The Urge to Trade Up

[billroper]

The problem with being a techie type is that you look at a perfectly good device. Then you read the reviews. Then you conclude that for just a little more, you could get a better one. Then you read the reviews. Then you conclude that for just a little more, you could get a better one.

After several cycles of lather, rinse, repeat, you discover that the device you would like to buy costs a bit more than four times the price of the device that you have now. And the device that you have now is ok for what it does, but the new and better device could do so much more.

In your copious spare time, of course.

I think we'll think about this a bit longer. :)

Comments

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

You forgot the part where you make spreadsheets of the various aspects and then try to figure out how to weight them into a total factor.

[billroper]

Oh, no! It's more fun to try to keep all of the data in your head. Then you get to keep re-reading the reviews.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

But... the formulae! The data plots! The graphs!

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

My recurring upgrade battle is with thinking: people with more expensive lenses (for example) take better pictures on average, therefore if I bought a better lens.... Though I know that it's mostly bad logic and a dumb trap, there's just enough truth there for it to be dangerous.

[billroper]

Well, yes. On the other hand, I'm of the opinion that if you can hear that you sound better when playing a more expensive guitar, then you are at least entitled to think about buying it. :)

[groblek.livejournal.com]

Heh. My fiddle teacher let me play with his nice toys at one of my last lessons, and now I'm saving up for an upgrade.

[hms42]

After several cycles of lather, rinse, repeat,

Listening to Randy Hoffman's filk of Destroyer recently? :)

As for the upgrading line, I know that feeling too well... I am in the market to replace my desktop computer (Laptop is currently in program and data migration from old to new) and I keep holding off till I can get the latest upgrades. (The current desktop has lasted me 7 years and still has 1-2 parts from when I built it fall 2002.) Right now its do I want USB 3 onboard or skip that and get an add in card in about a year or two when I actually have a USB3 device.

[msminlr.livejournal.com]

If Gretchen hasn't already done a song from the wife's POV in this situation, she needs to.

[kizoku42.livejournal.com]

Same thing with backpacking gear. Sooo much niftier, keener, lighter...