Anyone else feel like they're slowing down in the tech world?

[Herr Kutz]

I used to enjoy checking out the latest technology, but as far as tech goes, I have basically stopped with smartphones. I've never owned a tablet, have no desire to buy a smartwatch or other wearable, and the smart home devices seem expensive and largely useless. It feels like the new tech over the past few years adds more complication than convenience.

 

[highland145]

Luddites unite.

 

[tynopik]

nope, you're the only one

everyone else forsees nothing but smooth sailing for moore's law as we march our way towards our benevolent robotic overlords

 

[Yakk]

More Mega Corps in a maturing & consolidating market = Less competition = less incentive to spend on R&D to innovate.

 

[Herr Kutz]

nope, you're the only one

everyone else forsees nothing but smooth sailing for moore's law as we march our way towards our benevolent robotic overlords

I will definitely buy a cleaning robot when they are available. A roomba doesn't count.

 

[Pick2]

OP , Don't forget to pick up your Old Fogyism card on the way out

 

[highland145]

OP , Don't forget to pick up your Old Fogyism card on the way out

Boomer has a yard sign for him too.

 

[Herr Kutz]

OP , Don't forget to pick up your Old Fogyism card on the way out

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes. A LONG time ago. There was a time when just following the various tech advancements on sites like Anandtech was interesting, even if I never bought into the latest and greatest. Same thing with cars and bikes and cameras and other hobbies. Now, it's just a giant time sink. I have better and more interesting things to do with my time.

If it works, I'm happy and don't bother with it. I don't look at replacements. I'm not up on advances and the newest tech. When it stops working, then I do research and go from there. Each time I build a new PC or buy a new camera, for example, it's probably been 3-6 years since the last one, and it's almost like starting over, which is perfectly fine with me.

 

[MrSquished]

Yes. A LONG time ago. There was a time when just following the various tech advancements on sites like Anandtech was interesting, even if I never bought into the latest and greatest. Same thing with cars and bikes and cameras and other hobbies. Now, it's just a giant time sink. I have better and more interesting things to do with my time.

If it works, I'm happy and don't bother with it. I don't look at replacements. I'm not up on advances and the newest tech. When it stops working, then I do research and go from there. Each time I build a new PC or buy a new camera, for example, it's probably been 3-6 years since the last one, and it's almost like starting over, which is perfectly fine with me.

ditto. for the most part. I used to take time and stay up to date on all advances in all major consumer tech markets from tv to phone to pc parts. Now I just browse through most of those things and only read in depth when really needing to upgrade. So I still have some grasp of what is going on but just not that in depth knowledge I used to carry with me on an EDC level.

 

[IronWing]

Currently, I have more interest in CPUs, GPUs, and memory than I have in years. Things seem to be picking up pace again. Smart phones bore me and always have. I guess having a jeejah is okay but every smart phone I've tried sucks as a phone. TV manufacturers have made fantastic advancements over the past decade or so but there is nothing I went to watch enough to buy one. Stereo equipment seems to have taken significant steps backward as the price point for getting sound that doesn't suck has gone up. Loud has replaced good as the selling point. Camera advancements are interesting but not something I want to buy very often due to price and the learning curve with each new camera. I'm looking forward to the next great thing in monitors though I suspect to get it, I'm going to be couching up* major cash.

I did buy my first cordless phone this year so I'm not a complete Luddite.

* Couching up is like coughing up only it involves digging under the cushions to find that last bit of change.

 

[John Connor]

I don't feel like they are slowing down in electronics tech. The last 7 or so years have brought all kinds of things from drones to smartphones, bluetooth and the expansion in television tech. Now granted I don't have a need for a Roku or anything like that and I feel something like a Roku or Amazon Firestick will just buffer, won't connect and overall just piss me the fuck off. As far as a tablet goes. I don't have a desire to cock my head down and type on a touch screen. As it is I utterly hate typing on my phone. But I wouldn't mind one for my Flight Sim. I can look at approach plates, aeronautical charts and go through checklists. This would be invaluable while flying online in VATSIM.

 

[John Connor]

One wonders when it was that he last seen his dick?

 

[MrSquished]

I don't feel like they are slowing down in electronics tech. The last 7 or so years have brought all kinds of things from drones to smartphones, bluetooth and the expansion in television tech. Now granted I don't have a need for a Roku or anything like that and I feel something like a Roku or Amazon Firestick will just buffer, won't connect and overall just piss me the fuck off. As far as a tablet goes. I don't have a desire to cock my head down and type on a touch screen. As it is I utterly hate typing on my phone. But I wouldn't mind one for my Flight Sim. I can look at approach plates, aeronautical charts and go through checklists. This would be invaluable while flying online in VATSIM.

Roku's and Fire Sticks work very well. I have one of each. They rarely buffer if your internet connection is good.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I don't feel like they are slowing down in electronics tech. The last 7 or so years have brought all kinds of things from drones to smartphones, bluetooth and the expansion in television tech. Now granted I don't have a need for a Roku or anything like that and I feel something like a Roku or Amazon Firestick will just buffer, won't connect and overall just piss me the fuck off. As far as a tablet goes. I don't have a desire to cock my head down and type on a touch screen. As it is I utterly hate typing on my phone. But I wouldn't mind one for my Flight Sim. I can look at approach plates, aeronautical charts and go through checklists. This would be invaluable while flying online in VATSIM.

I'm not saying that companies are slowing down in tech, I'm saying most of the new tech just doesn't seem worth it.

Forgot to mention I do own a Roku, however I use the netflix (and previously amazon prime) interface built into my TV because it's more convenient than dealing with another remote.

 

[John Connor]

Roku's and Fire Sticks work very well. I have one of each. They rarely buffer if your internet connection is good.

Do they have that cartoon channel yet on the Amazon Firestick? It's a cartoon streaming service by Boomerang.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

The millennials in my workplace have decided it is easier to just buy other companies than innovate. We bought DirecTV and now strong-arming TWC. We will assimilate everyone in the name of competition, and then layoff in the name of operating cost reduction.

 

[Majes]

I'm currently waiting on a 1060 laptop. But I never got into the smartphone race and I could care less about tablets, drones, wearable tech, and most other things...

I guess I'm still stuck in the 90's-00's where it's all about the computer...

 

[purbeast0]

My interest in tech has really only dwindled as far as tinkering around with PC stuff that I used to do into my mid 20's or so. I don't really use desktops anymore and I don't PC game so I'm not really into it. I've had a 2014 model MacBook Pro since late 2015 and that thing is still lightning fast so I don't see myself upgrading any time in the near future.

I was never really big into smart phones either. I've always had an iPhone just because they work and I like the interface and battery life. I also use them for iOS development. I just upgraded from the 6 to the X though and it's a pretty damn cool piece of technology.

I'm usually current with console technology and have all of the current consoles, PS Pro and X1X included. I recently tried out VR for the first time in the MS store, but since I don't have a PC, I'm going to get PSVR very soon as I demo'd it the other day and thought it was damn cool too.

I have a DSLR camera and a goPro that I take on vacations with me. I do a lot of snorkeling so I love the underwater aspect of the goPro. I still wish I knew how to actually "use" my DSLR correctly though. I can take some good pics but I also take a lot of bad pics and don't know how to set things properly.

I have a somewhat high-end home theater too, however my projector doesn't have 4K or HDR since those are still very pricey, and I use mine for gaming, so I don't see myself upgrading any time soon unless prices go down and input lag drops drastically on them. I control all of my HT through my phone which is pretty cool, but that is about my extent of home automation.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I've been out of the loop for a while, but when my new Sony Walkman gets delivered I'll be right back in the game.

 

[IronWing]

I've been out of the loop for a while, but when my new Sony Walkman gets delivered I'll be right back in the game.

They're pretty sweet.
https://www.sony.com/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z

 

[GagHalfrunt]

They're pretty sweet.
https://www.sony.com/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z

Where does the cassette tape go in? So confusing, I never should have given up 8-track.

 

[IronWing]

Where does the cassette tape go in? So confusing, I never should have given up 8-track.

Did your 8-track have an oxygen-free copper chassis that "lends the player its unique natural, acoustic sound"? Didn't think so. Technology marches on.


Someone will have to explain to me how the choice of frame material impacts sound from a solid-state electronic device.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I used to enjoy checking out the latest technology, but as far as tech goes, I have basically stopped with smartphones. I've never owned a tablet, have no desire to buy a smartwatch or other wearable, and the smart home devices seem expensive and largely useless. It feels like the new tech over the past few years adds more complication than convenience.

I don't worry about what latest form-factor they are putting the technology in (tablet, smartphone, watch, etc...) what worries me is staying on top of the latest advancements such as the latest processors, latest hardware developments (SSD drives for example). I haven't been keeping up anywhere near what I used to... but that's what comes with having a family. Unless your job revolves around it, it's going to pass us up. Sad but true, when my kids get older they will (hopefully) be calling me old and dumb from how oblivious I am and how up-to-date they are.

Then I can tell them to officially get off my lawn.


But I admit it... I'm old. I used to build water-cooled rigs and see how much I can OC my processor and videocard. Now I can't even tell you the latest Intel. It sucks, but that's what happens when you get old... you get bigger priorities like family. Maybe someday I'll downgrade and be a console n00b again. I'm not sure if I can even adapt to today's consoles though. I bought a USB N64 Controller and a USB SNES controller and have been playing old gems like StarFox, Goldeneye, and Zelda Link to the Past lately. Shit is so much more fun than todays games.

 

[dullard]

Did your 8-track have an oxygen-free copper chassis that "lends the player its unique natural, acoustic sound"? Didn't think so. Technology marches on.


Someone will have to explain to me how the choice of frame material impacts sound from a solid-state electronic device.

I think you answered your own question. How? By being oxygen-free. Clearly you have failed in your marketing class because marketing is all that matters here, not science.