Of course you want this!

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I can't really remember the last time I encountered the phrase "planned obsolecense". It was popular over a generation ago, but it seems to have become such an integral part of our culture that we don't even speak about it anymore. Then again, perhaps it's simply been overtaken, superceded. Even if obsolecense is built-in to products that are produced today, they're invariably out of style even before they reach that stage. Meaning, I guess, that they're no longer around long enough to wear out. Manufacturers don't have to worry about making something that won't last. Instead, advertisers can simply promote in us a desire for something new. Sure, that car (computer, cell phone, toothbrush, or whatever) is still functional, but wouldn't you really love, don't you really, deep down, feel that you need, the newer model? The resulting continuing spiral of consumption remains the same.

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Go to: Confessions of a conservative technology freak.