Phone / Computer Broken Again? 9 Tips to Increase Lifetime

Many of us take it for granted that we have to buy new technology every few years.

But why is that?

This article explains why and what you can do about it.

Let’s get started!

Robust Machines for Eternity?

Computers are machines for eternity! Lasered processors and encapsulated chips – but why do we throw them away every 1, 2 or 3 years?

Author Jan buys a good mechanical keyboard, plus a laptop, monitor and mouse and a word processing programme like Word. Couldn’t he use the same setup for the next 20 years?

Photographer Michaela has bought a camera with 40 megapixels, a computer with enough graphics power and a graphics tablet for pen input. If the resolution is sufficient for all prints and digital projects, why should she have to buy something new in the next 20 years?

What is obsolescence?

Obsolescence is the reason why this doesn’t happen. There are of course a few exceptions where professionals can use their technology for 20 years. To do this, they have to overcome many hurdles and invest a lot of energy and time.

Obsolescence is the process when things go out of fashion and are no longer useful. Many manufacturers use this effect to generate profit. Products are designed so that you can throw them away in 2 years. The products are no longer useful or have problems.

Photo by Andrey Matveev: https://www.pexels.com/photo/motherboard-on-wooden-table-18286300/

Familiarisation effect vs obsolescence

You should not confuse obsolescence with the habituation effect.

If you buy a computer today that starts up in 5 seconds instead of 60 seconds, the feeling of speed will stay with you for the first few days, whereas performance after a year will be taken for granted. Furthermore, people strive for improvement and are socially impressionable beings who always want to buy “better” products.

Michaela can load 100 images in 2025 and also in 2044 in 100 seconds. However, her own requirements are naturally growing. Let’s assume that we remain frugal:

Armoured eggshell? – Hardware obsolescence

Manufacturers plan for obsolescence:

• Predetermined breaking points: The casing is robust and sturdy on the outside. The material is well-chosen and fulfils its purpose. Nevertheless, the engineers have deliberately built in predetermined breaking points, which start to break after 20,000 uses. The “quasi” indestructible housing is as fragile as a raw egg after 2 years.
• Deliberate misconstruction: Many plugs are often designed in such a way that they have a limited service life. Instead of fixing them with many screws, they are only “loosely” attached with three solder contacts. The screws only minimally increase the costs that manufacturers would normally pay for a premium product.
• Strategically inferior components: Many manufacturers equip their computers with good processors, good RAM and batteries. Nevertheless, after 2 years the power cable between the mainboard and battery burns through. Often, non-essential components are chosen in such a way that they break in time after the warranty period. Although you have made a good premium choice for the “known” individual components, the device is still unusable.
• Encapsulation and warranty seal: Our devices are becoming smaller and more compact. Manufacturers are making devices waterproof and dustproof. Nobody can get to the insides without breaking the other half of the device. If you do have a device that is easily repairable, the manufacturer will tell you that you have broken the warranty seal and that they cannot be held liable for the damage.

The ticking silent time bombs – software

Obsolescence occurs not only in hardware, but also in software:

• Software-based brakes: manufacturers who run their own software as non-open source can get up to a lot of mischief. An unimportant update installs a software brake or produces a crash every other day to drive the customer crazy. The new device is quickly purchased, which is only 2% better but now runs 50% faster.
• Intentional change of file format: A new file format often comes with a software version. The files are saved in a different format so that the old programme does not understand the new file types. If you are working with someone else who is using the newer version, you will be forced to update.

• Deliberate bug: If the code is not available as open source, it is easy for programmers to insert a bug so that it occurs exactly after 823 or 922 days. The source code compiles a computer so that a computer understands it. The company only delivers the compiled version of the software. Reading compiled code is so difficult that no customer would look for this intent bug.
• Compatibility: Old software often can no longer work with the new operating systems and dependencies. Upgrading software forces you to upgrade other software and hardware products. Many companies keep an open mind about how long they will support a software. They don’t give a guarantee, go bankrupt or take so long that you have already bought the new version of the software.

9 tips for using devices and software for longer

Instead of complaining about the world, you can actively protect yourself against obsolescence:

Premium not always – Buy tested quality

Some companies or organisations such as the German testing institute (Stiftung Warentest) test products for their durability. If the folding smartphone breaks apart after 100 folds, you should keep your hands off it. This information should be worth your money because it will save you many bad purchases.

Swarm intelligence – where are the weak points?

The Internet is a super swarm intelligence. If you can recognise a trend from what users are saying, then you should make a decision based on this. Don’t be so influenced by individual opinions (bought, fanboy or hater). But after 20 – 30 minutes of research, you should have got a feel for the product.

Caution – buy covers and protection

Other manufacturers know the problem and sell you protective covers, e.g. for smartphones and displays.

Don’t just throw it away – understand the operating instructions:

Many people throw away the instruction manual as soon as it comes with the product. The instruction manual can give you tips on how to best protect and clean the device. This knowledge reduces the likelihood of the appliance falling apart quickly.

Read the manufacturer’s track record

If a manufacturer has not shone with consumer-friendly behaviour in the last 10 years, you should stop supporting the company. Look for another manufacturer with a different philosophy. The advantage of used goods is that they have survived X years and have not been delivered with production faults.

Gold cage – avoid vendor lock-in

Manufacturers programme their software so that it works perfectly on their devices in a golden cage. If the company goes bankrupt or loses interest in the product, your data is trapped (or gone).

Security update as a selection aspect

Smartphones and tablets have a very limited lifespan. Even if the hardware works, the manufacturer says that the device will only be supported for 1, 2 or 3 years after release. Some manufacturers say nothing about this and do not update the mobile phones.

Switching to other operating systems

If you don’t want to buy the manufacturer’s new device, you should at least have the option of using a different operating system or installing different software. Although this option is technically feasible, manufacturers restrict it out of greed for profit. Avoid such products.

Buy from robust companies

If you can assume that the company selling you a product will not go bankrupt within 2 years, the choice is a good one. If the prices are too aggressive, you can assume that they will only sell you the product and will not be able / willing to sell support later. A support contract makes sense if your company or you are heavily dependent on it (like a lease car).

Worth reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_obsolescence