Planned Obsolescence
OK, this is my new pet peeve. The thing that pisses me off. The BUGGER. Stupid Planned Obsolescence.
I HATE when a product is introduced, knowing that in a few years, it will be yesterday’s news, and no one will bother anymore, because it won’t work with the new technology. My first experience with this, I think, was when my mom bought a Betamax. We didn’t have any kind of VCR device, and she went to Consumer Reports to find out which was the best on the market (Having learned her lesson from her Pontiac Sunbird, which was the worst year of the whole line, and ended up being a pain in the ass car from almost the day we got it.) So, she came home with a Betamax, and Richard and I felt pretty much like Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married, and her dad came home with an Edsel. We both knew the writing was on the wall, why didn’t she? Because, probably, Sony had no intention of making the Betamax obsolete soon. But we knew that even though it was the better product, it wasn’t going to last.
Cut to present day, when our current answering machine is a piece of CRAP with a digital recorder, and whenever someone calls and leaves a message, all we can hear is “wa wah wha whah wha wha…”, like Charlie Brown’s teacher or something. Makes me miss my old Brother answering machine, that had actual TAPES in it, that you could even take out of your answering machine and put in your tape deck if you wanted to play the message back to your friends over and over to try to analyze WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT when he called? Not that you would do that, mind you, ahem, and neither would I, but it sure was nice to be able to hear what the heck people were saying when they called. (Now might be a nice time to hear if anyone has an answering machine that is currently on the market that they love. I’ll buy it, I swear.)
And now, with the G_D D*#N VIDEO GAMES. A couple of years ago, Ted wanted an X-Box for his birthday. Mostly so we could get and play the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game (Chaos Bleeds) that they had on the display model at the gaming store. So, being a good wife, I got it for him. I got addicted to the Buffy game, some medical issues involving repetitive movement in my hand resulted, and all was (mostly) well. Now, of course, they have the stupid XBox 360. Stupid, you say? Why would it be Stupid? BECAUSE, I can read the writing on the wall, and actually, it’s pretty darned big writing at that. When I go to Target or GameStop or whatever, there is a tiny little section devoted to games that will work on my XBox, and many, many more for the XBox 360. The new game that Maya wants, “Pinata something or another” isn’t available on regular XBox, only XBox 360. And don’t ask, because we already did…games made for the 360 don’t work on the old model. Damn it all, don’t these people realize that not everyone WANTS to spend $350+++ dollars every few years on the newest and greatest thing? Do they think that I’m stupid enough to think that if I buy an XBox 360, they won’t come out with something new in a few years, that is bigger and better, and they will no longer make new games for the 360? Well, I’m not. Really, I don’t have a problem with technology improving. I know how it goes. But I don’t see WHY they can’t continue to make new games for the XBOX, so that we can play them, too, and still be able to buy a new water heater when we need one.
You want to know why? $$$$. They make a lot more money this way. Ask my mom when the last time was that she found a new video available for her Betamax.
18 Comments
Py Korry
I agree that it’s annoying. But being computer users, it’s pretty much a given that every 3 years or so we buy a new computer.
J
I thought of that, too…the computer thing. For some reason this bugs me more…maybe because the stores are being taken over by the new stuff, and soon we won’t be able to get games for the old one, blah blah blah. Bugs me.
Beenzzz
I can’t keep up with this crap. If I did, I would spend thousands of dollars on toys. I’d rather just stick to my ignorant bliss. 🙂
Ml
It’s very frustrating! We had the same problem with a tv. I wanted a plain, simple square thing that I can plug in and watch. Lew did research on comsumer reports and it’s “oh it has to be HDTV this, and it has to not be plasma cause…, and oh, it cost 3 million dallas. Am, no, I want a PLAIN, OLE, TV! So, I went out and bought a plain, ole tv, and it works. It does piss me off that they practically force you to buy new things just to keep up. I like to turn the other way and say kiss my a**.
Sheryl
Yea, it’s a stupid word, but it’s a great phrase isn’t it?
/I’m such geek!/
Jenny
This is so true, Exavier wants that dumb Wii game. But it looks dumb, like you would get tired of waving your arms around. Not to mention he wants an XBox 360 too. I dont have $500 to get a new system and $60 for each game he wants. In the end you can be looking at spending around $1000 for each system you end up owning. The price just seems to increase for every new item that comes out. How can the average poor person keep up?
Gina
I don’t have time to keep up with the latest and greatest, although I have a feeling that as Mr. P gets older, I will have to deal.
I kind of wanted to get a Wii, but I am going to wait, because I think they will come out with a better version in a couple of years. How sad that we now think this way.
Wendy
It’s so friggin true – but with everything – buy a computer, a week later it’s $500 less – a camera? a week later, there are more and more megapixels being built in – it’s like you cannot keep up no matter what! That’s why I don’t buy warranties on electronic equipment anymore – i figure well hell, if it breaks in 2 years, the latest and greatest will be more affordable than fixing the damn thing!
starshine
I’ve never heard the expression “Planned Obsolescence”. Love knowing the new phrase…hate what it’s all about.
I, too, once drove a piece-of-junk Pontiac Sunbird that broke down in the middle of nowhere when I was on a roadtrip in college with some friends. Bummer. Thank God for keeping us safe! We all had to hop a Grey Hound bus to come back home and never made it to our Spring Break destination. The car is probably still sitting in a junk yard in the panhandle of Texas.
Cherry
They can’t keep making the new games for the older systems because they are utilizing the new technology of the new system. Bigger, Faster, more WOW!
I’m always late in the game when it comes to gaming systems, and Eric would prefer if I didn’t go there at all. I bought a Playstaton well after the PS2 came out, and then I bought a PS2 right before the PS3 came out.
And now? I want to build a new computer because my totally awesome computer of 2000 is not so awesome anymore, and can’t keep up with any new games. I put a good $500 into it in upgrades and now it’s still behind the times. It’s fine for surfing and wordprocessing, but that’s about it.
Man I sound like a geek.
Eternal Lotus
Okay, I’m not too annoyed with planned obsolescence. Here’s why. I know when I buy a cute shirt, I’m probably only going to like it for a year, MAYBE two. I try to buy mostly classic pieces, but sometimes, something trendy will catch my eye. Mulitply that by a few shirts or skirts or shoes each year.
Plus, technology is always evolving and even though these engineers know that there’s newer tech in the pipeline, they have to release what they’ve already developed. Otherwise, nothing new would ever be released because something newer is always being created.
That being said, we still use our Nintendo 64. Yeah, like 4 generations ago. we still like the games and surprisingly it still works. The hubby does want a Wii though. If he can fnd it…
Maya's Granny
I haven’t found a new tape for the Betamax in over 20 years. Still have it, still have lots of tapes but no way will it work with my tv and cable. The cable guy did tell me that I could pick up a small, one port tv cheap and use it exclusively for the Beta (no cable) and use it that way — but, in a small apartment, where am I going to put a second tv?
Dot
We’re not into keeping up with that crap. We bought a Nintendo Game Cube a couple of years ago and it sat for a couple of years. This year I sold it back to Game Crazy and was able to buy my nephew a brand new game for the 360 with my credit.
I just noticed you are watching 90210 on DVD. AWESOME. LD and I have talked about watching those all over again. Along with Melrose Place.
Tabitha
I have to say, It’s great to be a luddite!
Lalunas
Oh dear, well you could be like me , and not get anything. You could be old fashion, or like me cheap. I am sorry Big sis has this same problem with her Advance Game boy.
Ginger
Well, this year we did not give in to the lunacy. When our young children begged for a game system we bought them a GameCube. No way am I spending $300 or worse (for the Wii) for a toy. They like MarioKart. It seems to make them happy.
Then hubby says something about a new camera. We have a nice camera we bought several years ago (for big $$) that takes excellent pictures and has lots of features we never use. Now he is looking at a digital SLR which start in the $500 range. As they say, “The only thing that seperates the men from the boys is the price of their toys”.
ann adams
My husband still clings to his betamax tapes just in case they make a comeback.
Our last player bit the dust a few years ago, having been held together with spit and baling wire for years.
He was bereft.
hellomelissa
i know that ALL of us have had this problem… which is one of the reasons t got an xbox360 for xmas (no pun intended) and we were at the apple store yesterday pondering yet a newer computer. ugh.