Upgrade fatigue? - Page 2

teh603 · 10-31-2012, 09:03 AM

New hardware comes out. Software designers rush to push it to the limit and drown it with bloat. Hardware becomes slow, new hardware is released, software designers push it to the limit again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

That's one reason why I like Android; like GEOS on the C64, you have to get used to working on a low-end platform in a small memory space.

NickyWithNook · 10-31-2012, 09:26 AM

I'm still happy with my iPad 2. I feel no urge to upgrade until what I'm using stops working.

tubemonkey · 10-31-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

I'm still happy with my iPad 2. I feel no urge to upgrade until what I'm using stops working.

I plan on doing the same thing with my iPod touch 4. It still works great and the 5 offers nothing extra for how I use this device.

Joykins · 10-31-2012, 04:23 PM

I feel no urgency to upgrade my iPhone 3GS or Kindle 4 NT. They work perfectly fine.

I did want to upgrade my 1st gen nook, though. It has annoying issues that my Kindle does not. As it is, I still own it but don't use it as much.

And since I have a smartphone and e-reader, I don't see the need for a tablet even. The things I want done need either a laptop or something I already have that is just as / more portable. I don't usually watch movies, but when I do it is on my family's large HDTV.

ucfgrad93 · 10-31-2012, 04:29 PM

Just because updates are released doesn't mean you have to buy them. I am still using the following devices:

Kindle Keyboard purchased in June 2011.
iPhone 4 purchased in June 2010.
MacBook Pro purchased January 2008.
iMac purchased August 2007.

holymadness · 10-31-2012, 04:37 PM

There is a relentless pressure in the technology world to always have the latest model. This pressure comes from both the media (you won't be cool if you don't upgrade) and companies (you won't have the best experience if you don't upgrade). I find it very fatiguing.

It's a weird industry, to be sure. It may be this tendency will slow down as devices mature.

Or not. Fashion has been with us forever and that changes (forcing you to "upgrade") every year.

DustyDisks · 10-31-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holymadness

There is a relentless pressure in the technology world to always have the latest model. This pressure comes from both the media (you won't be cool if you don't upgrade) and companies (you won't have the best experience if you don't upgrade). I find it very fatiguing.

It's a weird industry, to be sure. It may be this tendency will slow down as devices mature.

Or not. Fashion has been with us forever and that changes (forcing you to "upgrade") every year.

The industry is driven by market share and production. They have to search for ways to standout from the other brands. So we see different gimmicks and advances in the technology. If they do not produce, they die on the vine.

All of these company's are "Public" as far as ownership and the stock/bond holders want to see their dividends = Grow and profit or lose market share and stocks take a dump.

Sales drive production and earnings so the race is on between the different brands/company's to get theirs.

The end result is the constant beating of the media drums for the consumer to buy, buy, buy.

QuantumIguana · 10-31-2012, 05:56 PM

I don't feel any pressure to upgrade. The tech websites and the manufacturers can't pressure me. What they try to do is to tempt you to upgrade. Any industry will try to tempt you to upgrade. Look at cars: some people keep their cars for many years, some people have to have the latest model. My e-reader is good enough, I'll replace it when it breaks, but until then, I have no need to replace it. Others feel differently, of course, and for them, what the latest model offers is worthwhile.

twowheels · 10-31-2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommonReader

Instead you are now expected to clutter your desk with a separate DVD-drive at your own expense or to crawl behind the computer just because you want to put in a SD-Card.

DVD? What's that? :-) I've not used one of those in ages. Apple has always been on the forefront of deprecating old technologies, and it's usually not long before everybody else follow suit.

Apple was one of the first to go to the 3.5" floppy... people whined.
Apple was one of the first to get rid of the floppy... people whined.
Apple was one of the first to get rid of built in modems... people whined.

Yet, nobody whines now that desktops don't come with 5.25" floppy drives, nor 3.5" floppy drives, nor 56k modems... the DVD is nearly as obsolete. If you're one of the few who need it, you still have an option to buy a drive. I personally would be glad to have one less item that can fail.

BeccaPrice · 10-31-2012, 06:53 PM

I recently got a Droid Razr phone, and frankly I'm thinking of downgrading as soon as I'm eligible to to a regular old flip phone. somehow my email address book got mixed into my phone book, it won't allow me to delete items from the list, and it's a bloody pain. I hardly use any of the features of a smart phone anyway.

I do have Mantano on it, but can't figure out how to use it. I'm not usually technically impaired, but I think this smart phone is smarter than I am... at least I can't get it to do what I want it to do.

teh603 · 10-31-2012, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Apple was one of the first to get rid of built in modems... people whined.

What built-in modems? The PowerBooks were the only ones that had them, and you could only use them as modems with a special adapter that blocked the ethernet jack. Everything else was GeoPort based and not well supported.

Edit: Ok, fine, the original bondi blue iMac had one, but that was the only desktop I can remember that did.

DarkScribe · 10-31-2012, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommonReader

As he caressed the side of the latest iMac personal computer, he noted how thin it was - five millimeters, 80 percent thinner than the last one. Then he said, with an air of surprise, as if he'd just thought of it: "Isn't it amazing how something new makes the previous thing instantly look old?"

The new iMac is a risible design. There is no apparent reason why a desktop computer should strive for thinness. It neither has to be squeezed into a bag, nor do people put it on the wall like a flatscreen TV. Instead you are now expected to clutter your desk with a separate DVD-drive at your own expense or to crawl behind the computer just because you want to put in a SD-Card.

The smaller Apple makes their computers, the more rapid the failure due to overheating. Look at the first five years of G5 iMacs. More of them had power supply or motherboard failures than didn't. Usually electrolytic capacitors failing. a ten dollar repair for which Apple charges several hundred.

carpetmojo · 10-31-2012, 08:26 PM

I've been loyal to XP on my PC for rather longer than I can remember, but things were getting a little creaky - and then the PC hardware started complaining, so I made a rash decision to, yes, upgrade...
Well, the boys in my excellent local indy computer shop, who I also stayed loyal to, gave me a very good hardware deal on a new "stack" - and then offered me Windows 8 on an even better deal !
They suggested that as I was making such a momentous change anyway if I went Win 7, I might as well go for the full monty ...

And, Mr. TecDunce here likes it - can't use it properly yet, that'll be another 6 months+ probably (!) but I for one have not quite got upgrade fatigue

even though it is my second in around 8 years ?

I mean, I've even got a new 'phone, I must be mad.
(Not quite as successful as the PC - me fingers are a bit podgy for the touchscreen gubbins !)

Freeshadow · 10-31-2012, 09:18 PM

Back in the 386/486 time hardware changes mattered in terms of functionality. There were new things coming out which factually needed more computing power in terms of number crunching capabilities. Nowdays even the eldest computer an average user might still have up running would be still enough in terms of power to get stuff done without a "set it up and return after lunch" scenario. So they stuff the new gui and os versions with useless optical frills to make them waste computing power on.

SteveEisenberg · 10-31-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

So they stuff the new gui and os versions with useless optical frills to make them waste computing power on.

This is consistent with Wirth's Law:

Quote:

Software is getting slower more rapidly than hardware becomes faster.

It really shouldn't be called a law, as there are exceptions.

As a Windows programmer, I have reasons to keep up with Microsoft updates. And Windows 8 apparently violates Wirth's Law.

But as far as my Kindle Keyboard 3G with the lighted case is concerned, it is hard for me to see much room for improvement. In several ways, Kindle devices have been getting worse -- limited 3G, no audio, worse battery life, and harder to repair.

10-31-2012, 08:26 PM	#28
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Alright for some ....... I've been loyal to XP on my PC for rather longer than I can remember, but things were getting a little creaky - and then the PC hardware started complaining, so I made a rash decision to, yes, upgrade... Well, the boys in my excellent local indy computer shop, who I also stayed loyal to, gave me a very good hardware deal on a new "stack" - and then offered me Windows 8 on an even better deal ! They suggested that as I was making such a momentous change anyway if I went Win 7, I might as well go for the full monty ... And, Mr. TecDunce here likes it - can't use it properly yet, that'll be another 6 months+ probably (!) but I for one have not quite got upgrade fatigue even though it is my second in around 8 years ? I mean, I've even got a new 'phone, I must be mad. (Not quite as successful as the PC - me fingers are a bit podgy for the touchscreen gubbins !)

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10-31-2012, 09:03 AM	#16
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	New hardware comes out. Software designers rush to push it to the limit and drown it with bloat. Hardware becomes slow, new hardware is released, software designers push it to the limit again. Wash, rinse, repeat. That's one reason why I like Android; like GEOS on the C64, you have to get used to working on a low-end platform in a small memory space.

10-31-2012, 09:26 AM	#17
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	I'm still happy with my iPad 2. I feel no urge to upgrade until what I'm using stops working.

10-31-2012, 04:23 PM	#19
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,612 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I feel no urgency to upgrade my iPhone 3GS or Kindle 4 NT. They work perfectly fine. I did want to upgrade my 1st gen nook, though. It has annoying issues that my Kindle does not. As it is, I still own it but don't use it as much. And since I have a smartphone and e-reader, I don't see the need for a tablet even. The things I want done need either a laptop or something I already have that is just as / more portable. I don't usually watch movies, but when I do it is on my family's large HDTV.

10-31-2012, 04:29 PM	#20
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,372 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Just because updates are released doesn't mean you have to buy them. I am still using the following devices: Kindle Keyboard purchased in June 2011. iPhone 4 purchased in June 2010. MacBook Pro purchased January 2008. iMac purchased August 2007.

10-31-2012, 04:37 PM	#21
holymadness Guru Posts: 722 Karma: 2084955 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPhone	There is a relentless pressure in the technology world to always have the latest model. This pressure comes from both the media (you won't be cool if you don't upgrade) and companies (you won't have the best experience if you don't upgrade). I find it very fatiguing. It's a weird industry, to be sure. It may be this tendency will slow down as devices mature. Or not. Fashion has been with us forever and that changes (forcing you to "upgrade") every year.

10-31-2012, 05:56 PM	#23
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I don't feel any pressure to upgrade. The tech websites and the manufacturers can't pressure me. What they try to do is to tempt you to upgrade. Any industry will try to tempt you to upgrade. Look at cars: some people keep their cars for many years, some people have to have the latest model. My e-reader is good enough, I'll replace it when it breaks, but until then, I have no need to replace it. Others feel differently, of course, and for them, what the latest model offers is worthwhile.

10-31-2012, 06:53 PM	#25
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I recently got a Droid Razr phone, and frankly I'm thinking of downgrading as soon as I'm eligible to to a regular old flip phone. somehow my email address book got mixed into my phone book, it won't allow me to delete items from the list, and it's a bloody pain. I hardly use any of the features of a smart phone anyway. I do have Mantano on it, but can't figure out how to use it. I'm not usually technically impaired, but I think this smart phone is smarter than I am... at least I can't get it to do what I want it to do.

10-31-2012, 09:18 PM	#29
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,818 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Back in the 386/486 time hardware changes mattered in terms of functionality. There were new things coming out which factually needed more computing power in terms of number crunching capabilities. Nowdays even the eldest computer an average user might still have up running would be still enough in terms of power to get stuff done without a "set it up and return after lunch" scenario. So they stuff the new gui and os versions with useless optical frills to make them waste computing power on.