I don’t know about you, but I live and breathe my laptop. Between freelance work and binge-watching Netflix, I average around 10 hours a day connected to this baby.
When my old faithful started breaking down after five years, I was pained looking at prices of potential replacements. I vividly remember agonizing over the decision to splurge on a nicer model, when I really wanted to cheap out and save a couple hundred bucks. I spent the money and went for the better model and two years later I still have no regrets. Considering how much utility I’ve gotten out of this thing, the net cost is less than a dollar per day and the perks of a better, faster, more user-friendly device are absolutely worth it.
While electronics are certainly not the most affordable tools and devices in our lives, the critical function they play makes some worth splurging on – particularly when the extra investment pays off in better performance and increased productivity.
Here are some electronics that are worth the high price tag:
In a 2009 study Squaretrade found that more expensive laptops had a small but measurable reliability advantage. “Premium” laptops, those selling for more than $1,000, were the least likely to fail. Better displays, longer battery life, faster processors, and other premium features also tend to come standard in higher quality computers.
If you’re having trouble making peace with a $1,000 laptop when $600 models are readily available, consider the amount of hours you spend on your device each day – multiply that by 365 and then again by 3. That should serve as all the perspective you need.
With every cellphone now capable of snapping a quick pic, the case for splurging on a camera may seem like a hard argument to be won. But anyone with the slightest personal or professional interest in photography can still benefit from a more expensive splurge.
Replaceable lenses on a DSLR camera allow for a lot more adaptability and provide far better quality than any point and shoot or digital zoom feature. Lenses are also interchangeable between brands so you don’t have to upgrade everything every time you buy a new lens. Higher end cameras are made from more durable, weather sealed metal.
These options also hold onto their resale value far better than any point and shoot. With the higher quality pictures that come from this higher quality technology, you may also be able to save in other ways- DIY portraiture and family photography, DIY wall decorations, DIY stock photos, etc.
Tablets, smartphones and televisions tend to fall into more of a gray area in the splurge vs. save debate depending on your needs. Consider how much time you spend using the product and how much utility it provides.
For instance, you may use a tablet for easy reading when you travel, but if you primarily use your laptop for day-to-day tasks, you probably don’t need to splurge on the most expensive tablet with the most comprehensive suite of features.
Speaking of features, rather than getting swept away by the marketing or the sales pitch, remember to stay focused on what you actually need when shopping for technology. So much new technology follows the 80/20 breakdown, where 20 percent of the features and investment deliver 80 percent of the necessary value to customers.
If you’ve never been one to maximize all of the bells and whistles in the past, you probably won’t in the future either. Don’t subject yourself to paying more for features you’ll never use.
Lastly, consider what an extra investment will or won’t save you. If you invest in surround-sound at home, will it save you from coughing up $12 at the movies each weekend? Or will you still not be able to hold out for the new releases and spend money at the theater anyway?
Knowing which electronics are worth splurging on often involves knowing yourself and the reality of your habits and needs.
