Keeping up as a consumer: the readers speak

Instead of constantly buying the latest consumer products, many of Electronic Products' engineer readers continue to make do–and in some cases thrive–on using older PCs, audio gear, and other electronic equipment. My October Viewpoint reflected on the difficulties of keeping current as a consumer with all the remarkable advances in electronics. To make a long story short, I'm part of that breed of consumer that holds onto audio, video, and computer gear until it can no longer be repaired or upgraded at a reasonable cost. Several months of numerous e-mail messages later, I can state with some pride that I'm far from alone in resisting the temptation to always have the latest and greatest. Many of our engineer readers–in some cases heavily involved in designing cutting-edge electronic products–responded by describing how they continue to use older electronic products daily. Some readers, in fact, take great pride in their older products, as is evident from the following responses:

*

“Thanks largely to good mentors, and a keen eye for good workmanship, I've grown up respecting good engineering and despising 'planned obsolescence'. To that end, I've made it a point to make good use of a number of outdated products, including DEC MicroVAX II and III systems. One of them will be my news and FTP server [I'm assembling the machines needed to make my own intranet], and another will be a testbed for translating older media to newer format.”

*

“I am writing [in response to your editorial] on a Laser 3000 computer [an Apple II clone] with Magic Window II word processor, circa 1985. My son's audio system includes two restored 40-year-old vacuum-tube amplifiers that sound terrific. He prefers LPs.”

*

“Our TV is a 30-year-old hand-me-down from my parents. The VCR is used mainly for playing kids' tapes from the public library and my 35-W stereo works as well today as it did when I bought it in high school.”

*

“Among other things, I live in a new home, but my TVs are both about 25 years old, and my stereo consists of a boom box. Maybe what things come down to is a matter of priorities. I feel that with all the things competing for my attention that it is important for me to decide which are truly worth my time. When I die, will I care if I have the newest can't-live-without gadget? Or, will I find my life well lived because I made others' lives better through my service to them, and I still have my wonderful partner and support by my side?” The last comment really put everything in perspective. There's a time and a place for everything. Do I want to be remembered as someone who spent his spare time playing with his electronic toys or someone who was there for others when needed? In this age of blazing 700-MHz PCs, next-generation DVDs, and cellular phones with Internet access, there's no question that the technology available to us is more powerful, faster, and less expensive than the previous generation. But I don't want technology to become an all-encompassing passion that runs my life. All these gadgets are just tools. Still, though, the ever-present lure of the latest and greatest beckons. As I write this editorial I have just ordered a new Pentium III PC to replace my aging 486 PC. It's not easy being a consumer. Spencer Chin, Senior Editor spencerc@electronicproducts.com PRODNUM:0