Digital BW, The Print

"I expect this machine to last for some years. I don't
typically replace machines frequently."


The computer industry loves product upgrades. If you don't upgrade,
then using the 
computer gets more and more difficult. You eventually want new
capabilities, but your 
old system can't do them. You'll be happier in the long run if you
resign to upgrading 
your hardware every three years. Yes, you can hold out longer, but
three years is the 
point of diminishing returns. Too much aggravation after that. Things
move fast these 
days.

For example, the latest version of Photoshop is slower than the
previous version. It 
has more features too. What do you bet the software developers all
use nice fast new 
machines. They optimize for the current generation of hardware. 

You can't buy a solution - software or hardware - that will be great
now and great in 
three years. By that time, all kinds of newer better solutions will
be around. And you'll 
want them, especially if you're reading this list. 

Face it - you have to keep keep upgrading and changing and learning
new 
technologies. It will never stop.