Last Year’s Model is just fine with me
Not that we need any more reasons to spurn conspicuous consumption these days, but I’m a big proponent of the message behind Last Year’s Model. It’s simple and to the point: do you really need a new gadget? I’d be willing to be more often than not the answer is probably no.
Maybe that’s a little surprising coming from someone so entrenched in the gadget space, but I’ve actually been discouraging most upgrading for years (namely because I find people typically upgrade for the sake of upgrading). When it comes to buying new kit, I think there are actually a few important things one should take into account:
- Companies love to issue seasonal gadget upgrades — which I often refer to as “incremental differentiation.” We should be more critical of being oversold on what often amounts to extremely minor product updates (in the grand scheme of things).
- Thanks to an increasing stasis in hardware specs and staying power by way of firmware updates (think Xbox 360 + NXE, iPhone + firmware 2.0 / 3.0) and hacks built by the community, people have really begun to lack a compelling reason to upgrade their devices as often as they did just a few years ago. (And yes, this totally freaks out a lot of companies who don’t yet know how to adapt.)
- It’s hard and time consuming to research, identify, and buy devices and systems that work well and get the job done — so when you do, you should appreciate them all the more.
So, do you really need that next device? Maybe so, but for whatever it’s worth, I used my last digital camera for years — and through many, many product updates — and eventually shot over 10,000 images on it. (I would probably be using it to this day had I not dropped and broken it.) Likewise, my HDTV is a few years old now, and my desktop PC is almost five — both still work so damned well the idea of an “upgrade” seems kind of silly.
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Nice article. I think it depends on the device. You can get well over 5 years out of digital cameras, TVs and even computers these days. However theres 1 gadget I’ll be upgrading yearly, and thats the iPhone.
I’ve actually always had this kind of viewpoint” probably more from neccessity than you, but the result is the same. For me, I just can’t justify the price of the latest-greatest when what I have works fine. Don’t get me wrong, I would like the latest, just not going to sell a kidney to get it.
Case in point: I’m using an HTC Toucha s my main phone and am typing this on a TYTN II. Top that! :)
I totally agree! I still have last year’s Blackberry. Won’t get iPhone until is is compatible with outlook (OK so never.)
Have a 5 yr old computer that I re-habbed a bit (2yrs.)ago. Finally going to get a new model.
I am a firm believer in getting the best you can afford right now, and hanging on to it until “it just doesn’t work anymore”. Not a fan of buying the newest new thing, don’t think that is even sustainable for most folks.
I agree 100%. I still do not even own a digital camera but I will be in Nagoya Japan for a year and think now would be the time to pick one up. Hopefully I can record otherwise I will be picking up a small video camera as well. Suggestions so I do not feel compelled to pick up “next years model”
It’s not just gadgets, either. Lots of companies in a variety of different markets feel this need to constantly refresh their products. Of particular note is the ailing automobile industry.
We take it for granted that every year there is a new model of every car. It’s such an ingrained thing that nobody even questions it. Well, why do we need a new model of every car every year? Why not constantly and incrementally improve the car over time, instead of just once a year? If the car is just fine, why not leave it alone until it’s actually starting to get old? I’ve got an ’06 Mazda3, and the ’09 really isn’t any different. The changes are so minor as to be insignificant.
Another example, EA Sports games. The Madden game from a couple years ago is just fine. They should just sell, or (heaven forbid) give, you the roster updates over the ‘net instead of remaking the entire game every year.
If you want to upgrade something, make it meaningful. There should be a significant difference between product revisions.
I generally take the opposite view, with my main computer at least. I upgrade every single year, and every year I sell my notebook for nearly what I paid for it. I use the sale as reason to swap out the HD (and keep the old one as backup, meaning the new one is upgraded for the new owner and that adds value). I sell them for so much it’s like renting a notebook for a couple of bucks a week.
Anything other than my main computer and main phone though I will try and drag out wherever possible, as you say. Nice little post, Ryan and a point to be considered more.
I’d have to say I totally agree with you. Thought my Blackberry Bold isn’t that old on the market, it finally gave me the right mix of what I need to truly be mobile in the areas I needed to be. And with the right mix of apps that I have added to the phone, I have found good value in this current model.
Now while there seems to be quite a few newer models hitting the month in the next couple months, I see no reason to drop my Bold now and upgrade, I’m comfortable and happy with my current device and don’t see a need to upgrade it unless my needs change and it can’t handle a any new need I might have.
Matt Hoult, I do the same with my computers. When a new Mac OS is out, I generally upgrade my Mac after selling the old one for market value (which is pretty good for Macs). Other than that, I usually keep my hardware around for a while.
Examples -
Current phone – W850i
Current iPod – 4G 20GB
Portable console – PSP Phat
All of these work great for my needs, there’s no need to upgrade.
Still using my first gen iPhone. Works just fine although after about a year and a half of use I do notice that the battery doesn’t have quite the charge capacity as it did when new. I’ll probably replace the battery soon to avoid trouble and by the time the third gen iPhone comes out I’ll be considering an upgrade, depending on what new features are available. Sorry, but 3g, while nice, wasn’t enough to get me to upgrade for the last round. I want 32GB or more and an improved screen. That will be the ticket!
Well-written and eminently sensible post, thanks! It was a delight to hear this from “someone so entrenched in the gadget space”. I hope that more people adopt your admirable position on this.
Hell, I’m downgrading. Love my new 1971 Sony Trinitron 13″ ! Well partially true made the leap to color a few years ago.
It does depend on the device and what the upgrade is. Computers can last a really long time but then they will have so little re-sell value that they tend to be disposed of. Other devices that are sold on or given away are less of a dilemma. The mobile phone market seems to be the most wasteful at the moment, with everyone having to get the current ‘must have’ device. I’m guilty of that myself I have to admit.
How good it feels to know I am not the only person who has this viewpoint. My webserver is running on a 6 year old dual processor machine which runs Windows 2003 and actually outperforms my dual-core Intel server with 64-bit Windows 2003. Many people I know buy the latest and greatest simply because they don’t know much about technology and can only rely on the manufacturer’s hype to make decisions about buying. I am finally buying a cellphone which will take pictures, but it was as much because it has many other features which are just as worthy to me as taking photos. Anyway, thank you all for sharing your opinions on this pet peeve of mine.
This kind of philosophy would be hard to get to the Far Eastern consumerism culture. Hongkongers tend to change phones every two or three months to catch up with the “trend”, and with the increasing number of cheap Chinese KIRF phones (some of which are more practical than the genuine models e.g. TV reception and dual SIM slot), I wouldn’t be surprised to see a higher upgrade rate in the near future.
That said, I’m proud to say that I’ve been on my iPhone (2G) for a year and a half now – the longest record so far! Judging by the rumours so far I’m still not sure if the next iPhone will lure my wallet. Either way, I’ve reserved a budget for either the next iPhone, the Tonium Pacemaker or a video-recording DSLR. :)
There’s nothing worse than upgrading to the latest and greatest model only to find out they did away with or changed a feature you found vital on the old model. Especially with cellphones since you get the phone and then you’re locked into it for 2 years usually.
I’m still using a Treo 755p (Palm) on Sprint and I am no longer under contract.
As much fun as it would be to keep using it, it’s been 2-years and my phone is really showing its age. It’s a device I use every day and it’s well worth an upgrade.
I think that Apple is the hottest tech company right now and that they are producing the very best and certainly the most enjoyable electronic products today. I am a gadget lover, but not a tech type of person; in other words I am a user or operator of electronic things. I use them for fun, personal and business, and I think it is odd that you haven’t purchased the 3GS. I would guess that Veronica has one and that you may get one in the future.
The 3GS is one of the most fun and useful items I have used ever. I do love the Palm Pre and I say the same thing about it, (I have one also) but the iPhone has a slight edge for me.
I know what you mean, and I agree a little bit, but not where the iPhone is concerned.
Sadly I have to take things a step further. I don’t get to buy this years latest thing and then next year carry on using it and say “Last years model is fine”
I have to buy last years model or older, now and make do for years hehe
I take issue with PC’s lasting for 5 years. If you keep upgrading them along the way and you were smart enough to buy a decent motherboard then 5 years is possible but it’s going to suck at gaming or any heavyweight tasks. I think there is a need to upgrade one or two components yearly with PC’s to keep them fairly up to date and this is coming from someone that can’t afford an iPhone at all. :)
I completely agree, there is absolutely no need to go out and buy a completely new product when the last works just as well, if not the same! Companies are constantly trying to rip consumers off with new upgrades when they already have the next seven waiting in line to be released!