In this month's issue of Northern Connection magazine, I started the conversation on the expense of technology and wondering when or how it is justified. In the article, I referred to the example that a 10-year old colleague of mine gave me regarding 3D movies and how they can be as much as $10 more a movie and how he "didn't feel that was fair."
By way of another example, let's look at SMART phones - you can get an Android phone for free, or a reasonable price, so long as you agree to a lengthy contract with the telephone carrier. Then, phones range all the way up to the latest iPhone from Apple, and depending on how much storage space you want is even more incredibly expensive. Why is the iPhone so expensive? Because it's popular, because it's trendy and people are willing to pay it. Me? Being a tech-head, I know how insecure both Android and iPhone are and so for me, like everyone in the CIA and the Secret Service, I go Blackberry all the way - hopefully soon the new Blackberry operating system will soon be available on certain Androids but until then, your phone is in serious jeopardy of being hacked. So, for me, I feel the expense of a Blackberry is justified.
Personally, I think the frustration over the expense of technology often comes from the fact that it doesn't last very long for the money or it is out-of-date soon after you buy it. Have you ever had the experience where you no sooner by a gadget or computer only to find out a newer version is coming out or now available?
What do you think? When is the expense of technology justified for you?
