http://kenrockwell.com/tech/everything-sucks.htm

Ken Rockwell, whose write excellent photography advice and reviews, opines on the lure of new things. Ken touches up on cars, cameras, TVs, email, and so on, noting that new products often do not live up to their hype.

Most of his complaints are due to the modern circuitry and technology in modern devices. As Ken notes:

Worse, digital cameras are disposable. Ever come across an 8-year-old digital camera? It won’t even turn on. Even if it does, why on Earth would you want to? With digital cameras, you have to buy a new one every couple of years.

Find a 50-year old LEICA or Nikon at a garage sale? It still works great.

The lure of the new and the improved is certainly a dangerous one. As our society moves to more disposable products (and, seemingly, relationships), this won’t get any better. Planned obsolescence and the lure of the shiny are a plague. For example, over 700 million cell phones are thrown away each year, some of which were no-doubt faulty, but many of which were disposed merely for a newer model.

I’m trying to fight this temptation in my own life at the times it creeps up. All too often I’ve been far less enthused about a purchase than I initially thought I would be. The excitement that lead to the savings and purchase (and frequent shipping-status checks)subsides quicker than I’d like.

I’m starting a category on the blog to look for grass on this side of the fence. It’s all part of a desire to avoid worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things.