Upgrades and expectations

[vernon]

There seem to be a lot of people taking this phone allegory very literally.

Oh, is that what it was meant to be?

 

[Crandoggler]

I think most increases would be so small that they would be unnoticed. However, we like new things. So what's the harm?

I noticed a difference going from 23c to 25c tyres. That's about the only thing I've ever noticed.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

There's a lot of talk on this forum about upgrades, with people wondering should they get new wheels, or a carbon frame, or this or that. There often follows a lively debate about whether an "upgrade" is necessary, desirable or even noticeable. Some may say that it's a pointless waste of money, some that it won't make a difference but it's shiny so go for it, and some that it may make an improvement for a certain type of rider under certain conditions. However, some may ascribe almost magical properties to said upgrade, using words such as vertically compliant, more responsive, quicker to spin up etc etc and insisting that said upgrade will make you ride faster, climb better, and make you more attractive. With this in mind, I present to you the new iPhone 6S:

Brilliant!!!!! I enjoyed that

 

[winjim]

Oh, is that what it was meant to be?

I'm not sure. It might have been a metaphor. Maybe even just a comparison.

 

[EltonFrog]

Who said, "don't buy upgrades, ride up grades..."?

Was it...

a) Eddy Merckx
b) Eddie Large
c) Some twerp in a marketing department somewhere
d) Someone else

d) Lew Grade.

 

[IDMark2]

There's a lot of talk on this forum about upgrades, with people wondering should they get new wheels, or a carbon frame, or this or that. There often follows a lively debate about whether an "upgrade" is necessary, desirable or even noticeable. Some may say that it's a pointless waste of money, some that it won't make a difference but it's shiny so go for it, and some that it may make an improvement for a certain type of rider under certain conditions.

Well, we got to the consensus quickly... OP.

I had a new phone recently. Quite like it.

 

[cyberknight]

Basic flip phone for me.

Sim only contract £9 per month and I still have loads of minutes left.

Giff gaff PAYG , £10 lasts 2-3 months
I have a Moto E

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/23/moto-e-review-2015/

 

[winjim]

Well, we got to the consensus quickly... OP.

I had a new phone recently. Quite like it.

Did it deliver all that it promised? Or do you believe that it did? Has it improved your telephony experience in any meaningful and quantifiable way?

Or is it just nice and new and shiny?

 

[IDMark2]

Has it improved your telephony experience in any meaningful and quantifiable way?

No. I dial a number, I talk to the person that answers it. Same as the last one. Smaller though.

Or is it just nice and new and shiny?

No. It's a blue polycarbonate so not shiny at all. It's cheaper than the last one too.

I get the point winjim, many 'upgrades' are pure hyperbole, be it phones or bike frame materials or cameras or kitchen gadgets, and the clip posted proves how, at least some people, are taken in by the marketing speak and 'believe' anything they are fed.
The counter point is that some are very cynical and critical about this, particularly those like myself who was involved in an industry where the differences between generations of products were similarly incremental, if indeed 'improvements'.
There may be another level of cynicism that takes great pride in not believing anything marketing says at all and rejoicing in their 'wise choice' without being 'taken in by the hyperbole'.
All sorts.


My phone can be charged wirelessly.
The charger has to have a wire though.

 

[winjim]

My phone can be charged wirelessly.
The charger has to have a wire though.

Pffft. My toothbrush has been doing that for years.

 

[IDMark2]

Pffft. My toothbrush has been doing that for years.

Thanks to the wonders of false teeth, mine can be cleaned remotely...

 

[Profpointy]

my general policy on upgrades is to buy a better item when the old one wears out or is broken. I sometims temper that with going out of my way to get exaclty the same thing again when the original has lasted decades of solid service - Brooks saddles say. It can be frustrating when a company no longer makes the item - my favourite Loakes brogues no longer made, and although the replacement Crocketts arw genuinely an upgrade albeit a lot more expensive, I just wanted same again. Dout I'll upgrade my car till it is scrapped for example

Occasionally I upgrade when I'm simply unhappy with an item - always a percieved flaw rather than the new one being newer or shinier.

I do tend to overbuy in the first place it must be admitted, though rarely regreted it. One snag with buying top notch kit though is that it's hard to then downgrade at replacement time

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

It's all horses for courses, isn't it. I regret changing from the iPhone to a Samsung using Android. Nothing really wrong with the new one. Maybe I will eventually get used to it but I just found the iPhone simpler to use and miss some of my apps I had and don't want to have to repurchase even if they are available.

I don't know what your Samsung is like, but I had an S4 and the amount of bloatware crap Samsung had on this phone totally ruined it for me, I used to have a Moto G so I was used to none of this unnecessary garbage. I've got an LG G3 android phone now and it's brilliant, just hardly any LG specific programs, unlike the Samsung and also just a lot better phone in every way. Then again I can imagine a company like Apple filling their products full of crap you never use just like Samsung. Sorry probably talking rubbish, just why I'm not struck on Samsung phones.

Owning the Samsung S4 also made me realise why people go to all the hassle of rooting their phones, to just use a stock Android operating system ROM. I never understood why people could be bothered, but after the experience I can see why they do. Would rather just buy a Motorola or LG and have less hassle though.

My S4 was on the Three network though, other ones are maybe better, I don't know.

 

[Tin Pot]

Hmm, I like the metaphor and I might apply it literally.

I buy apple because it's simple, ui focussed. More than average. When I'm thinking of a new phone, I just buy the latest and save myself hours or months of procrastinating - there is a measurable cost saved in thinking effort too.

Maybe I should apply this to bikes and stop worrying about the component details.

Is there an "Apple" bike, where the components are all above average if not the best imaginable?

 

[winjim]

Is there an "Apple" bike, where the components are all above average if not the best imaginable?

I expect most bikes built to hit the magic £1000 cycle to work scheme target would fall into this category.