Subject: Old electronics
#devicesThis is personal outbound tech email, offered without further context.
Q1. JM says: I have this 20+ year old Zaurus device. I have hundreds of books on it, databases, spreadsheets, music, maps of the entire world, etc. all in a form factor smaller than [a 1970s] basic math calculator.
The Zaurus has not been updated in 20 years, nor does it need updates. It's a private device with no tracking or background processes, no big tech, subscriptions or constantly changing data formats. So it is not connected to the internet, even better!
I really appreciate your perspective [on such older devices]. I see that people in forums dismiss older devices as obsolete and worthless junk.
A1. OldCoder responds:
The laptop that I'm typing on is a year 2012 model. It's ancient by laptop standards, but it does everything that I presently need. My other laptops are of similar vintage.
The early 2010s are considered ancient history for laptops. However, with a fast Linux distro -- my own distro's motto is "Fast is a Blast" -- they're faster in typical user experience than a brand-new laptop that is running Windows 11.
So, some Linux users are going to agree with the point that older devices might work fine for their use cases.
In your case, I'd recommend that you obtain a few more Zauruses if you can find them in good condition and for good prices. They're not going to become easier to find in the future. You might also want to share some with others. Or to resell them with add-on software tools and useful data.
Q2. JM says: Old electronics from the 1980s, 1970s, old radios from the 1940s... These sell for a lot of money. Even vintage computers. People collect them, restore them and enjoy them. I have a 1950s Ford tractor that is still in service, still working. What is manufactured today that could possibly sustain such enthusiasm 20-30 years from now?
I can't imagine people collecting old iphones or bluetooth made-in-China stereo speakers currently manufactured, but 1970s phonographs and 1980s stereo walkmans will probably still be fetching top dollar as they are today.
A2: OldCoder responds:
Some people in their 20s to 30s are using obsolete digital cameras from the Zaurus era because they think of the cameras as antiques and the lower resolutions as a positive.
The perspective on lower resolutions is part of an "aesthetic" referred to as "lo-fi" or "vintage". However, nostalgia is part of the picture as well.
So, who's to say what 2050s people interested in the 2020s will be going to fleamarkets and retro websites to find? I'm sure that there are 2020s devices such as game consoles that will command top dollar if they're in mint condition.
However, there *has* been one important change. Many electronics devices today rely on the Internet and/or on mobile networks. Some are tied as well to specific network servers that the manufacturer operates.
If the manufacturer shuts down a service or websites shut down or anything else changes, such devices are probably good for landfill and for nothing else.
Buyers are already being affected by this. Families have, for example, purchased talking toys, become attached to them, and then had the toys die because the manufacturers shut down servers. People are unlikely to buy a dead device just so that they can say, "Remember when this used to boot up?"
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