this thread makes me feel so much better about my purchasing habits... i'm not the only nut out there. 
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The "how much did your computer setup make you poorer" thread
- Thread starter ricgnzlzcr
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QCassidy352 said:this thread makes me feel so much better about my purchasing habits... i'm not the only nut out there.
I know. This forum is like a support group for all of us who think we spend too much. The first step is admitting we spend too much. The second step is buying more.
ricgnzlzcr said:
"My name is Mike."
Hi, Mike!
"I haven't bought an Apple product since WWDC... '06."
(applause)
Looking back over hardware for the last 10 years, I can recall spending the following:
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that computers (like cars) lose a significant amount of their value when you buy them new. And that what you gain on a new system considering the immediate loss of value of the system is just not worth it. That's why I buy used systems. They generally haven't lost any of the abilities that they had when they were new, and yet are no where near as expensive.
But I'm pretty sure I've spent significantly more on software over that same period. My usual practice on buying software is that I get a demo of an app and attempt to make at least the amount of money needed to buy the app within the demo period (so that the app literally pays for itself). I've done this with almost every app I own that cost me more than $100.
In some cases I look at software in the same way as hardware. Older (used) software tends to cost significantly less than new software, and it isn't like the old software has lost any functionality over time. An application from 1999 that cost $800 back then isn't going to have lost any features or abilities in the last 7 years. Yet I can get that software for under $50 today.
Operating systems are a little different as it is hard to put them into the same context as applications. And in many cases operating systems have been pretty expensive. For example NEXTSTEP was around $350 as I recall, OPENSTEP was about $400, IRIX 5.3 was about $100 and IRIX 6.2 was $280. Those operating systems would have added $1130 to my computer costs in 1998/99.
Still, considering that my income has come exclusively from computer related work since 2000 (and mainly from computer related work since 1998, though not exclusively on my own hardware or software before 2000), these expenses have been a small fraction of the return on that investment.
I guess what I'm saying is that I can hardly characterize my expenditures on computer related stuff as making me poorer seeing as it is how I make money to begin with.
1996
PowerBook Duo 230.....$300
Total: $300
1997
PowerBook Duo 280.....$300
-sold- PowerBook Duo 230.....$300
-sold- PowerBook Duo 230.....$300
Total: $0
1998
PowerMac 7100.....$200
Quadra 950.....$100
Two 16" displays.....$150
Three 21" displays.....$150
Quadra 950.....$100
Two 16" displays.....$150
Three 21" displays.....$150
Total: $600
1999
G3/266 upgrade (7100).....$350
IBM ThinkPad.....$350
SGI Indy.....$350
21" display for Indy.....$100
IBM ThinkPad.....$350
SGI Indy.....$350
21" display for Indy.....$100
Total: $1150
2000
iMac/350.....$800
Total: $800
2001
PowerBook Wallstreet......$350
Total: $350
2002
Memory for Wallstreet.....$200
G4 upgrade for Wallstreet.....$400
G4 upgrade for Wallstreet.....$400
Total: $600
2003
CDRW drive for Wallstreet.....$350
Indy Video and Cosmo compress.....$350
PowerMac 7500.....Free
Indy Video and Cosmo compress.....$350
PowerMac 7500.....Free
Total: $700
2004
Two PowerMac 8500.....Free
PowerTower Pro.....Free
Two 17" displays.....Free
G3/300 upgrade (PCI Mac).....Free
PowerMac 8100 (with G3/500).....Free
PowerBook Duo 2300c.....$75
PowerBook Pismo.....$300
PowerTower Pro.....Free
Two 17" displays.....Free
G3/300 upgrade (PCI Mac).....Free
PowerMac 8100 (with G3/500).....Free
PowerBook Duo 2300c.....$75
PowerBook Pismo.....$300
Total: $375
2005
PowerMac 8600/300.....Free (trade for an 8500 with G3/300)
Beige G3/233.....Free
Beige G3/266 (with AV option).....Free
21" display.....Free
ATI Rage 128 Video Card.....Free
ATI Radeon 7000 Video Card.....Free
Sonnet UltraATA/66 card.....Free
Two port USB card.....Free
80 GB hard drive (for Beige G3).....Free
40 GB hard drive (for Wallstreet).....Free
20 GB hard drive (for Wallstreet).....Free (trade for work)
Beige G3/233.....Free
Beige G3/266 (with AV option).....Free
21" display.....Free
ATI Rage 128 Video Card.....Free
ATI Radeon 7000 Video Card.....Free
Sonnet UltraATA/66 card.....Free
Two port USB card.....Free
80 GB hard drive (for Beige G3).....Free
40 GB hard drive (for Wallstreet).....Free
20 GB hard drive (for Wallstreet).....Free (trade for work)
Total: $0
2006
G4/533 upgrade.....Free (from parts sale)
640 MB of memory (for Beige G3).....Free
DVD drive.....Free (trade for parts)
PowerMac 8600/300 (with G3/450).....$45 (shipping)
PowerBook Lombard (originally for a client).....$100
Memory (Pismo & Lombard).....$200
640 MB of memory (for Beige G3).....Free
DVD drive.....Free (trade for parts)
PowerMac 8600/300 (with G3/450).....$45 (shipping)
PowerBook Lombard (originally for a client).....$100
Memory (Pismo & Lombard).....$200
Total: $345
Grand Total: $5220
Grand Total: $5220
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that computers (like cars) lose a significant amount of their value when you buy them new. And that what you gain on a new system considering the immediate loss of value of the system is just not worth it. That's why I buy used systems. They generally haven't lost any of the abilities that they had when they were new, and yet are no where near as expensive.
But I'm pretty sure I've spent significantly more on software over that same period. My usual practice on buying software is that I get a demo of an app and attempt to make at least the amount of money needed to buy the app within the demo period (so that the app literally pays for itself). I've done this with almost every app I own that cost me more than $100.
In some cases I look at software in the same way as hardware. Older (used) software tends to cost significantly less than new software, and it isn't like the old software has lost any functionality over time. An application from 1999 that cost $800 back then isn't going to have lost any features or abilities in the last 7 years. Yet I can get that software for under $50 today.
Operating systems are a little different as it is hard to put them into the same context as applications. And in many cases operating systems have been pretty expensive. For example NEXTSTEP was around $350 as I recall, OPENSTEP was about $400, IRIX 5.3 was about $100 and IRIX 6.2 was $280. Those operating systems would have added $1130 to my computer costs in 1998/99.
Still, considering that my income has come exclusively from computer related work since 2000 (and mainly from computer related work since 1998, though not exclusively on my own hardware or software before 2000), these expenses have been a small fraction of the return on that investment.
I guess what I'm saying is that I can hardly characterize my expenditures on computer related stuff as making me poorer seeing as it is how I make money to begin with.
I have never thought about checking this until I saw this thread. After running the quick spending reports with MS Money, I found I am spending quite a bit on tech spending as a whole:
over USD 17,000 for last year
over USD 5000 year to date (including $2500 of camera gears)
Not to mention actual apple notebooks/ADCs, that amount covers Multiple external HDs, 3 Apple BT keyboards, mutiple mice, 2 wacom tablets, software, bags, and etc.
Better to implement the spending freeze on Apple products until CS3 and major bugs are fixed (which should be around the middle of 2007).
over USD 17,000 for last year
over USD 5000 year to date (including $2500 of camera gears)
Not to mention actual apple notebooks/ADCs, that amount covers Multiple external HDs, 3 Apple BT keyboards, mutiple mice, 2 wacom tablets, software, bags, and etc.
Better to implement the spending freeze on Apple products until CS3 and major bugs are fixed (which should be around the middle of 2007).
I gave up the price of a new Al Merrick shape plus the trip to Costa last summer for my set-up.mad jew said:What's the point of listing the price we paid for our Macs? Why don't we mention what we forgo when we purchase a Mac. Mention the opportunity cost, I guess.
iGary said:Penis measuring contest.
I don't think so. Spending more than I should on apple products is really more a sense of embarrassment than pride for me. My friends, family, and gf all think I'm ridiculous...