Brand New or Older?

And so...the tech industry created debate goes on for mobile devices.  That debate applies for both the present day tablets and of course, smartphones:  Do I need to upgrade or keep what I have?  Is what I have good enough?  Do I need to get into the tech race?  Is the tech too much for older people to understand?  Which is better Android, iOS (Apple) or Windows 8?

The above questions is the usual line of questions that pop up when I'm talking with neighbors and coworkers  We usually discuss the latest gadgets in this technology explosion of the last five years.  I understand that this will be an on going set of questions for years to come as the tech industry keeps expanding.  Whatever you learned a year or more ago could be almost useless down the road as the software, user interface, speed of the device (processors) and wireless connections (wireless networks) continue to grow.

So rather than dealing with all of the above questions as if one answer is written in stone, let's work from the understanding that what is correct today, may change - or improve tomorrow.  Fair enough?  Not that all improvements are actual improvements.  Just ask folks who have played around on Windows 8 the past several weeks.  The learning curve is definitely a curve ball for some pretty well experienced PC users.  I cannot imagine what it will feel like to people who have a natural fear of even touching a computer.  And believe me, there are still some people with a definite fear of using a computer.  Most of those people may be from an older generation.  You know, the generation that didn't even like setting the clock to a VCR?  So dealing with any version of Windows was going to be a daunting task for them no matter what.

As I sit here typing this blog, I have in front of me an iPad 1, an iPad 3 and a Asus Android tablet.  In the picture that is those same items front left to right.  They are all placed in protective cases.  I used to own and use the iPad 1, but gave it to my 5 year old son to use.  It's been a very, very helpful learning and entertainment tool for him.  The iPad 3 is a gift to my wife.  She is extremely happy with it and readily gave up her iPad 1.  My latest personal toy, the Asus Transformer tablet is their first generation dual core (two processors working).  The iPad 1 is a single core.  The iPad 3 is a quad core (4 processors).  All this, plus the software amounts to speed and smoothness of the device as wekk as game play.  If you use an iPad for anything less than speed or gaming...it is virtually senseless for you to be in a processor speed chase.  In this case - always save your moves for what your wallet can afford.  It's okay to retain or purchase the slightly older model.

Yes the iPad 3 is a way faster moving from application to application.  Yes it has a great viewing screen (Retina display) that is better than many televisions.  But my son is using iPad 1 and it's plenty fast for the games that he plays as well as the educational games and reading that he does on it.  He knows he can't touch his mother's new iPad and doesn't seem to care.  He's very happy with what's in his hand.

So what's my bottom line answers?  If you have an iPad 1, or a first year Android tablet, and it's still working - go ahead and use it until it slows down or becomes unusable.  If you want to improve your use, and can now buzz your way around your device - but find that the device is actually slowing you down - get a newer one.  It doesn't have to be brand new, or the latest thing out there.  Newer items always have those inflated prices attached to them.  Slightly older items usually are cheaper and less bang on your wallet.  Plus they work anyway.   Let your wallet and your actual use and skill level dictate whether or not you need to go out and get the latest and greatest at full, inflated price.  

My Samsung dual core Android phone from less than a year ago is performing quite well, even though it has been replaced by a quad core phone just a few months ago, the Galaxy 3 (UPDATE: the Samsung Galaxy 3 released in the US  was only a souped up dual core, not a quad core as initially stated).  By early next year, the Galaxy 3 is going to be replaced by the Galaxy 4 (UPDATE: the Galaxy 4 released to the US has indeed been a true quad core).  Listen, all I want to do is make phone calls and surf the Internet.  I'm not looking to play war games, or Star Wars on the darn thing.

Another issue is the actual wireless technology.  3G vs 4G vs 4G LTE (long term evolution).  Just so you know, all of that information is about speed and bandwidth.  If you have a 3G phone and love it, and don't give a hoot about upgrading, then keep the phone.  Keep the phone until 3G is dissolved.  So far it hasn't been.  If you're going to upgrade, don't upgrade to 4G, unless you find an absolute bargain over 4G LTE.  However, if all things are equal - do not stop at 4G - just go straight to 4G LTE.  It's bigger, wider, faster, stronger, etc...

Now...if you are a power user for all sorts of electronic devices...just ignore everything I've just written.  Set yourself up every six months for the announcement of some new tech breakthrough and improvement on the prior device.  It may be a difficult and expensive thing to do, but it will keep you hip and hot.

If you have any questions, please be sure to email me at NYEastside.info@gmail.com.  I will be happy to hear from you.

John