In the world of
technology, the average lifespan for a new device is typically six months; this
means after that period, your new device is no longer the latest in town, there
is another model out there, more sophisticated than the one you currently have.
Granted, the manufacturers try their best to provide upgrades, add-ons,
expansion packs, patches and more, to help you get more from your devices,
ultimately, they will stop providing support for the device and you will be
forced to get a newer model. This creates a never-ending loop of buying and
continuous buying of technology devices; and in a way, proves the effectiveness
of the manufacturer’s ad campaigns to nudge you to make the transition as
quickly as possible.
The giants of
the information technology industry a couple of decades ago have fizzled out
and newer ones have taken their place; a few behemoths are still flailing, and
are just getting by, but their fates are sealed and the new start-ups have
their work cut-out for them already. It is all going mobile now, and as such,
most manufacturers are scrambling to capture a fraction of the market, knowing
fully well that just one percent of the global market is a lot of profit for
their shareholders. Hardware manufacturers, software publishers, app developers,
webware vendors, accessories makers, and spare part vendors all benefit from
the food pyramid on which the juggernauts occupy the very top and the consumers
are the sorry bunch at the base of the grid.
As at the time
of this writing, Apple had just released the iPhone 5, after so much dancing
around the issue, Samsung Galaxy SIII is the hottest gadget from the tech
giant, and Microsoft unveiled Windows 8, their tablet device called Surface,
and Windows Phone 8 to follow shortly. Just twelve months prior, the biggest
news on the scene were the different iPad killers being introduced to the
market by various up-coming hardware manufacturing companies; so far, none have
succeeded, and the closest by a long shot is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0 series
running the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
What is the way
forward for a consumer you ask? Know what you want to do, then go and get the
device that can get it done for you! For instance, if you love using your
mobile devices to view media files, you will be better-off getting a device
that have lots of connectivity and extensibility options, this is so that you
can connect your mobile device to an external source to use as an output, be it
audio or visual. However, if you are more office-oriented, you would be better off
getting a device with stellar battery life, and lots of application options so
that your productivity apps can be keyed into your schedule and your office is
always with you—on the move. For the avid reader however, you would appreciate
the screen real estate of your device and the options to change the display to
suit the needs of the reader.
Lastly, there is
a point worthy of note; the more expensive a device is, does not necessarily
equate how well the device will perform. The user of any technology device will
determine how powerful that device is, and how well the device is improving the
productivity of its user; this should be the bottom line for everyone looking
to get a technology device. The work you need to get done might be done using a
one-day-old device or a five-year-old version, depending on who is using which
and how much knowledge the individual has about the device and its operations.
-Akin Ibitoye, Host of the Award-winning
Technology Show on Radio (PCFix), a Computer Maintenance Expert, a Graphics
Designer, and a Consultant for Individuals and Organizations on the use of
Technology to Increase Productivity. You can follow him on twitter @aibitoye;
email - me@aibitoye.com, 08093262603, he blogs at www.aibitoye.com &
www.itooknow.com.
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
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