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You Think You Need These 10 Gadgets, But You Actually Don’t Need Them At All
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By Vasim Shaikh:
We think we are a lucky generation, because we have access to modern technology? Well, I would beg to differ. “I really need it”, “All my friends have it”, “Everybody is talking about it”, I can write a bible on this ‘marketing psychology’. Even an ascetic sage will be tempted to buy these amazing goodies, and subsequently he will spend years contemplating why he bought the gadget that he used for a mere 24 hour period. Grab your mobile, throw it in the dustbin and see if you commit suicide the next day, and then you may understand my dilemma. If you spend a month contemplating which phone to buy instead of which book to read or subject to study, then there is probably something wrong with you.
Having spoken on this topic like a religious saint, let me just stop every single nerve in my body from purchasing that new tablet I saw yesterday and talk about the necessity of these products being released every day; which are significantly more in number than the entire human population on earth.
1. Curved Smart Phones
While this sounds unappealing to a flat pocket that your typical jeans has, one wonders how could the creators even think that an unaesthetic design like this would work. The probability of a curved phone breaking is even higher than the normal phones, and the discomfort which comes along with it, even worse. No doubt, these strange phones released by Samsung and LG are an unnecessary burden to a person’s pocket, not to mention a liability.
2. Apple iWatch
Although this looks like a good idea, it is difficult for it to outperform a general one. The typical watch we buy works for months without giving problems. Imagine, also having to charge your watch every day along with other devices. Also, it is not so difficult for a person to actually pull out his iPhone and check whatever he is looking for, it just takes a couple of seconds more. How much cost and trouble can you assign to two seconds of your day?
3. Samsung Android Camera
Priced at an exorbitant price of above 20000 INR, I just wonder if the camera lives up to its expectations. Moreover, Android OS was made for a feature oriented gadget, and just adding the beauty of android to a camera cannot help much. It can never contend with an actual photo application like Photoshop or an advanced Point and Shoot Camera. If you are thinking of buying it, spend 40% of the money on a Photoshop workshop and the rest on a decent camera, and you will earn 30% money for two times better photographs.
4. Anti-Gravity Refill Pen
No wonder this pen is a miraculous wonder, but when you wonder how much amount of cash has to be spent for a unit, you will start thinking of buying 1000 pencils instead and using them till eternity. While this invention is a landmark development, it really hasn’t helped much.
5. Phablets
You might have seen this device when you went for a dinner: a person talking on a gigantic phone that he can barely hold in his hand. The mental image of the person saying “hello” into such a big device makes you giggle. While phones were primarily invented for communicating your details to someone, it is difficult to argue if such a big device will actually benefit a person. I think in future, everyone will have to carry a new purse just for his phone.
6. Dettol No Touch Hand Wash System
This is another strange product from Dettol. Dettol claims that it can clean almost any kind of germs seen today. This product makes one wonder if there is some supernatural formula that exists in the liquid. If the liquid is extremely effective, how can a human touch transfer bacteria that are absolutely impossible to be destroyed by the same liquid that they claim destroys everything. Pure hysteria. While I say this is a good effort, at the given price, I would not buy it.
7. Detachable Laptops
No wonder this sounds cool, but if you are a laptop addict like me, you will realize that the worst part of it is when the battery is low. While this is a good enhancement, the wireless connectivity will reduce the life ever further. Moreover, we really don’t prefer using our laptops in place of an home theatre system.
8. Digital Photo Displays
You will see this gadget, placed in a showcase, in the home of a family which has just returned from a trip from a popular destination. No wonder these displays are extremely cool, but go out for buying one and you will find out that you can buy a smartphone at the same price. Next time, call your uncle, and describe him these scenes and show some pictures from your mobile and he will be much more delighted. This is a wastage of electricity (or batteries), but then again, it has class!
9. Electric Toothbrush
While mornings are meant to be more active, use this device and you will be sleeping even while brushing your teeth. For lazy chaps like me, who have their hand movements only while brushing as an exercise routine, this is a nightmare. It is a perfect example of how addicted we can get to luxury and technology.
10. Laser Scissors
Another strange gadget is the laser scissors, which can be used while cutting. Remember lasers are harmful and also consume a lot of battery power. Also, with a little movement of your hand, it is possible to deflect this straight line. No doubt you will get a straight line, but not an unidirectional one.
The next time you go out for buying something, answer the following questions to yourself:
Ask yourself at least three times if you really need the product.
Do I have something that already provides this functionality?
What are the new problems that will come up with this product?
In long term, will the cost justify the functionality of the product or not?
Perhaps you will realize you don’t really need all the gadgets present in the world and understand that in today’s world, the demand is less than the supply.
Note: To understand the pure hysteria of marketing strategies, you can also read “The art of Choosing” by Sheena Iyengar.
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Yeshu Aggarwal
I don’t understand what’s the issue with being tech savvy or owning the latest gadgets available on the market. If you don’t like them, it neccessarily doesn’t mean no one else would. And as for your opinion that spending more time on deciding which phone to buy rather than a book, then my friend you are not aware about the fact that, books can be read on phones but you can’t have a phone on a book. Yes, we are a technology reliant generation but aren’t we the generation that is quickest than the previous ones?
Vasim
Dear Yeshu, I am not against being tech-savvy person, but think about it, how many products have been released for making profit, and how many of them are made for a use. Go a little more into the market strategy and understand how people are influenced. Besides, this article has been written for a common man’s pocket, not for rich ones. And excuse me, being tech-savvy, being intelligent, being greedy, wanting everything and paying any cost for it, there is a difference between these issues. No wonder we are technology reliant generation, but we have become less brain reliant. Use your head, make an estimate, understand the importance of things, if you can’t resist, then like the saint in the article, go and buy everything. Nobody will kill you dear.
karishma
Lol I like the way u answered… rather than making such useless things companies need to start making artificial brains for ppl… coz it seems like ppl need that more than a new version of smart phone
Likhita
“No doubt, these strange phones released by Samsung and LG are an unnecessary burden to a man’s pocket, not to mention a liability.” Man’s pocket only? Ahem
Vasim
Thanks Likhita, I hope i have made you more intelligent and you will careful with your future purchases.
YouthKiAwaaz
Dear Likhita, thank you for pointing it out – we have made the required edit.
Saurabh Gandhi
Here’s a different take:
1.Apart from a few gadgets(like curved smartphones and phablets) mentioned above, the rest are not so easily bought by people unless they are a gadget enthusiast or need them for some special purpose, so it’s not like the whole world is going around buying things they don’t need.
2.As far as your argument on spending a month deciding which phone to buy, it only stresses the fact that people think before buying a gadget instead of buying them just for a silly reason.
Vasim
Dear Saurabh, I am happy that you liked some of the points. But then, it was important that the article covers a product from every category. The prime focus of the article was the cost to use ratio, and strangely, I think all these are really popular among a lot of people, friends and families I have met. As for as the thinking, people usually buy a gadget every 2-3 months, that accounts for a considerable time that could have otherwise been spent wisely.
Saurabh Gandhi
The argument regarding cost to use ratio is well taken. But then assuming that while people are deciding which gadgets to buy, they are leaving all their productive education/ work and concentrating on the decision is wrong. P.S – “people usually buy a gadget every 2-3 months” are you referring to the “common man” as you wanted to?
Gargi
Nice write-up Vasim!
from my personal experience, Phablets are just way-too-difficult to handle. I appreciate the thought process which entirely focus upon the difference between “need” and “want”.
sharique
Well the curved phones might seem ridiculous,but they are not being created just for selling, the motive is to have screens which can be folded and the curved screens is a single step in that direction.
And smart watches are the next Big thing for electronics. Wont it be easy to have every information on your wrist.
Innovations are the pillars of revolution.
Never discard them.
vibs
smart watches are gonna be a next big flop after apple’s newton device