It can get really frustrating when a piece of fairly expensive electronic equipment finally turns the corner from somewhat usable to out-of-date.  Unfortunately, it’s become standard fare to make a big purchase only to have it become old, obsolete and unusable.  Does that mean that our new thousand dollar television or laptop computer will soon become unusable?

No matter what, it seems like the new stuff we just purchased is becoming unusable and breaking sooner than the old.  My fiancée can vouch for our quips over the weekend because four of these new light bulbs have stopped working within three months.  I spent three dollars a bulb to have them last less time than the old fifty cent incandescent bulbs.

I think some people find it fun to purchase new equipment every couple years.  However, for the rest of us it can get really tiring and fairly expensive.  My old television, which has served me well for ten years is finally starting to show its age.  Even though my current set is 25 inches I somehow felt an obligation to start looking at sets twice that size.  What could I have been thinking ten years ago?

As consumers I think we forget about the disposal process of all our old stuff.  Luckily we don’t have to think much because of a new industry to answer this question.  Electronics recycling centers allow us to drop off our old goods (at a cost) and have them safely turned back into their core components: gold, silver, steel, glass, plastic and heavy metals.

Over the last bunch of years I’ve had opportunities to tour dozens of commercial electronic recycling facilities.  I’ve been surprised to see how many new electronic gizmos actually get dumped prior to their expected life span.  One of the places near me boasted about how newer televisions – some still under warranty – are often turned in.

Businesses small and large have reacted to the craze of turning these usable products back into consumer goods.  I don’t think a week goes by when I don’t hear about a new company that buys up older equipment only to fix and resell it.

Electronics recyclers have realized that much of what they take in is worth more on the resale market than the component market.  A typical computer contains trace amounts of gold and platinum and a fair amount of steel and plastic.  All of these components have value when separated.  Often times though your old laptop or television is resold only to be fixed and placed back into the consumer stream.

I am left asking myself at what point do we stop replacing working equipment?  Obviously the working televisions, laptops and other electronics have some useful life.  What motivates someone to decide their 42″ television isn’t big enough?  Why do we need to constantly update?  Have we reached a point where we don’t expect our dollar not to go as far?

In the computer world it is common for people to limit their budget based on current needs.  Aside from user damage, obsolescence is the second reason for buying new.  I have heard countless people tell me they should have spent the additional $100.00 for the better system.  That little extra could have squeezed another year of usable life from the machine.

There’s not much we can do to prevent lower quality components.  Manufacturers, like you and me, have a bottom line too.  Cheaply made equipment is becoming more prevalent as profits diminish.  I think the bottom line is that it’s up to you and me as consumers to pay attention to brands and models that offer the best quality and longevity.  Penny wise is not necessarily the best bet when shopping for new equipment.

(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner.  You can e-mail him at remoquin@gmail.com or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)