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> you can't function without [a phone > + plan once you're 13yo, and laptop]. > It's not really a discretionary > spending. Even if I give you that

by avar 9y ago

> you can't function without [a phone > + plan once you're 13yo, and laptop]. > It's not really a discretionary > spending. Even if I give you that a network connected phone is something a teenager absolutely must have, that still leaves the fact that most people vastly overspend on these items. Yes you might need a smartphone and a laptop for school, but those are going to cost at most $200 used, but people conflate the need for these devices with the fashion statement of owning the latest iPhone or MacBook.

CamTin 9y ago
The only reason you and I can buy $200 used Thinkpads is because everyone else is clamoring to overspend for shiny new ones. If more people were OK with keeping their computers longer or buying used, then the price of used computers would go up. This would obviously be good because we would be valuing things closer to the actual benefit that they bring, but its not the case that we can ALL just have dirt-cheap few-year-old laptops.
- avar 9y ago
  If everyone was satisfied with keeping their computers for longer or buying used then it stands to reason that the price of new computers would go down, e.g. what are now $300-500 Chromebooks would be top of the line. In any case, I think, with respect, that you're postulating an absurd hypothetical scenario that's never going to happen. There's always going to be some people who buy new and others who buy used, think used cars, clothes etc. Phones & laptops are now a mature technology, the days when you need a new computer to run spreadsheets or browse the Internet are over. Nowadays a 5 year old computer is just as good for pretty much any application except AAA games. The GP was mentioning students as needing phones & laptops. I'm pointing out that students in particular think nothing of buying say used clothes because they don't have a lot of money, but for some reason a lot more people have expensive new gadgets they don't need.

by avar 9y ago

CamTin 9y ago

The only reason you and I can buy $200 used Thinkpads is because everyone else is clamoring to overspend for shiny new ones. If more people were OK with keeping their computers longer or buying used, then the price of used computers would go up. This would obviously be good because we would be valuing things closer to the actual benefit that they bring, but its not the case that we can ALL just have dirt-cheap few-year-old laptops.

avar 9y ago
If everyone was satisfied with keeping their computers for longer or buying used then it stands to reason that the price of new computers would go down, e.g. what are now $300-500 Chromebooks would be top of the line. In any case, I think, with respect, that you're postulating an absurd hypothetical scenario that's never going to happen. There's always going to be some people who buy new and others who buy used, think used cars, clothes etc. Phones & laptops are now a mature technology, the days when you need a new computer to run spreadsheets or browse the Internet are over. Nowadays a 5 year old computer is just as good for pretty much any application except AAA games. The GP was mentioning students as needing phones & laptops. I'm pointing out that students in particular think nothing of buying say used clothes because they don't have a lot of money, but for some reason a lot more people have expensive new gadgets they don't need.