We are in the same camp.
I just wanted to point out that planned obsolescense was no longer the right model for computers and chips.
Desktop computers have become commodities, and companies like Dell, Sony, etc. are trying hard to differenciate their offerings through advertising. (Cornflakes are cornflakes are conrflakes...)
Building your own box is the way to go, and replace hard drives when they become full. <g>
There's no longer such a thing as top-of-the-line components. They are all made in the same place. Lowest price is the way to go everywhere. (And if they come out bad just dump it and buy a new one)
Sony has this internal policy of making things propietary as much as they can. Sometimes they can get away with it. Sometimes they cannot. Very annoying for the end user.
Spending $1700 for a desktop is madness. The extra money goes to advertising, and fancy lights; not to extra quality.
Laptops are becoming commodities. I bought a new Compaq laptop for $600 5 month ago, and it's working great.
I read that Walmart is going to offer HP/compaq laptops for $400 this coming Xmas. Definitely the way to go. (And throw them away when they break down)
Very difficult for computer/chip companies to make money in this environment.
H.
PS: Wow! What a disjointed post. It reads like "idle thoughts of an idle mind" <g>
