How Often Do You Upgrade? My 13+ Year-Old Laptop is Defying Planned Obsolescence

Aug 26

How often do you upgrade your tech? Buy a new car? Refresh your wardrobe?

I'm pretty cheap when it comes to upgrades.

The laptop that I'm using to design this newsletter, run my business in its many iterations and write college essays on back in the day? I've had for nearly thirteen years.

When I entered college, I was using a hand-me-down laptop my dad had given me - and it just wasn't it.

It was clunky, slow, and had to be plugged in constantly.

In addition to these frustrations, I had intended to start a photography business (which I did a year later), and wanted a computer designed for creatives.

I spent hours researching the models and upgrade options, honing in on what would best suit my needs.

And I did good. I've used my top-of-the-line 2012 MacBook Pro for college homework assignments, have edited more than 100 photo shoots on it, designed dozens of websites, created logos and graphics, spent way too much time on social media, and have organized my schedule with its calendar app that seamlessly syncs to my iPhone.

I can't justify spending thousands of dollars on a new computer when there's no limitations to what I can do with this one.

While my business could pay for a new computer and write it off, I don't want to incur that expense. As business owners, we have to remember that write offs are still money spent - you don't save $1 on taxes for every $1 your business spends.

But I will admit, if it weren't for my husband, Shelby, I would have had to upgrade my laptop years ago.

Shelby upgrading my hard drive back in June. I now have way more space!

Have you heard the term “planned obsolescence”?

It's a strategy companies employ that forces consumers to upgrade more often, because they're intentionally limiting the lifespan and functionality of their products so they become “obsolete” within a shorter period of time.

You know the phrase, “They just don't make things like they used to”? That's because they don't!

• Remember those blenders from the 70s? Pretty sure my mom still has one - and she bought it at a yard sale.

• Did you know that lightbulbs were initially designed to have a nearly infinite lifespan? The Centennial Light in Livermore, CA is an example. It's been lit since 1901.

As consumers, we can combat planned obsolescence by investing in quality items and learning how to do simple repairs.

Check out buymeonce.com for their recommendations, and browse your local thrift shops for quality items.

The book “A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life” also delves deeper into planned obsolescence and suggests more ways to push back.

What happens when I try to work from the couch. Whenever Shelby works on my laptop, he cleans the cat fur out of it. ☺️

Back to my laptop, companies like Apple make it nearly impossible to DIY your own repairs and upgrades.

I'm fortunate Shelby is handy, brave, and finicky.

He's replaced the battery, which was causing the computer die if it wasn't plugged in, replaced the screen hinge, upgraded my hard drive so I now have more storage, and found a way to hack my laptop so it would accept an operating system upgrade.

Because another example of planned obsolescence that Apple employs is blocking their old models from upgrading to the latest operating systems, which limited my ability to update the software I use to run my business, and in some instances, be unable to use it.

My newsletter is an example. I use Flodesk, which requires the latest web browser version. Because my operating system was so old, I couldn't upgrade Google Chrome, which meant I couldn't use Flodesk.

So I've had to use Shelby's computer for the past few months to create this newsletter, which has been annoying (and honestly, part of why I took a month off from writing it).

I'm so grateful to be able to continue using my laptop. Technology isn't something I particularly value, so I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

Is your spending aligned with your values? →

Other things I haven't upgraded:

Cars: Our newest is a 2013. My bug, Aquarius, is a 2005 and the MegaBug is a 1999.

Cell phone: Mine is the iPhone 8.

Dishwasher: Ours broke a few years after we bought the house - right after I cooked Thanksgiving dinner. My step-mom tracked us down a used one for free, and while it may be a bit beat up, it works.

One broken appliance we did replace? Our washing machine, because repair parts would have cost close to the amount of a new machine. And I really wanted a bigger unit.

Furniture: Since moving in together ten years ago, Shelby and I have only bought one piece of furniture, our little entertainment center. The previous homeowners left us with the couch, chair, and ottoman in our living room, my grandparent bought me my mattress when I moved out of my parents' house, and everything else was given to us.

We're really close to buying a new couch, though, as well as a new mattress. They're supposed to be replaced every ten years, and I'd really like to go from a full to a queen…

What do you refuse to upgrade? And what are your values categories when it comes to spending?