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Buying a new computer, or upgrading an existing one, can be an incredibly difficult decision. Just when you think you know what you want, you see some press release, and think "hey, maybe I should wait and see what happens with this." It gets easier, and easier to put off upgrading, and just keep waiting to see what is next, and what is likely to be around tomorrow.

CD ROM, what a great invention. If you didn't get one right away, you could get a 2x speed one, and if you waited long enough, you could get it cheaper than it's slower predecessor. Or maybe you waited to get one with your new computer, and ended up with a 4x speed CD ROM, and a pile of CDs to boot. Now they're up to 15x speed, and still getting faster. Then, just when you decide that it's fast enough, and the price is right. something totally new comes along, and CDs are replaced altogether. Ok, so I made that last part up, but you just never know; it could happen.

A friend is still using an original IBM PC; 4.77 Mhz 8088, 640K RAM, and a 10 meg hard drive. He is still waiting for the right time to buy a new computer. By the time he makes up his mind, his old PC will be worth more than the new one as an antique! He's now thinking about buying a "stop-gap" machine to get him through until the end of this revolution we are living through.

On the other hand, I also know those who must always have the newest, biggest, and fastest just as soon as it is released, usually selling their old equipment before the average consumer knows that the price has just dropped. A savvy salesperson can actually make a few bucks while constantly upgrading their personal system. Most people however cannot sustain this for long though as it takes a truly hyper-active person to keep up with the never ending flood of new technological advancements.

I've been thinking a lot about upgrading lately, but am left feeling apathetic about it. The more I read about all the new products, only to read about something better the next week, and then something even better the next week. Buying anything these days is a gamble. Remember the old "VHS vs. BETA" war? Any time you buy a piece of hardware, or the latest "end-all, be-all" software, you run the risk of being stuck with this BETA VCR/Boat Anchor. If it turns out that BETA really is what you want anyway, simply waiting long enough can net it for the price of a boat anchor.

I have neither the time nor the energy to play the technology futures game. I'm too busy using my old technology to spend a bunch of money I don't have on something I don't have time to learn how to use, and won't be worth any more than what I have now once I take it out of the box; possibly less. It's not that there are not good products being produced, or major advances being made in technology. Quite the contrary, there are too many, too often. Too many choices, too little time and money.

Maybe this is just a sign of my age, and I'm just getting set in my ways, or maybe all of the hype over the years has calloused my impulses. Then again, maybe it's just not the right time to do anything. Maybe waiting patiently for what I really want, is the best course of action. Who knows what is coming in the future, but whatever it is I will be watching for it; procrastinating until something catches and holds my interest long enough for me to arrange financing.