hai thought: is the word 'obsolete'...um...obsolete?

Or just over used when it comes to tech?

Sure, your shit from 10 years ago sucks compared to what the kids wanted this xmas. but does it still get on the internet? allow for the basic functionality it was designed for?

like my phone. oh my god, my phone could literally be in a museum, it doesnt even have a qwerty keyboard. But it lets me text, call, AND still use the internet if i ever have to (which I rarely do because i dont pay the bill and its not a data plan).

But my point is, calling old tech obsolete is often inaccurate. I think its a reflection of consumerist culture more than anything. Inferior would be much more appropriate, obsolete implies there is no use for these devices what so ever.

what do you think?

 

i agree, it is an over- and mis-used word in the techie context. HOWEVER i think the reason it is poorly used is because "planned obsolescence" is too long to say. so old tech is not automatically obsolete, but is automatically becoming obsolete.