Buying a new gadget is easy.
Deciding whether it's actually worth buying is harder.
Specifications are useful, but bigger numbers don't always mean a better product. Before spending my money, I usually check three things.
1. Will I actually use it?
This sounds obvious, but marketing is very good at convincing us that we need features we have never needed before.
I ask myself what problem this gadget will actually solve. If I can't answer that, I probably don't need it.
2. What happens after I buy it?
The purchase price isn't always the real cost.
Does it need a subscription? Expensive accessories? Special cartridges? Cloud storage? Replacement batteries? A paid app?
A cheap gadget can become surprisingly expensive over time.
3. How long will it remain useful?
I look at software support, repairability, battery replacement and whether the product depends heavily on an online service.
A gadget isn't much of an investment if the manufacturer can make it obsolete simply by stopping updates.
I still enjoy new technology.
But these days, I'm less impressed by what a gadget can do on day one.
I'm more interested in whether I'll still be happy owning it three years later.
