Limitations of Technology, or Marketing Conspiracy?

For the past five years or so I have bought a number of computers (both PC and Mac) and smartphones (Blackberries, iPhones, Androids) and have disposed of each and every single one within a couple of years after purchase. Up until a few months ago, I have always assumed that that there was some inevitable hardware or software issue that caused most of these devices to become nearly incapacitated after a couple years of use. Only recently have I realized that this problem applies to technology as a whole. Is this issue an actual shortcoming of current technology?? Or is it a grand marketing scheme?? Whatever the case may be, American consumers quickly abandon “devices” for the new “new” thing. According to a Forbes article, Americans spend $35 billion annually on mobile devices. Personally, I have abandoned plenty of technology that worked just fine, for the newest device. Is this an extension of good marketing or is technology increasing so quickly that we are forced to keep up or be left in the dust? Besides scrapping devices that worked for ones that are dubbed “better”, I have also had a myriad of devices that have failed on me, and therefore forced me to either buy a new one or switch to a different device (I don’t even want to divulge the number of PC’s or iPhones that I’ve been through – #thankgod for insurance. When a device fails on you, then you have two choices: (1) buy the same one, or (2) spend the extra bucks and get the newest edition. The fact that computers, tablets and mobile devices tend to have problems makes me wonder if technology is made to fail. It makes complete sense. Why would Apple or Dell make a product that will last a decade, and always run like it’s fresh out of the box? It is not in a technology company’s best intrest to create a product that has an extremely long life span. Big tech companies need to sell tablets, laptops, smart phones, iPods, etc., and therefore must continue to put out products that are not made to last, or that will soon be replaced by a “better” product. These “better” products are usually nothing more than a nuance on a previous one. Americans are more guilty than any other people for falling into the trap of abandoning perfectly good tech for a newer version. Why do we do this? Also, on a side note, I had the privilege of working for a very large commercial insurance company in the Extended Warranty Department (as an underwriter). I know from experience that all those mobile devices that you trade in are “refurbished” and resold (BIG MONEY!). American retailers learned early in the 20th century that consumers will readily buy disposable products. Is that the case today with technology? I truly believe so.

-D. Spinelli