Good Enough Tech
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW just told me about a technology issue that he���s been struggling with. He was trying to get an old scanner to connect with his Mac. The solution required him to upload some outdated software.
When he finished explaining how he resolved the issue, I was happy he could scan again. I was even happier that I had a $250 personal computer. Nothing irks me more than paying a premium���the Mac premium, in his case���and winding up with connectivity issues.
This reminded me of an article from 2014 titled, ���In Praise of Crap Technology.��� The author extolled the virtues of his Coby mp3 player. It was an ancient piece of technology, even then. But it allowed him to listen to music while exercising at a very reasonable price.
Now, when I say crap technology, I���m referring to older technology that still gets the job done. Not crappy technology that never got the job done, like Google Glass.
I like crap technology for several reasons. The first is economics. Until a few years ago, I���d never owned a laptop. I was issued a series of expensive laptops at work. They were high-end because they needed to run company software, like SAP and enormous spreadsheets.
After I retired, I wanted a laptop for myself. My computer needs were small. A little Microsoft Office, some blogging and a lot of internet surfing. Buying a $1,200 Mac just didn't make sense. Besides, I���m a PC guy. I did a little research and settled on a bare-bones HP for $250. It has worked out just fine.
If asked, most people will say that they just want to pay a fair price for a product or service. I believe this is an out-and-out lie. Most Americans want to pay less for more. Getting a good deal is the American dream.
In 2019, I needed to buy a car. I didn���t relish the idea of spending $50,000, even if it came with air-conditioned seats, a smart key, teen-driver technology and a 360-degree camera. After a little research, I decided to buy a 2013 Hyundai Elantra for $9,300.
It came with enough technology to ensure my safety and convenience: anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and iPod, aux and USB inputs. It also came with a manual transmission.
That last bit of outdated technology has many advantages. It made the car that much cheaper to buy. It���s better on gas milage. And it provided built-in theft prevention. Nobody knows how to drive one.
Another advantage of crap technology is security. In 2013, I received a promotion that came with a BlackBerry. When it was handed to me, I thought, ���What the hell is that thing?��� But I quickly learned to love it because I had zero concerns about anyone stealing it. Why would they?
It also seemed metaphysically impossible to lose. You only lose costly things, like an iPhone 12 or a Montblanc pen. All this meant that I���d never have to explain to my boss how I lost the company cellphone.
Finally, crap technology can provide peace of mind. My wife just purchased a $170 coffeemaker. In my view, paying more than $30 for a glorified water heater is incomprehensible. What���s worse is this technological wonder is so complex. It requires two different filters, one for fewer than four cups and another for four or more. Its spout is sometimes open and sometimes closed. And the carafe has an interior lip that���s hard to clean. Trust me when I say that paying a premium for inferior technology doesn���t improve my morning coffee.
You technophiles can keep your $999 iPhone 13 or your $2,500 Sennheiser��AMBEO 3D Soundbar. I���ll invest the difference in a low-cost index fund. Or even better, if the alternative is $6,000 HiFiMan SUSVARA Headphones, I���ll take two first-class tickets to Berlin.
Michael Flack blogs at��AfterActionReport.info. He���s a former naval officer and 20-year veteran of the oil and gas industry. Now retired, Mike enjoys traveling, blogging and spreadsheets. Check out his earlier articles.
When he finished explaining how he resolved the issue, I was happy he could scan again. I was even happier that I had a $250 personal computer. Nothing irks me more than paying a premium���the Mac premium, in his case���and winding up with connectivity issues.
This reminded me of an article from 2014 titled, ���In Praise of Crap Technology.��� The author extolled the virtues of his Coby mp3 player. It was an ancient piece of technology, even then. But it allowed him to listen to music while exercising at a very reasonable price.
Now, when I say crap technology, I���m referring to older technology that still gets the job done. Not crappy technology that never got the job done, like Google Glass.
I like crap technology for several reasons. The first is economics. Until a few years ago, I���d never owned a laptop. I was issued a series of expensive laptops at work. They were high-end because they needed to run company software, like SAP and enormous spreadsheets.
After I retired, I wanted a laptop for myself. My computer needs were small. A little Microsoft Office, some blogging and a lot of internet surfing. Buying a $1,200 Mac just didn't make sense. Besides, I���m a PC guy. I did a little research and settled on a bare-bones HP for $250. It has worked out just fine.
If asked, most people will say that they just want to pay a fair price for a product or service. I believe this is an out-and-out lie. Most Americans want to pay less for more. Getting a good deal is the American dream.
In 2019, I needed to buy a car. I didn���t relish the idea of spending $50,000, even if it came with air-conditioned seats, a smart key, teen-driver technology and a 360-degree camera. After a little research, I decided to buy a 2013 Hyundai Elantra for $9,300.
It came with enough technology to ensure my safety and convenience: anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, and iPod, aux and USB inputs. It also came with a manual transmission.
That last bit of outdated technology has many advantages. It made the car that much cheaper to buy. It���s better on gas milage. And it provided built-in theft prevention. Nobody knows how to drive one.
Another advantage of crap technology is security. In 2013, I received a promotion that came with a BlackBerry. When it was handed to me, I thought, ���What the hell is that thing?��� But I quickly learned to love it because I had zero concerns about anyone stealing it. Why would they?
It also seemed metaphysically impossible to lose. You only lose costly things, like an iPhone 12 or a Montblanc pen. All this meant that I���d never have to explain to my boss how I lost the company cellphone.
Finally, crap technology can provide peace of mind. My wife just purchased a $170 coffeemaker. In my view, paying more than $30 for a glorified water heater is incomprehensible. What���s worse is this technological wonder is so complex. It requires two different filters, one for fewer than four cups and another for four or more. Its spout is sometimes open and sometimes closed. And the carafe has an interior lip that���s hard to clean. Trust me when I say that paying a premium for inferior technology doesn���t improve my morning coffee.
You technophiles can keep your $999 iPhone 13 or your $2,500 Sennheiser��AMBEO 3D Soundbar. I���ll invest the difference in a low-cost index fund. Or even better, if the alternative is $6,000 HiFiMan SUSVARA Headphones, I���ll take two first-class tickets to Berlin.
Michael Flack blogs at��AfterActionReport.info. He���s a former naval officer and 20-year veteran of the oil and gas industry. Now retired, Mike enjoys traveling, blogging and spreadsheets. Check out his earlier articles.The post Good Enough Tech appeared first on HumbleDollar.
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