I think I own too much tech

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
KILL ALL THE TECH!!!

20140603_081211.jpg
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Stop buying crap that you're going to throw away in a few years and contribute more to your 401K.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Stop buying crap that you're going to throw away in a few years and contribute more to your 401K.

While you're selfishly hording money, these people are helping the consumer economy run... Borrow, buy, sell!


Me:
- 1 Desktop PC I always use
- 1 Laptop PC I barely use
- 1 Kindle basic for buying cheap non-reference books and to reduce clutter
- 1 5 year old dumb phone

I got a BB Playbook when it first came out. About $600 later, I realized that I had no use for a second computer or any portable device... Laptop was for graduate school -- came in handy a lot actually.
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
Stop buying crap that you're going to throw away in a few years and contribute more to your 401K.

Eh....why bet everything that you are going to live?

The real answer is to make more money, and hedge your bets.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
While you're selfishly hording money, these people are helping the consumer economy run... Borrow, buy, sell!


Me:
- 1 Desktop PC I always use
- 1 Laptop PC I barely use
- 1 Kindle basic for buying cheap non-reference books and to reduce clutter
- 1 5 year old dumb phone

I got a BB Playbook when it first came out. About $600 later, I realized that I had no use for a second computer or any portable device... Laptop was for graduate school -- came in handy a lot actually.

You help the economy more by investing than purchasing. It creates no waste, it funds companies to employ more workers, and it ensures your financial future. :cool:
 

natto fire

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2000
7,117
10
76
Believe it or not all that is a bit less than 400w. It actually gets too cold in there sometimes and I start to get low temp alarms. My basement is not insulated yet. Eventually that room will be sealed, insulated and climate controlled. Still need to design and build the hvac system, it will need to have various exchange modes depending in in/out temp and also need to evacuate battery hydrogen, so there will be a HRV as well as various dampers in that system.

On a really cold winter day it's not uncommon for that room to reach under 10c. :biggrin: I want to eventually spray foam my whole basement though. Might even do that this summer if I have the cash. I have to stop spending it on server stuff. :twisted:

Very nice setup. You could do the spray foam, or you could use your ATOT billions to get 20 or so of these and 40-some of those, a slew of low profile Quadros or Firepros (depending on DC project) and crunch the cold away. You have the rack space, after all :p. Of course even a 200 amp service would have trouble running those and a household...
 

JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,420
1,009
136
I used to obsess over it, but have definitely cut down.

1 iPhone
1 iPad
1 Multipurpose desktop (just built yesterday)

I do miss the desire I used to have for being on the bleeding edge off all things tech, but sadly, I just don't care as much anymore :(
 

WT

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2000
4,816
60
91
I initially read OPs list of hardware and thought it was a bit much until I realized I probably have that and then some at home. I usta DC back in the day and it was nothing to have 10 PCs on 24/7 working on UD work units.

Now if I include the kids and wife's tablets and Ipod Touches, I am over 20 devices. I may have scaled back, but my kids both own at least 3 devices with more on the way at every B-day or Xmas.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,744
7,307
136
I initially read OPs list of hardware and thought it was a bit much until I realized I probably have that and then some at home.

I know, right? Even as I wrote out my list in an earlier post, it was like:

1. My iPhone
2. Her iPhone
3. My Chromebook
4. Her desktop
5. Kiddo's Android tablet
6. Roku 3 #1
7. Roku 3 #2
8. Roku 3 #3
9. Kindle
10. Wireless router

To me, in my mind, that's incredibly consolidated for what my personal inventory has been over the last 10 years (since I got heavily into computers). But then I'm like, that's still a huge frickin' lot of tech, lol :D

Kind of makes me feel guilty for the privilege that being American brings, you know? I mean, I'm far from rich - I make enough to cover bills & buy some toys once in awhile, but it's not like I can go out & buy a new Ferrari or live in a mansion or anything - but I'm still blessed to have a ton of computer gear (as listed above), access to electricity 24/7, A/C, etc. Perspective is an amazing thing. From the #firstworldproblems thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyhfiCO_XQ
 

Darknite39

Senior member
May 18, 2004
252
0
76
Lamest brag thread of 2014

I was just looking for a little advice / perspective, and I appreciate all that I've received.

Stop buying crap that you're going to throw away in a few years and contribute more to your 401K.

I agree with this; now that I have a decent job, this is the direction in which I'm heading. Pay down CC debt + build savings. The paring down of my collection of crap is a good part of that. At this point, I'm thinking (1) laptop daily driver (2) large media server (with backup drives in the same machine) (3) either the chromebook with XBMC or chromecast for my bedroom, depending how Plex works out (4) probably a surface pro 3/4 and (5) a decent smartphone, if the Verizon unlimited data loophole still works a month from now.

Hm. Now that I typed all of that out, it still sounds like a lot, but I can take more time to think it through before spending more $. I know I can also either get the laptop or surface from my employer, so that will help as well.

I do miss the desire I used to have for being on the bleeding edge off all things tech, but sadly, I just don't care as much anymore :(

I've never really been on the bleeding edge, but when I have seen what I thought was a good bargain for a device I'd use regularly, I've jumped on it. However, I think I've reached the point at which I'm ready to simplify things so I do less maintenance and spend time on more worthwhile pursuits.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,663
13,834
126
www.anyf.ca
Definitely pay off debt before buying toys. My rack setup is something I've been adding to over the course of many years since I bought my house, and I have a rule of thumb, whenever I put any kind of money into it or any other hobby, I make sure it's money that I actually have saved up and that my CC and credit line are at zero. The slight exception is when I was working on my basement I went a bit over budget, and figured I should at least finish up that phase which included all the wood and such around the rack, as well as power. Though that part was not all that expensive, maybe a couple hundred bucks for wood, paint, and electrical stuff. The #2 DC cabling I got for free. That stuff is not cheap, so I lucked out there.
 

Darknite39

Senior member
May 18, 2004
252
0
76
Yes, I think that I'll have my CC debt paid off by this time next year, which is probably when I'm going to go through with the above-listed changes, unless I can sell some things and break even (or come really close). I just need to keep my eye on the prize re: not buying anything else, which should be easy now that I own anything I could possibly want / make use of. :)
 

Sheep221

Golden Member
Oct 28, 2012
1,843
27
81
i think you have it all just for sake of having it, don't get me wrong but NAS, HTPCs etc are meaningless for anyone, especially no one backs up there anything else than warez and hardly anyone uses HTPC to watch movies frequently, just sell that junk get a decent desktop and laptop and that's all
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,353
1,862
126
Ehh, I dunno man, if you use it keep it ...

I have a gaming desktop i5, 8gb, 6870 + 6870, 3x1080p eyefinity, Raptor
I have an HTPC (phenom 2, 4gb, 4870, 1x1080p projector, SSD). I watch a lot of netflix, amazon, and hulu plus on the HTPC, I also ocasionally game on it as many older games play great at 1080p with my old 4870.

I have a cell phone which is my "mobile" way to stay connected.

I have a work laptop

I used to have a server with like a dozen hard drives (1.5TB or less), but I've replaced that by putting a pair of 4TB drives in the HTPC)

I have a full tower case in the home office, and I've stuck a couple of the 1TB+ drives in that machine, however, I really don't need them any more ...
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
I used to have a ton of stuff. Multiple phones, tablets, computers. Now I have my desktop, laptop, and cellphone. My laptop is actually catching dust underneath my bed ever since I graduated college.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
My fiancee does the laundry. I don't know how many socks I have, but, I never fvcking do laundry.

I bought new shoes, they are black. I didn't see a problem with this.

I wear white socks and since it warm out, I wear shorts. Well my short white socks look like they are 12" tall with these shoes. I think I need to buy short black socks.

My only concern is that I heard once you go black....
 

XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
4,307
450
126
I'm more along the lines of Red for excessiveness.

1. Primary Desktop, i3770k, 32Gb RAM
2. HTPC, A10-6800k, 8Gb RAM
3. Spare/Guest PC, A10-6800k, 8Gb RAM
4. HP Pavilion X2, i5 4202Y, 4Gb RAM (Highly recommend if you are looking at a Surface Pro)
5. HP Playbook
6. PS3
7. Xbox 360

Then it gets silly.

1. ESX01, 2x Xeon 5160's, 16Gb RAM (probably retiring it this weekend)
2. ESX02, 2x Xeon 5350's, 24Gb RAM
3. ESX03, 2x Xeon 5350's, 24Gb RAM
4. ESX04, 4x Xeon 7460's, 96Gb RAM
5. SAN01, 2x Xeon 5650's, 96Gb RAM, 20TB Storage
6. 2x APC SmartUPS 2200's
7. 2x Brocade Silkworm 4100's
8. 2x Cisco Catalyst 2970's
9. Cisco Meraki WAP

Add to that a handful of wireless devices from roommate.