So here’s the problem. There is always something cool out there that I would definitely like to get. Usually, there is some shiny new toy that will do a thing and not only revolutionize how I do stuff but also save me so much time, blah blah blah. Here’s the thing, though. While you might enjoy getting the new thing, it can be…ahem….financially draining. I have learned this one the hard way.
1) I WANT THE NEW THING!!!! – This feels counterintuitive to start with this one, but sometimes, on infrequent occasions, It’s nice to go and get the shiny new piece of technology just because it’s cool. I did have this experience recently when I purchased a reMarkable Paper Pro. Technically, I already had one, but I wanted a second one to fully utilize its syncing capabilities and not have to bring one device to and from my office. Could I have existed with just using my one Paper Pro? Certainly. Did I want to? Evidently not. In my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong with getting a shiny new thing; I would caution against doing it too much.
2) Don’t jump at every opportunity – I have certainly seen people who upgrade all their technology at every chance they can, for those who can do this, lovely. I’m not a big fan of this simply because I have to transfer all my data to a new device every six months. Part of me likes the devices that I have, and doing the full swap around is inconvenient because of the cost of the device and the cost of all the stuff that goes around the device. Having to purchase a new case is specifically what I’m thinking of here.
3) Depends on usage – I have some devices that I need to upgrade a little more frequently than others. The reason is typically because the device has more wear and tear than other devices. I typically don’t upgrade my computer at home for more than five or six years at a time, because I am able to keep it in one spot, and it doesn’t travel with me anywhere, so It doesn’t get a lot of the possible damage that my iPhone or iPad would. This means that I’m able to use it and have it function properly for longer. My Phone, which goes with me everywhere, gets a bit rougher treatment, which means I’m less concerned about updating it more frequently. I should say that “more frequently” still means every few years. Depending on the usage of YOUR devices, you can update your hardware more frequently, or less frequently. The lovely part is that the choice is up to you. The difficult part is that the choice is also up to you. It is your best guess to determine some routine for updating your devices.
There are lots of other different reasons for wanting to upgrade a piece of hardware. What I have given you here are the top three reasons that I typically use. For the most part, you must use your best judgment and ensure you upgrade your hardware for the right reasons. I will fully admit that, on occasion, “BECAUSE I WAAAAAANT IT!!!!!” can be a legitimate reason, but I think that you will find that if you take a look and when and why you have upgraded your hardware in the past, there have been fairly good reasons. No matter what the reason you want to get a new device, just make sure that it’s a good one (Both the reason and the device).
When do you upgrade your hardware?
Let me know in the comments section below. If you like this blog post and want to see more, you can follow me on Social Media (LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook @jasonlovefiles) or Subscribe to my blog to get new content delivered directly to your mailbox.