About the Shuffle and moolah

I got this bulletin board post from a friend of mine over in Chicago and it goes:

"I just don't understand the hype about this i-pod thingy. Sorry to say, but I'm not very much psyched about this new technology which is only an upgrade to the one that is already on the market. My question is: What happens to the old gadgets being replaced by the new gadgets?
Obviously the manufacturer will no longer reproduce them and they become extinct, so to speak. Is there a recycling bin for these items? Or do you just let them collect dust on the far side of the corner of your attic or basement or cellar or garage? Better yet, do you get cash-back for replacing the old models with new ones? Tech-not-me, out."

And my reply:

People who spend on gadgets are just like people who spend
on bags like Kate Spade, Carolina Herrera and Kenneth Cole
or on shoes like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Gucci.
Seems senseless to others but not for the buyer.

I've heard of someone buying a 20,000 peso bag or somone
who buys desinger shoes 10 times a year! What does that
person do with the rest of his shoes?

Most gadgets like PCs and laptops can be upgraded. How can
you upgrade a pair of shoes or a bag?

I was shocked to hear of the 20,000 peso price tag on the bag
(though I've heard even more ridiculous prices like 25,000 for a
wallet) but I wouldn't bat an eye if that 20,000 pesos were a
PDA or a über cool cellphone.

To each his own.

And like gadgets, each has a particular allure to each
individual. Not everyone would buy a laptop.. Why? They
probably wouldn't need it in the first place. But more
importantly, why would anyone buy a laptop? Take Sarah
Jessica Parker's character in Sex in the City for instance.

If you've noticed whenever she writes an article she uses a
laptop. It was a Dell before I think but she switched to a
Powerbook and uses that until the very end I think.

Let's say that Carrie is a real person and do away with the tired
old saying, "Because the director said so." Why would carrie
buy a top of the line product from Apple? Wouldn't any ordinary
desktop computer do? Maybe but a portable (as Apple would
call their laptops/notebooks) is handy. You can carry it
anywhere hence you can work anywhere save in the bottom of
the ocean. She can often been seen typing on her bed. You
can't do that with a desktop PC. What's the second reason why
she got a Powerbook? It's probably because she's a New
Yorker and the Powerbook is stylish. Look at one personally
and don't tell me you won't be impressed by it. It will definitely
make other laptops look drab.

So Carrie bought a laptop because it is both functional and
stylish.

And that probably is the same for the millions out there who
bought the same product and other products like it.

A gadget is something for somebody.

Ever heard of people buying 30,000 pesos or $300 cellular
phones? Ridiculous, no? But not to them. They think they need
it and they probably do. But some just wants it. It's some sort of
a disease. They want to be the first to have something once it
comes out. You can always sell your old gadgets on eBay
unlike Imelda Marcos's shoes.

As I mentioned before gadgets are something for somebody.
Cameras for the photography buffs. PDAs for those on the go.
Laptops and portables for those who want to be productive on
the go. MP3 players for those who enjoy music anywhere,
anytime.

This brings us to the topic of MP3 players particular the iPods.
Actually the iPod Shuffle is not actually an upgrade. It's more of
a downgrade from a technical viewpoint. The iPod usually has
20GB worth of storage, has a screen and a host of other
options for you to enjou music. And they usually cost more than
$300. The iPod Mini is $250 and has less space (only 4GB)
but can do the things an iPod can and is smaller in size and
volume and looks chic. The iPod shuffle looks like a stick of
gum, is the size of a stick of gum and is compared to a pack of
gum. The basic model has 512MB worth of storage which
allows you to put in 120 songs, and it cost $99.

The storage capacity might seem a big downgrade for some
but not to most iPod users. I have an iPod Mini and I am having
a hard time filling up the 4GB worth of space. The Shuffle's
512MB (1 GB) is easier to fill up so many will be more attracted
to the Shuffle, I think.

I am not an audiophile. I don't have the trained ear like some
has. Probably because my right ear is a little hard of hearing as
compared to my left ear. But I enjoy listening to music more so
in the gym. It drowns out the senseless chatter and the noise
from the TV. It allows to set my pace and lift weights in the
accompaniment of Snoop Dogg, Usher, BEP and others. The
Shuffle might replace my Mini in the gym since it won't be as
bulky and is more sturdy.

On the question on what happens to the old gadgets. Take a
look at eBay and that will answer that question. Some sell their
old stuff. Some would keep them for sentimental reasons.
Some, as you say, does collect does in the far side of the room.
Some end up as hand me downs which is better than having to
end up as an expensive dust collector. Some actually can be
traded in like what I did to our very old Canon printer. I
swapped it with an All-in-One printer from HP. Of course, I had
to shell out some dough but at least the old, broken down
printer still had some use for me.

Gadgets are very much like people. You get to meet something
new everyday. Some you'd like and some you probably don't.
Some you'd like to spend hours with. Some a hi and hello
suffices. And like gadgets, you can upgrade your current beau
for what you think is a better model with better specs.

It's just how you look at it.

Now, wouldn't you want to type you emails and your bulletin
board posts on your bed? ; )