My Toshiba, Capitalism and I

In my eternal search for complete technological satisfaction, over six months ago I dropped my Acer notebook and I got a Toshiba laptop. The Toshiba was well received because of its size, unwanted opinions offered to me also reported that it made me come across a more serious person. (I don't know what the hell that means)

 Personally, I do not care what kind of computer or phone I am using, as long as it gets the job done and I am satisfied. The phone I use does not in any way reflect on my status as a human being because all I want from any device I use is a good battery and seamless internet surfing.  Combined with the occasional epub application and an adequate music player.

Anyways, my Toshiba arrived as a big black laptop whose weight was plainly unbearable. With only two usb ports so close to each other it is difficult to not comprehend. Its total battery life rarely exceeded one hour which made it practically useless when there was no light. Which was almost every time.

The system, which runs on a sizable ram lagged for the most mundane processes and half of the cpu was exhausted just by the opening of folders. Surfing the internet with this fat device (yes, fat... It was big for nothing) was almost a nightmare. Leaving me clenching my fists till my knuckles turned white with sweet fantasies of riddling it with punches till it disintegrated.

I made endless trips to Tech. guys to help me with my dilemma, these trips ended up with me installing windows 10, twice! With the first one locking me out since I wasn't tech savvy. But I really lost faith in electronics around here when I saw a friend of mine change the hinge of his HP laptop which was falling apart twice in a space of just 4 months. These events are simply the results for being integrated into a society buried in planned obsolescence.

Planned obsolescence is a business strategy where companies manufacture goods where its expiration in areas of both durability and fashionability is built into it from conception. Just so that the consumer will feel the need to buy a new one as a replacement, they call it the illusion of change. This practice is everywhere, from stockings, skirts and even flagship smartphones that release just a new one every year, cue Samsung and other smart phones, rendering the old one unfashionable. In the early 20th century, the first set of cars made by General Motors (GM) were designed to be changed every year. They reigned supreme for over 30 years in America, kicking traditional Engineer, Henry Ford out of business till the introduction of cheap and long lasting Japanese cars brought a suitable competition.

Apple, the smart phone outfit is also guilty of that, hiding behind phrases like "tamper-resistant" in order to discourage repairs and prevent change of batteries. Well, the freehand we give these corporations in this country has led to an influx of sub par goods and electronics in the environment. Cheap source materials for manufacture, lackadaisical designs and plain dishonest practices. Sometimes, the change is only in the aesthetics of the product.

So, why would my outdated Toshiba not cry for a replacement when it has a time bomb built in it? And why wouldn't I be forced to get a new phone every other year?

I applaud the strides technology has made over the years, but the fact is that the distribution of these gadgets and gizmos are handled by corporations whose sole aim is the capital. And the measures they take to make it might sometimes be morally questionable. And it is in the consumer and the government's best interest to curb this planned obsolescence, we really don't need anything for the sake of change. Drop the vainglorious act.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my Toshiba, and I am going to post this article with it while it lags and slows down and if it is in the mood, restart. But I would love it if we, as consumers decide not to settle for less. With this economy, change is not always the answer. (No political pun intended please!!)

I cannot resist, one more example, light bulbs are supposed to be purchased maybe twice in a person's lifetime. But when the sales increased, the world largest manufactures met and then agreed to reduce the quality of design, eventually leading to the bulbs with short lifespans we have today.

They have to make money too, don't they?