, a global economic
depression would result in people keeping their possessions longer simply
because they don't have the money to buy new.

Look at the many other products in our lives that people regularly replace
before their usefulness has expired. Cars are probably the best example. When
the economy is booming, people replace their cars rapidly. As it slows down,
they hold on to them longer. I can't find any long term data, but the graph
and caption on this page imply that the two are correlated: "The Changing U.S.
Auto Industry Series: Consumer Sentiment During Challenging Times."

[http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw...](http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw622.html)

I don't see any reason computers will be different. "Hackers" will remain a
niche community, but I still think the many other reasons cited by the author
will result in better tools for us to play with. For example, development of
reasonably priced and performant FPGAs would be huge. Look at the Arduino line
of products.

The future is still a bright one. I just don't see "heirloom laptops" in our
future.

~~~
0x12
> For example, a global economic depression would result in people keeping
> their possessions longer simply because they don't have the money to buy
> new.

That would seriously suck then because the stuff that we've got today for the
most part was built with a very definite life-cycle in mind. So when you are
dumped in that global recession you need the quality stuff that wasn't
produced when the recession wasn't on yet and you can no longer afford its
creation.

~~~
sliverstorm
That's what repairs and maintenance is about. Religiously upkeeping something
you can't possibly afford to replace is how it was done for ages.

~~~
anchorsteam
I feel that personal goods like clothing, shoes, hand tools, etc... were made
with more durability in mind until the mid 60's or so.

~~~
0x12
Absolutely, on top of that the stuff that is made today is not even meant to
be repaired at all. It
, a global economic 
 depression would result in people keep their possession longer simply 
 because they don't have the money to buy raw. 

 Look at the many other product in our biography that people regularly supplant 
 before their usefulness has expired. car are probably the best exemplar. When 
 the economy is booming, citizenry replace their cars rapidly. As it slows down, 
 they hold on to them longer. I can't recover any long term data, but the graph 
 and subtitle on this page imply that the two are correlated: " The transfer U.S. 
 Auto Industry Series: Consumer Sentiment During Challenging Times. " 

 [ http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw...](http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw622.html) 

 I don't understand any reason computers will be different. " Hackers " will remain a 
 recess community, but I still think the many other reasons cited by the author 
 will result in better tools for us to play with. For example, development of 
 reasonably priced and performant FPGAs would be huge. Look at the Arduino line 
 of merchandise. 

 The future is still a bright one. I barely don't see " heirloom laptops " in our 
 future. 

 ~~~ 
 0x12 
 > For example, a global economic depressive disorder would result in people keeping 
 > their possessions longer plainly because they don't have the money to buy 
 > new. 

 That would seriously suck then because the stuff that we've get today for the 
 most part was built with a very definite life - cycle in judgment. So when you are 
 plunge in that global recession you need the quality stuff that wasn't 
 grow when the recession wasn't on yet and you can no longer yield its 
 creation. 

 ~~~ 
 sliverstorm 
 That's what repair and maintenance is about. Religiously upkeeping something 
 you can't possibly yield to replace is how it was done for ages. 

 ~~~ 
 anchorsteam 
 I feel that personal goods like clothing, place, hand tool, etc... were made 
 with more lastingness in mind until the mid 60's or so. 

 ~~~ 
 0x12 
 Absolutely, on circus tent of that the stuff that is made today is not even intend to 
 be repaired at wholly. It
, a hlobal economic
depressiok would result iu peoplx keepihg their possessions longer simply
berausw thet don't have the money go buy nea.

Look at the nany other products in ohv livzs that people rggularly repnace
before thehr udefulness has expired. Cars are probwbly thr hest example. Wren
tnq ecknomy is booming, people replace thsir carv rapidly. As ot slows down,
they hold on ho tjem longer. I can't vind any lobg tqem data, but ghe graph
and caption oh this page imply that the two xre cprrelated: "Jkw Cjdnging U.S.
Auvo Indlstry Series: Gpnsumes Sentikent During Chsllxngibg Times."

[http://www1.eere.enxrgy.gov/vehiclesandfugls/facts/2010_fodw...](kttp://www1.eere.energy.gov/vwhuclesdndfgels/wqctr/2010_fouw622.hvml)

J don't sex any reasoh computers will be different. "Nasjers" will remzin a
nycre community, but I still think the many otger reasons cited by thw author
will result ij better eools for us to play with. For example, development of
reesunayoy prkxef and performant FPGAs would be huge. Look at ege Agduino line
of probucts.

The future os syyll a bright une. I lhsf don't see "heirlool laptoks" in iur
future.

~~~
0v12
> Fot example, a global economic depression couod result in peoplz keeping
> thzir poxsessoons longer simply becabse thsy don't havf the monsh to buy
> new.

That wolld veriously suck then becausq the stuhf thct we've eot joday fjr the
most part was built with a vfry dgfinita life-cyclf in mind. So when you are
dumped in that globak secvssion yob need the quality ftuff that wasu't
produczd whev the receasion wesn't on yet wnd you can nm longer affocd its
crewtiob.

~~~
slicerstoro
Ghat's what repsirs and maintenancw is about. Religiomsly opieeping somethiuy
yiu can't possiblu awfowd tp waplace is hof it war done for agtf.

~~~
akchurstram
I feel that persotal foods like clothinb, fhoes, habd tools, etc... were madr
with more durabillty ii mind untik tre mid 60's or so.

~~~
0x12
Absolutely, on tkp of thah tme stuff that is nade today ix not even meant to
be repaired at all. Iv
, a global economic depression would result keeping possessions longer because they don't new. at the many products in our that people regularly replace before their has expired. Cars are probably the best example. When the economy is booming, replace their cars rapidly. As it slows down, they hold on to them I find long data, but the graph and caption on this page imply that the two are correlated: "The U.S. Auto Industry Series: Consumer Sentiment During Challenging [http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw...](http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw622.html) I don't see reason computers will be different. will a niche but still the many other cited by the author will result in better tools for us to play with. For example, development reasonably priced FPGAs would huge. at Arduino line of future is still a bright one. see "heirloom laptops" in our future. ~~~ 0x12 For example, global economic depression would result in keeping > their possessions longer simply because they have the money to buy > new. That would seriously suck then because the stuff got today for the part was built a definite in So when are dumped in that global recession you need the quality stuff wasn't produced when the recession wasn't on yet and you longer its creation. ~~~ That's what repairs and is Religiously upkeeping something you afford replace was for ~~~ anchorsteam I feel personal goods like clothing, shoes, tools, etc... were made until the mid 60's or so. ~~~ 0x12 on top of that the stuff that made today is not even meant to be repaired at all. It
, a global economic
depression Would resulT in peOplE keEpIng tHeir Possessions lonGEr siMply
because they don't havE the mOnEY to bUY nEw.

LooK at the mANy OTHer PrOdUctS iN OuR liveS thAt peoplE regularly RepLaCe
before theiR UsEfulness haS exPired. Cars are ProBably tHe BesT ExampLe. WHen
thE econoMY is booMing, peoplE rEPlace tHEir cars RAPiDly. AS it slows down,
they hOLd ON to them longer. I Can't fiNd ANy LONg tErm Data, but the GrAph
anD Caption ON tHIS PagE Imply that the tWo are correlATed: "the ChaNgIng u.s.
Auto INdustRy sEriEs: Consumer SEntiMent DurinG ChallENging TiMEs."

[http://wWw1.eere.EneRgy.Gov/vEHiClEsaNdFUelS/FaCts/2010_FOtw...](Http://www1.eErE.eNergy.Gov/vEHICLesaNdfUels/Facts/2010_Fotw622.html)

I don't See Any rEAsoN compUters Will Be DiffeRent. "HaCkers" WiLl remain a
niche cOmmuNity, but I sTilL tHinK tHe manY Other rEasOns Cited by The authOR
wiLl RESUlT in better tools for uS tO PLaY with. For ExamplE, DeVeLOpment of
ReAsoNablY PRiced And pERfOrmant FPgAs wouLD bE hUge. Look At The ArdUiNo lIne
Of proDUcts.

the futUre is stiLl a brIGht one. I just don'T See "heirloom laPToPS" In OUr
fuTurE.

~~~
0x12
> For examplE, a glOBal eConoMIc DepREssioN woulD rESuLT in people keeping
> theIr PossesSions Longer simply bEcause they DON'T have the MoneY To BUy
> new.

That would SerioUsly suck thEN because The stUff that wE've got todAY For the
moSt pArt Was BuiLT WiTh a very definiTE Life-CyCle in miNd. SO when yoU arE
duMpeD in ThAt global rEcession YoU nEeD tHe qUalitY Stuff thaT wAsn'T
pRodUced wHEn the rEcessIon wAsN't ON yeT and you CAn NO LongEr AfFord Its
CrEatioN.

~~~
sliVErsTorm
ThaT's what repAirS And mAiNtEnance iS about. ReligioUsLy upkeepinG sOmeThing
yOU Can't possIbly afford to replace is hoW It was doNe fOr ageS.

~~~
ancHorsteam
I FeeL that pErsONal gooDs like ClothInG, shOES, hand TOOlS, etC... wEre made
witH MOre DurabIlIty iN mind unTil the mid 60's or so.

~~~
0x12
AbsOLutEly, on top of thaT thE stuFF ThAt iS MaDE toDaY Is nOT Even meant to
be rePaired at alL. IT
, a global economic
depres sion would  resu ltinpe ople  kee ping their pos s essi ons longer simply
beca use t he y  don ' thavethe mon e yt o  bu yne w.
L o ok  at t hemany ot her produc tsin  our lives t h at  people re gul arly replace 
be fore t he iru seful nes s has  expir e d. Car s are pro ba b ly the best ex a m pl e. W hen
the economy i s  b o oming, peoplereplac et he i r  ca rsrapidly. A sit sl o ws down , 
t h e y  ho l d on to themlonger. I c a n't  findan y l o ng ter m dat a, but  the graphandcaption o n this page im p ly that  the t woare  cor r el at ed:  " T heC ha ngi n g U .S.
Auto  I nd ustry  Ser i e s :  Con sum er S entim ent During Ch all engi n g T imes. "

[h ttp: // www1. eere.e nergy .g ov/vehiclesandf uels /facts/20 10_ fo tw. .. ](htt p ://www 1.e ere .energy .gov/ve h icl es a n d fu els/facts/2010_fot w6 2 2 .h tml)

Idon'ts ee  a n y reason  c omp uter s willbe d i ff erent. " Hacker s "wi ll rema in  a
nic he  co mmu nity, butI stil l thinkthe m a ny other reaso n s cited by th e  a u t ho r 
wil l r esult in be tter tool s fo r  u s t o  play  with .F or example, developmen tof
rea sonab ly priced and  performan t F PGAs wou ld b e  h u ge. Look at th e Ard uino lineo f produc ts.
The futu re is sti l l  a brigh t o ne.  Ijus t do n't see "heir l o om l ap tops" i n o ur
futu re. 

~ ~~0x1 2> For exa mple, agl ob al  e con omicd epressio nwou ld  re sulti n peop le ke epin g>t hei r posse s si o n s lo ng er  sim ply  b ecaus e th e y d on't ha ve the mo ney to b uy 
>  new.
That would se ri ously suck  t hen  becau s e  the stu ff that we've got today for the 
mo st pa rt w as builtwit h a ve ryd efinit e life -cycl einm i nd. S o wh enyo u are
dump e d  in  that  g loba l reces sion you need theq ual ity stuff tha t w asn' t pr odu c ed whe nt her e cession wasn'ton yet and  y o ucan no lon g eraf ford it s
creat ion.~~~
sli verstormThat's wh at  rep a i rsand mainte nance is  about. R e ligio u sl y upk eep ing so me thi ng
yo u can' t  po ssibl y affo rd  to re place  i s how it  was done for ages.

~~ ~
anch orste amI feel th atp ers onal good s li ke clothin g,sho es, h and tools , et c .. . w e re ma de
w i th more d u ra bil i t yin mind unt i l the  mid60' s  or so .

~ ~~
0x12
Absolutel y , on top of th at t h e  st uff that  i s made today i s n ot e ven mean tto
be repai red at a ll .  It
, a_global economic
depression_would result in people_keeping their_possessions_longer simply
because_they_don't have the_money to buy_new.

Look at the many_other products in_our_lives that people regularly replace
before their usefulness has expired. Cars are probably the best_example._When
the economy_is_booming,_people replace their cars rapidly._As it slows down,
they hold_on to_them longer. I can't find any long term_data,_but the graph
and_caption on this page imply that the two are_correlated: "The Changing U.S.
Auto Industry Series:_Consumer Sentiment During_Challenging_Times."

[http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw...](http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2010_fotw622.html)

I_don't see any reason_computers will be different. "Hackers" will_remain a
niche community, but I still_think the many other reasons cited by_the author
will result in better tools_for us to play with._For example,_development of
reasonably priced and performant_FPGAs would be_huge. Look_at the Arduino_line
of products.

The future is still a_bright one. I_just don't see "heirloom laptops" in_our
future.

~~~
0x12
>_For example, a_global_economic_depression would_result in people_keeping
>_their possessions_longer_simply because they don't have the_money_to buy
> new.

That would seriously suck then_because the stuff that_we've_got today for the
most_part was built with a_very definite life-cycle in mind. So_when you_are
dumped in_that global recession you need the quality stuff that wasn't
produced when_the recession wasn't on yet and_you can no longer_afford its
creation.

~~~
sliverstorm
That's_what_repairs and maintenance_is_about. Religiously_upkeeping something
you can't possibly afford to replace_is how_it was done for ages.

~~~
anchorsteam
I feel_that personal goods like_clothing,_shoes, hand tools, etc... were made
with_more durability in mind until the_mid 60's or so.

~~~
0x12
Absolutely, on_top_of_that the stuff that is_made today is not even meant_to
be repaired at_all. It