I try to combat this by upgrading when necessary (definitely not just when a new device becomes available) but also by not buying the most expensive model.
I never buy the newest phone model. I also switch phones every 2-3 years (and realistically I could go longer…)
I’ve had the same MacBook Air for about 5 years. It is still kicking, but I am considering adding a >$200 Chromebook to the mix so that I can hopefully get more value without spending too much. Also, I’ve learned that a new battery for my Macbook would cost almost as much as a Chromebook… it seems like a pretty simple choice to me.
Judy says
I had a flip phone for years! I only got the i-phone because my job required it…
Amit says
I have never understood this ‘fascination’ with overpriced apple or any other gadgets. (I will admit I have fallen for the apple ipod around 15 years ago….NEVER again.)
A phone is used 90% of the times for calls,messages,music,pics.
Reading and typing on the small form factor phones never made sense to me.
Now-a-days literally any decently priced smart phone does a pretty good job in the above features.
How insecure can one be in his/her own skin to want to constantly upgrade to ‘feel better’?
And I seriously doubt that these devices are made of such poor quality that they just konk off after a few years.
Just buy the product with your own money rather than using a credit card and I believe the gadgets will last much longer.
Jeanette says
I totally agree with you. I purchased a smart phone in May 2014 under duress from my husband who said it was becoming a necessary tool (he had one from his company). I had felt my flip phone was just fine and a lot cheaper. I do like having a smart phone and plan to keep my original one until it dies. I purposely purchased an Otter Box to better protect it from being dropped. It’s doing just fine after almost 4 years, and I have an SD card in it so I never run out of room. We have a Dell desktop which is 10 years old. It’s still working well, but we did get a new computer so we can transfer over all our files before the old one decides to die. And….as for fitbits, I don’t even have that. I have a Polar FT4 which I wear to the gym when I work out. That was a Christmas present maybe in 2013. It works perfectly and tells me all the stats I need to know from my workout. Every once in awhile, I have to purchase a new $5 battery for it. Why should I get a fitbit or Apple watch? And then there’s the TV. We got that maybe 17 years ago. It was supposed to last 5 years, and it’s still going strong. It’s not a flat screen, but, again, why spend the money on the latest and greatest when the TV works just fine? We are probably the only ones in America who don’t have a flat screen, but we don’t care. We’re not in competition with the Joneses, and we like to keep our tech items until they quit working. Our philosophy and practice gives us the freedom to help others with our finances, to travel, and to save.
Amy says
My husband and I both have an iphone 5s that we purchased new as soon as the iphone 6 was released, and a Dell laptop (cost less than $500) that we purchased in 2012, and an ipad mini from 2015. All are still going strong and more than meet our needs. Certainly not the latest nor the greatest, and I never feel as a “cool” as the person next to me when I am teleworking. We both have work-issued “upgraded” iphones and laptops; meh, I will keep my current gadgets until they no longer work or I am ready to pass them onto my daughter in a few years (the horror for her!)
Linda Sand says
My husband sometimes gets frustrated with my unwillingness to upgrade. I say this works for me. If it’s not broken why would I want to “fix” it. I do sometimes take his hand me downs when he upgrades, though. He works in technology so he needs newer than I do. And selling my old back when I take his newer puts off even longer my need to buy new.
zigzag says
My flip phone and 9-year-old Thinkpad are still going strong, knock on wood! The marketing budgets behind technical devices must be astronomical to get people to feel like they have to pre-order or queue up at the store on release day to be one of the very first to get the latest and greatest.
Lisa Zahn says
I was looking for a new band for my Fitbit Flex and found online that Kohls had them, so I went into the local Kohls and asked for help finding them. They were WAY in the back of the store, on clearance. I said to the salesperson, a young woman, that I should probably just upgrade to a newer Fitbit but that for now spending 10 bucks for a new band sounded better. She said something I’ll never forget: “I wouldn’t upgrade until that one stops working.” Wow. Such simple wisdom rang so true, and it has kept me from looking at the newer, shinier, more expensive Fitbits since–I’ll wait till my Flex dies, thank you very much.
WhatsUpSusan says
So very very true! I need to get rid of a few now.