These 9 Devices Might Be a Waste of Your Money

Sometimes it pays to buy slightly older devices in place of tempting deals on newly released tech. But that approach to ownership electronics can just accept yous so far. As today's gadgets get ever more powerful and multi-purpose, at that place are some production categories that are nearing outright extinction and would make for empty-headed purchases. Some people may need the functionality of a signal-and-shoot camera, for instance, but for most a smartphone already covers everything they need.

So, earlier you consider buying whatsoever of the items below, call back long and difficult about whether such a device is actually a redundant waste of your money.

1

GPS

When Google released Google Maps Navigation for Android it knocked 20% off the value of large turn-by-turn navigation players TomTom and Garmin in a single day. Since then, Google Maps has spread to other mobile platforms like iOS, and its accuracy and usability has improved.

Why would someone pay hundreds of dollars for something we all can become for gratuitous? Sure, in that location are weaknesses with Google Maps, such as the demand for cellular service, but it's now possible to load upward a map and directions before a journeying. Standalone GPS devices simply don't offer enough extras to make them a worthwhile purchase anymore.

2

Blu-rays Discs, DVDs, and Their Players

Where did you last see your VHS player? The garage? Or at a garage sale? Really, who wants to ataxia their firm up with more than junk that volition end upwardly in the garage in a few years? Instead, with a media player, a decent Internet connection, and a subscription to some streaming movie and TV bear witness services like Netflix, y'all can manipulate with the need for a DVD or Blu-ray library. Collections are squeamish, but how many of your DVDs or Blu-rays practise you honestly watch more than once?

three

Bespeak-and-Shoot Cameras

The betoken-and-shoot compact photographic camera manufacture is another victim of the smartphone revolution. Equally a divide device, you've got to think to bring your compact camera along if you desire to employ information technology. Moreover, most cameras require users to plug into a computer to upload and access photos, although there are a few wireless options now.

Above all, basic compact cameras no longer offer meliorate specs over smartphone cameras: the Nokia Lumia 1020 32GB Windows Smartphone ($149.99 with gratis shipping, a low by $49; 2-yr contract required) boasts a 41-megapixel photographic camera, and makes information technology easier to share photos because information technology's connected to the Net.

four

Flash Drives

The cloud is here to stay and in that location's an impressive wealth of gratuitous cloud storage out in that location. Fix multiple accounts and you can store everything you need on remote servers that you can access from anywhere. And while a wink drive might seem like an like shooting fish in a barrel solution for transmitting files to friends, many services offer such a utility without having even to hand out your countersign.

v

MP3 Players

Most of the states have already left a physical music collection behind (come across VHS player). We traded our CDs and tape decks for MP3 players, but these too will be redundant presently. It's so easy now to maintain a digital drove online; all we need is a device that can access it whether it exist a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or speaker system.

6

Handheld Gaming Consoles

Generally speaking, sales of the latest handheld gaming consoles are deplorable. The dedicated portable gaming manufacture has tanked, perhaps because handheld consoles and the accompanying games are expensive and their battery life is poor. And across employing better graphics, there simply isn't enough innovation or creativity in the industry: nigh people are content to play coincidental games and ports of old classics on their phones and tablets. Free-to-play games have made gaming on-the-go inexpensive and accessible for the masses; while the PC and panel game industries cater to the more than serious gamer.

7

(Mainstream) Desktop PCs

People accept been buying overpowered computers for years. For every power user who genuinely needs a cutting border PC, in that location are 10 people who volition simply surf the spider web, cheque their email, and occasionally play a casual game. For simple tasks, a tablet may offer a better user feel, take up a lot less space, and is more intuitive to utilize.

Now, of course, you know at TechSpot we live and swear by our multi-monitor setups, but this is more nigh the family PC years being over.

8

Handheld Camcorders

Video photographic camera manufacturers take tried in vain to keep upward with the digital revolution. For the everyday user, there'due south very piddling incentive to buy an expensive video camera. The mass marketplace for home videos is well-served already: many smartphones and tablets accept Hd recording capabilities, and born software makes video easy to edit and share.

9

Warning Clocks

That'south correct, even the humble warning clock isn't safety from obsolescence. Why buy a standalone device that tells the time and plays the radio, when you already own one that does this and so much more: your smartphone. No more random wake-upwardly calls from that radio song that gets stuck in your caput all day; instead, you can set a tune to wake upwards to from your own library.

Even nigh TVs accept alarm functions now. These days, the only reason to buy an alarm clock is for the gimmick or décor gene.

Continue in mind that, despite our griping, at that place will still be reasons to purchase some of these items. But for the average tech Joe, avoiding them might be easier than you think — resulting in some extra cash in your bank to spend elsewhere.

Republished with permission. Simon Hill is a Contributing Writer at dealnews.
Header image via Shutterstock

Source: https://www.techspot.com/article/795-redundant-tech-purchases/

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