Long Term Value
Franz| May 12, 2008 9:40 amI am waiting at home for the delivery of my new Nikon D300 digital SLR. I thought it was a good time to clean out some of the files and worked to throw out some of the old receipts. It struck me how much money I had spend on computer related hardware and software and how much of that I can’t even recall ever using or where it is. The computer industry was a master at making things obsolete and over charging for things that had limited long term value. And what to I have to show for all those past purchases? Other than tracking my financial history and digitization of photographic images, very little. I am speaking of just the money spent but when I think of the wasted hours building computers, buying expensive memory, purchasing video cards that were underpowered with the next operating system, I realize how that hobby was a big money and time sink hole.
Today much more can be done over the internet. No longer do I need to buy a mapping program. Moving to the Apple Mac platform has also been very benefical because it comes with far more useable software than Windows ever did. Now days I rarely go to Frys. When I do I see that most of the customers there are overweight nerds. I am glad I have moved on in my life to other interests.
While cleaning out the receipts I saw some that were 20 years old for some camera lenses. I still have those lenses and have used them over the years. When I made the move to a digital SLR with the Nikon D70, I was not able to use them in a practical way since there was no metering and no real focusing aids for those manual focus lenses. But with the new D300 I will once again be able to use them. They still work great and are very sharp. What single computer related hardware or software item that is even half that old is still around? None.
And what do I have to show for the investment over the years in photographic equipment? I have a treasure of images that are priceless, especially of the family and kids when they were much younger.
Categories: Photography Principles
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One Response to “Long Term Value”
Very good observation. Although I have not had the long-term inverstment and interest in photography and photographic equipment as you have (although that is slowly evolving) I can see where you are coming from in the comparative analysis of the two hobbyist worlds. Especially in consideration it is possible to create a market and make money from the hobby if you set up your business model correctly as well as exploit internet-based resources.
Computers are still needed to process all that digital data one creates with one’s video and photographic equipment. Thus, I am not completely down on computer equipment per se. Similarly, I am not really down on telephones either as a geeky or nerdy device. They both are needed and used as tools or devices to accomplish respective tasks and objectives, just as the tool called an automobile is used to carry you somewhere.
A word on computers:
My switch to the Mac platform from the PC world has been nothing less then an ‘emancipation’. Now, instead of tinkering with technology, trying to make things work 80-90% of the time as so often seems to be the case with Windows, the Apple platform has allowed me to spend 80-90% of my time in productivity and get on with business at hand. Since Apple’s modern day equipment and operating system are both 64-bit, I found that I have been able to do every thing I need to do via mobile equipment. This eliminates PC boxes, and nerdiness that goes along with trying to find the best graphics card, sub-sound system, motherboard, memory type etc., orchestrate it and then hope it all works.
Value: Although Apple continues to evolve new models every year, one can purchase a machine and reliably use it for at least 2-3 years and derive productivity value. And then when it does come time to resell a Mac, a good part of the initial investment can be recovered through whatever outlet one might use for such resale. At least that is the case for me here in Japan using auctions. (One might consider to being akin to the resale of a BMW or Mercedes versus a Volkswagen.)
Back to the main point, ‘Long Term Value’, all things eventually obsolete. Film-based cameras are rapidly being obsoleted in lieu of digital cameras (check out the reductions in labor force at Fuji Film, Kodak, and the likes), audio cassette radio players have also become obsolete. Airline propellor plane equipment (Trans World Airlines ?
etc) have been obsoleted by jet aircraft (which is also evolving). It is a process of evolution. Hard disk drives will give way to SSDs. And, I think even camera lenses will change dramatically in the future as new technology evolves and allows for it. (look at even current lens evolution now starting to incorporate IS and VR technologies within the lenses). ( http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/arts/design/09phot.html ) The issue is if one can derive maximum value (however defined) over time , and minimize value erosion for one’s existing equipment and holdings, whether it be a car, real estate, a home, a computer, photographic equipment, etc. If the equipment or possessions can be monetized and capitalized upon, and converted into profit or business, then all the better.
Hope this rationale all makes sense.
TokyoJerry
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