**Putting Tech in Its Place**

Redeeming Time (and Money) from Technology

Erik Peterson

Copyright © 2015 by Erik Peterson. All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the author except for brief excerpts in published reviews.

ISBN-13: 978-1519373267

ISBN-10: 1519373260

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Special thanks to my beta readers, Darla Turquette and Jacob Hudgins, for suffering through my still-forming ideas, and my editor, Wendy Sanders, for helping me gel those ideas in to the form you see here.

To my wife, Valerie, for letting me do this crazy writing thing.

# Introduction

What is technology? Once a boring box full of plain programs, today's tech is so much more. It keeps us in touch, helps us navigate our days, gives us new entertainment options, and even answers our questions. Tech makes life better in many ways.

But there's a dark side to technology. With so much tech around us, we must ask the question: do _we_ control _it_ or does _it_ control _us_? And here society does us no favors. We're encouraged to pull out our phones at every spare moment. We're told that it's okay to glue our eyes to our tech instead of our families. We're expected to keep up on Facebook, or watch whole seasons on Netflix. As a society, we've given tech control.

And to make all this happen we like to buy the latest tech devices and tech services. Tech, once a necessary evil, is now a vital part of high fashion.

Where once technology _enabled_ addictions (such as pornography, gambling, and gaming), now technology is _itself_ an addiction. Devices we can't stop upgrading, phones we can't put away, Facebook feeds we can't stop reading, TV we can't turn off: tech abuse is the new national epidemic.

It's time we stopped buying into this mindset. It's time we wrest our lives back from our tech.

It's time to put tech in its place.

## About Me

I liked computers as a kid, but my interest in all things digital sprouted when I was a teenager during the 90s. I took this love to school with me, studying computer science and then spending 11 years as a software developer (that experience turned into my first book, _Thinking Beyond Coding_ ). More recently, as a deacon in my local church, I help maintain our website and computer gear.

Along the way I've used every kind of tech imaginable: PCs, Macs, Unix, Linux, Chromebooks, iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and even Windows Phones.

But while tech has given me a good life, all too often it's sucked that life from me. I've been that guy in line, head buried in a phone instead of paying attention to the people around me. I've been the parent spending more time on the couch with a tablet than playing with my kids. I've been the nerd who spends mornings ogling and Googling the latest tech, afternoons at Best Buy trying them out, and evenings trying to "justify" those gadgets to my wife. And when those precious gadgets failed, I've been the one who got mad. Tech, for me, became a toxic mix of excitement, lust, anxiety, depression, and anger.

I've paid a hefty financial price for my tech longings, too. I got a palmtop computer in 1997 that did little and got used even less. I bought a laptop in 1998, but with no WiFi, e-textbooks, or all-day batteries, that laptop stayed in my dorm room. In 2001, I bought a folding keyboard for my PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), but soon learned that writing on a tiny screen is a pain. In 2007, I bought one of the first netbooks, but found it too small and too underpowered for real use. In 2011, wanting to try iPhone development, I skipped the more reasonable Mac Mini and splurged for a $1,500 iMac. In 2013, I burned two cell phone upgrades trying to "make the most" of our cell phone plan, but both of those phones failed in less than a year. In the past 20 years, by my reckoning, I've wasted _over $5,000_ in dumb tech purchases.

I'm not writing this book because I'm a paragon of tech virtue; I'm writing it because I'm an expert at giving tech control. But I'm learning how to curb this destructive cycle, and I want to share what I've found with you.

Today I use a boring mix of tech products. My smartwatch was a gift from my wife, as was my 8-inch tablet. I bought my Kindle e-reader with gift cards from my old job. My phone is a first-gen Moto G, bought on sale (and without a contract) for $99. Our printer is a basic all-in-one laser printer. My camera is a basic "mirrorless" camera that cost $300. And my rather pedestrian laptop cost $400. Far from the thousands I've wasted in years past, all of my personal tech _combined_ cost less than that iMac I bought four years ago.

We've also cut down on our tech services, switching two lines to a prepaid cell phone carrier and cutting cable TV. Those two changes alone have saved us more than $1,500 per year.

Now, when I get a new phone, I shut off most notifications (including email) so I'm not distracted by stuff that can wait. My home life has more family and less Facebook. I spend more time in meditation and less time manically checking my phone. And I spend more time enjoying God's world and less "escaping" into a virtual one.

I'm still learning, though. Tech still pulls at me, but I've learned how to fight back. And I want to share what I've learned about winning the war out-of-control tech wages on our souls.

## About This Book

In part one of this book we'll discuss the spiritual dangers of technology. We'll look at the ways that technology toys with our emotions, how social media turns us into different people, how we can redeem our time and focus from our gadgets, and how our "necessary" tech isn't really that vital.

In part two, we'll look at the financial side of technology. We'll look at counting the cost of technology, and different ways we can reduce what we spend on it.

In part three, we'll work to make these ideas practical. We'll talk about which tech specs matter and which don't, and what to look for in various tech products and services. We'll wrap up by outfitting several "typical" people with the devices and services they need, and look at the spiritual dangers they face.

I also encourage you to visit the book's website, www.putting-tech-in-its-place.com. Technology changes too quickly for a book like this to keep up, so look to the site for the most up-to-date information. On the site you'll also find device recommendations, as well as an email list to keep encouraging tech thoughts coming your way.

But before we get started, I want us to put our current tech problems into some historical perspective. If we understand how tech sneaks up on us, we can learn how to avoid getting bamboozled by next year's gadgets.

# Chapter 1: Some History

History done right is more than names and dates, battles and power struggles; it's a way to make sense of current events. That's one reason why the Bible is still relevant today: for all that's changed in the last two millennia, people are still people, and we keep doing the same dumb things.

Even in the tech world, where things change quickly, the same problems will repeat themselves. If we can spot these patterns, then, we can put each year's new gadgets and services into a better perspective.

## Computer History 101

In the 1980s, a computer was a big beige box that ran programs every bit as plain; they were fine for writing papers and creating spreadsheets, but not much use otherwise. They were work machines that just happened to play some games, and at thousands of dollars apiece, buying one was a hefty investment.

In the 1990s, we saw the first glimpses of the computer's future, as CD-ROM games gave us a new reason to buy high-end machines and the Internet connected PCs to the rest of the world. The 90s also gave us the first big price drops: my first computer, a bottom-end desktop, cost me $2,000 in 1994, but by 1999 that same two grand bought me high-end performance.

If there's one word that can sum up 21st century tech, it's "mobility." There were laptops in the 80s and 90s, sure, but in the main we used them only when we couldn't use a desktop PC. As the new century dawned, though, the laptop became _good enough_ to serve as most people's sole computer.

At the same time, high-speed internet led to many new services. Companies like Microsoft started sending out updates online. Games became huge multiplayer adventures. Instant messages morphed into Skype calls. Social networking let us share our lives—pictures and all—with far-off family and friends. And as our devices shrank we started to take these services with us.

The smartphone put a computer in our pocket. Digital cameras let us see our pictures without going to the drugstore. Netflix gave us TV on our schedules. E-readers put entire libraries in our hands. Tablets took our entertainment on the road. Now we have computers in our cars, on our couches, next to (or even in) our TVs, and by our bedsides—and in our hands, of course.

But what can we learn from the rise of cheaper, more pervasive tech?

## The Hype Cycle

Most tech items start out life clunky and expensive, fit only for early adopters. Pre-iPhone smartphones, for example, were more shrunken-down laptop than finger-friendly phone. Only those on tech's bleeding edge dared use them.

But at some point each new device becomes good enough for the masses. The first iPhone made the smartphone easy to understand—and, as a consequence, easy to want. Regular folks start buying the new tech, and a constant stream of improvements keep them coming back for more.

As time passes, the pace of change slows down and the yearly upgrades aren't so dramatic. While the iPhone 4 was far better than the 3GS, for example, the change from iPhone 5s to 6 or 6 to 6s wasn't nearly as dramatic. If we're willing to, we can use our devices for longer without getting left behind.

And as the pace of innovation slows, competition brings prices down. As computer chips improve, device makers can opt for either improved performance for the same price or the same performance for less money. And as more companies get in on the action they must compete on price. Given enough time, the cost of a perfectly good device will drop by hundreds of dollars—all while giving away little everyday usability. Tech becomes a _commodity_ , in other words: available from lots of places at low prices.

The problem is that we tend to miss the shift from constant change to commodity. The hype—from companies, news outlets, and friends—stays with high-end gadgets even as lower-end models grow good enough for everyday use. So we keep spending big on gadgets even when we don't need to.

Take the laptop. Once too slow for everyday use, by 2000 laptops were fast enough for most users. Then WiFi freed us from Ethernet cords, making the laptop's portability useful. And as laptop tech continued to improve, the price of "good enough" laptops started to fall. Today's laptops cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000+, and despite the hype on the high-end devices the better buys are toward the lower end.

This isn't a monolithic cycle, of course. The MacBook Air started a mini-cycle for thin laptops. The first Airs were slow, but later versions (as well as PC competitors) were good enough to replace larger machines. And today? Most laptops—even cheaper models—are thin laptops.

The lesson is clear: wait before you buy. Wait until the initial hype wears off, the pace of change slows, and prices drop. When you buy early, you get both the highest prices _and_ the shortest useful life. But not only does waiting guarantee a better deal, it also saves us from the powerful emotions that surround new tech.

## More and More

While "mobility" sums up 21st century tech's _purpose_ , we can describe modern tech habits in another word: "more."

30 years ago most homes had one computer; today, most families sport at least a dozen (or more) phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming machines. Instead of a single "technology" bill (the home phone line), we maintain a mountain of tech services: cell phone, cable TV, Netflix, internet, Spotify, audible.com, Office 365, online backup, and on and on. And with more gadgets to grab, and more ways to use them, our tech "face time" has exploded—and not in a good way. And that's what we'll look at in the first section of this book.

# Part I: The Spiritual Side

# Chapter 2: Losing Focus

Today's world is all about grabbing our attention. Sensational news stories, fast-paced games, and fanatical Facebook posts all compete for our waking hours. But if all we do is move from one attention-grabbing item to another, what happens to our focus on eternal matters?

I used to live in this helter-skelter mindset, and I still find myself slipping into it from time to time. It's a rotten way to live, focusing only on what's next instead of what's to come. But that's the essence of tech's danger: it drives us from what's _right_ to what's happening _right now_.

Let's look at what the Bible says about this danger.

## Coveting

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (Ephesians 5:3)

We know that sexual immorality is sin, no matter what form it takes. But how do we keep it from "being named among us"? By not even _looking_ at a woman in lust, as Jesus said. By running away from sexual temptation, as Joseph did. It means, in short, avoiding anything that will _lead us_ to these sins, not just the sins themselves.

But notice the third sin in Paul's list: covetousness. Covetousness must not be named among us, either. And what is an obsession with tech and tech services if not coveting after the things we desire?

Think back to the hype cycle from the last chapter. When a new type of device explodes into our collective consciousness, it shifts from a toy for early adopters to an item of desire. The infected among us want to look at it, touch it, play with it, and own it—and once we own it, we want to both use it and show it off.

But when you and I ooh and ahh over new tech in the church foyer, we need to double-check our motives. If we're happy to see that someone got something nice, that's fine. But if we ooh and ahh because we badly want one for ourselves, covetousness can now be named among us. These devices are no longer just gadgets, but status symbols, a toxic source of pride to those with them and envy to those without.

The commercials that promote these devices don't help. Neither do the billboards. Neither do the store displays. They all leads to a burning desire to get—and use—the latest devices and services.

But a tech obsession is more than coveting:

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (vs. 5)

We like to call money an idol, and we're right. The love of money will consume our thoughts, change how we behave, and take our eyes off of God. But when we're willing to sacrifice every spare moment to email, Facebook, Fox News, or Candy Crush, hasn't tech become an idol, too?

Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:13-15)

It's easy to misread this passage, reading the last phrase as "one's life is about _more than_ the abundance of his possessions". But that's not what Jesus said. Life isn't about _more than_ possessions; it's not about possessions _at all_.

When I covet tech and tech services, I'm not living a godly life. A godly life is more than tablets, phones, and Facebook; it's about recognizing the One who gives us all things to enjoy.

The first Christians put this idea into practice:

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." (Acts 4:32-35)

These early disciples weren't high-minded optimists—they were realists. The early disciples thought nothing was their own because _nothing was their own_. It's true for us, too. We have jobs because of the talents and opportunities God provides us. We live in a rich nation because God put us here. We have technology because God gave people amazing raw materials and the ability to mold them in useful ways. Our things aren't our own: what a revolutionary idea in a stuff-crazed society!

## Dominated

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

I don't know if spending an entire night in prayer was common in Jesus' day, but I do know that it sounds crazy now. Even during an eight-hour workday we rarely spend all our time on one task, and we split the rest of our time between soccer games, dinner parties, housework, yardwork, and the like. Technology makes it worse still, by adding email to that soccer game, texting to the dinner party, and Facebook to housework.

Jesus had distractions, sure, but He always kept His focus on important things. He turned the inheritance question we saw into a spiritual lesson. He mixed eternal truths with fleshly healing. And time after time He carved out large blocks of time to talk to his Father.

So when I can't focus my mind for more than a few minutes at a time, something's wrong. And when it's tech and tech services that keep me distracted, that tech is in control of my life.

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

When we think of addictions, we tend to start with activities that are always wrong. Illegal drugs are wrong whether you indulge yearly or daily. Pornography is wrong whether done once or ten thousand times1. We tend to see addictions as merely _continuing_ to do something wrong, as a sin that just won't stop.

But that definition is too narrow. Prescription drugs are fine, but they still manage to addict many. Watching sports is fine, but not when your favorite team consumes your every thought. In these cases the _addiction_ is the sin, not the action itself.

Smartphones are fine, but not if they're all I ever look at. Email is fine, but not when I check it 100 times a day. TV is fine, but not when I can't shut it off. Facebook is fine, but not as my constant companion. Tech and tech services, left unchecked, will enslave us.

I used to watch Fox News every day, starting with the disputed 2000 presidential election and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But the fear of missing the next big event turned a healthy interest into an unhealthy obsession. Fox News' immodestly-dressed women anchors incited lust. The constant refrain "This is a Fox News alert!" made me anxious for no reason. The stories depressed me. The talk shows made me angry. To stop being dominated by Fox News, I had to stop watching it—to "pluck out the eye", as we'll see later.

Anything earthly that dominates our time and focus becomes sin to us. Even perfectly decent things will harm us when we can't stop using them. That's what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6: we're free to use the things God made for us, but they must not dominate us.

When we're dominated, our emotions turn into a roller coaster. And none of the emotions on that ride harm us more than our anger does.

## Anger

Imagine yourself on a typical day, reading the news and texting with your friends. All of a sudden, your phone freezes. You poke and prod, but nothing happens. What do you do? If you're like me, you get angry. And that's not good.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

Anger is a hair-trigger emotion, and so often it's technology that flips off the safety.

We get mad at tech, in part, because of how much it costs ("I spent XYZ dollars on this piece of junk!"). But more than that, we get mad at our tech because we feel betrayed. We believe it when tech companies call their wares magical, helpful, and reliable. We expect perfection from our tech, and we fume when we don't get it.

Technology, like everything in this world, is both temporary and temperamental. Devices fail. Services go offline. Data gets lost. We fool ourselves when we think that our tech is somehow exempt from time and chance. But if we'll stop expecting the world from our tech, we'll find ourselves much less among the world and its desires.

But tech itself isn't the only anger danger. Tech also gives us an easy outlet for our anger at other things. For an angry text, email, or post to Facebook is always just a thought away.

When James talked about how hard it is to control the tongue, he only had to worry about talking face-to-face or via letters. Now we can speak in anger in seconds via a fuming email, a heartless text, or a demeaning Facebook post. And the imagined safety of sitting behind a screen means we can do all this without even knowing how much our words hurt our friends.

If we're to apply what James teaches us, we must re-think how we talk with our tech. We must be the ones that stop and think even as the messages fly fast and furious. We must be the ones who re-read the "funny" Facebook comment before posting it. We must be the ones who calm down before writing an email. We must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

"Quick to hear, slow to speak" means that we pay attention to what others say instead of rushing out our opinions. "Slow to anger" means that we don't jump to conclusions. It's the opposite of how most people use tech today: rushing to be heard and quick to turn an ambiguous message into an obvious attack.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Seasoning is about the consumer, not the cook. If your guests prefer spicy food you'll prepare it one way; if they like plainer fare you'll cut back on the spices. It's the same with words: we must tailor them to our audiences. Does this person respond best to blunt words or gentle reminders? Is she a close friend or a stranger? When we keep the hearer in mind we'll add the proper seasoning to our messages—and give that seasoning time to marinate before hitting "send."

Email, text messages, and the like are wonderful tools that connect us with friends and family. But when we're quick and careless with our tech, those devices and services makes it easy for us to sin with our tongues.

And nowhere else do we see this—and many other problems—as much as we do with social media.

# Chapter 3: "Like" a Geek

I'm a card-carrying geek. I like my tech, as we've already seen. I also enjoy many geek staples, including _Star Wars_ , _Star Trek_ , _Babylon 5_ , and _Doctor Who_. And while I'm a good public speaker, that's due to long practice, not a natural comfort around large groups of people.

But what makes a geek a geek? As with all people, you know us by our fruits:

  * A geek lives in a tech-filled bubble, oblivious to all that happens around him.
  * He shuns real sports but embraces virtual ones.
  * He's shy in person, but bold from behind a keyboard.
  * His flamboyant online persona looks nothing like him in real life.
  * He likes other geeks, but gets angry at all who don't agree with him (think Apple nerds vs. Android fanboys).

Not every geek fit all these traits (I've never created a wild online persona, for example), but left to ourselves we geeks share most of these traits.

But before you laugh at our backwardness, consider this: our ranks are growing. There's a new group of people that lives life in a bubble, plays online games, grows bold behind an online persona, and shuns those who don't agree with them: Facebook users.

We may not realize it, but part of embracing the Facebook lifestyle is drinking the geek Kool-Aid—and not in a good way. Let's take each trait in turn:

## The Bubble

What's the best way to tell people to leave you alone? You could try putting on a frown, staring at your toes, or closing your eyes, but there's a much more reliable way: pull out your cell phone. The smartphone is the universal "do not disturb" sign, a clear signal that we don't want to be bothered. Our phones create little bubbles around us, bubbles every bit as effective as the geek's mindless stare.

And what fills these conversation-stopping bubbles? "Social" interactions like texts, Twitter, and Facebook.

And we can stay in these bubbles as long as we want, thanks to social media's never-ending news feeds. A book might keep me up one night as I rush to "The End", but I can burn the midnight oil scrolling through a Facebook or Twitter news feed each night until my lamp run dry. It's the lure of what's just below the screen; when the next post might be an important news story, new baby pictures, or the video "everyone's watching", we want to scroll a bit more. And a bit more. And a bit more....

Facebook and Twitter want us to keep reading—that's how they'll show us the most ads, after all. It's up to us to pop the social bubble and get back to real life.

## Everyone's a Gamer

As kids, my brother and I played _Monopoly_ on our family's PC. In one game, we deliberately set up four players with more-or-less matching sets of houses and hotels, then let the game run. No one went bankrupt and everyone got rich. What fun! Only our boredom stopped the money-making bonanza.

Games on Facebook (and other games that link to it) are the same way, though what they might lack in longevity they make up for in sheer numbers. And just as _Monopoly_ works better when it's shared, online games take on new meaning once your friends get involved. Building a virtual farm might be fun, but when you can compare it to your friends' amber waves of grain, the game takes on a new urgency.

Sharing games with friends makes them more fun, but if online games join the news feed in monopolizing our time, we've got a problem. It's no better than a bunch of geeks huddling around an endless game of _Dungeon and Dragons_ —or two kids playing a game of _Monopoly_ that never ends.

## Bold when Absent

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! (2 Corinthians 10:1)

I don't like conflict; I have a tendency to resort to email when I have to say something difficult. It's easier to speak boldly when no one staring you in the face, after all. But that distance also makes it easy for me to be more than merely bold: distance also begets harshness, a judging attitude, and just plain rudeness.

Compare this to Paul, who had a good reason to be bold while away:

I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. (vs. 2)

Paul was gentle during his first trip to Corinth, but he had a reason: he was building a new church, and he didn't want them to elevate him over Christ. But now, writing to a church facing problems, Paul grew bold. The _situation_ made him bold, in other words, not the _distance_. Here and elsewhere Paul warned the Corinthians that he would show boldness in person, too, if that's what it took to turn them around.

It's easy to be bold when all we see is a computer screen. When you can't see who you're talking to, it's easy to say something harsh and not even realize it. It comes back to forgetting your audience—and on social media, that audience is pretty broad.

If you're like me, your Facebook friends include people that enjoy blunt speech as well as more sensitive souls. Some are Christians who understand spiritual concepts, and some aren't—and don't. Some are political conservatives, and others are liberals (though, as we'll see, there's probably more of one than the other). Any of these people can read the writing on our walls. So where a biting comment might sound funny in a small group, on Facebook it's almost guaranteed to anger somebody. And let's be honest here: if our speech comes from a disdain for authority, racism, or good old fashion ignorance, we shouldn't be saying—much less thinking—those things in the first place.

Facebook is a public platform. There's no way to tell your brother a fault "between you and him alone" (Matthew 18:15) over Facebook. Even if you use a direct message, and that message doesn't get shared, it still leaves behind a written reminder of your rebuke. If you're having a problem with your church, posting it to Facebook takes public something that should stay between you and your elders. Private things should stay private, and that means keeping them off of Facebook.

Facebook makes it easy to be bold, but we must make sure both the speech from our mouths and the words from our fingers must meet the Bible standard of graciousness and seasoning.

## The Online Persona

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24)

Lots of geeks like wild online avatars complete with unusual names and strange pictures. Perhaps it's because we're more comfortable online. Perhaps we're just trying to be different.

But perhaps we're "making up" for a boring real life.

Facebook gives everyone a chance to craft such an online persona. Some use this power to talk up only the good parts of their lives: their cool trips, the famous people they meet, and the expensive stuff they want to show off. Others use the online persona to jazz up the everyday, turning each sneeze into a flu outbreak and every zoo trip into a jungle safari. Still others simply lie, pretending they're God-fearing, Bible-thumping believers when they're nothing of the sort. And behind all of this is a quest for likes, comments, and shares.

There's a huge difference between posting, "I'm so glad to have time away with my family", and shouting "Look! We're in Hawaii! Again!" If we show off the luxury car and hide the budget-crippling payments, we make ourselves look falsely rich. And if we play the "woe is me" card with every post, looking for nothing but sympathy, we ignore all of the good things God does for us.

I'm not saying that we should fill our posts with brutal honesty and clinical detail2. What I _am_ saying is that we should try to present ourselves as we really are, not as we want people to see us. So let's share both our successes and failures. Let's avoid personal details that shouldn't be public. And let's take time to praise others for the good that they do. In short, let's create Facebook personas that reflect who we're trying to be—a people striving to re-make ourselves in God's image.

As you might imagine, there's also danger in believing what everyone else writes about themselves. It's well-documented that people get depressed when they read about other people's fancy vacations from the cold comfort of their homes. It's easy to judge someone as rich, boastful, or angry based solely on a few words posted online. These are just personas, remember, and they can lie or mislead. If we find ourselves getting angry or jealous because of what we read on Facebook, it's time to get offline for a while.

Facebook gives us interesting glimpses into our friends' lives, but that's all they are: glimpses. Let's stop making more of them than what's there.

## _Too_ Like-Minded

Let's pretend for a moment that we believe that NASA faked Neil Armstrong's moon landing. 20 years ago we would be lonely doubters lost in a sea of believers. Even 10 years ago, when the Internet gave voice to such extreme ideas, it was hard to really _connect_ with others of like mind. But today, thanks to social media, it's easy to be an extremist. In addition to the endless supply of "evidence" to support whatever you want to believe, now we can converse with the thousands who share our wild ideas.

Here's how it goes. As a moon landing denier, I will scour the Internet for new stories that "prove" Armstrong and Aldrin never left Earth. When I find such an article, I'll share it on social media. And when you post a similar story I'm all over it. But when someone else posts something that smacks of NASA we'll both ignore them—or, worse, yell at them for being so gullible. Social media becomes our oasis, a relief from the outside world and its moon-loving dupes.

As human beings we like to be right, and we enjoy finding things that "prove" we're right. It's something called _confirmation bias_ , where we judge what we hear by our pre-conceived notions instead of by looking at the facts. The press has always fed this idea. Fox News courts conservatives and MSNBC draws liberals, for example, but at least on those networks you'll hear the opposition once in a while. But now that blogs remove even the pretense of fairness, it's easy to decide that we're _obviously right_ and everyone else is _obviously wrong_ just by picking and choosing what we read.

And just as extreme vacations get more Facebook attention than a trip to the mall, it's the radical stories that generate likes, clicks, and comments. A news story about routine goings-on at the White House will fall flat next to a headline alleging secret meetings about a secret agenda. We prefer these political zingers because a) they're short and b) they're more exciting than real ideas. And with millions of "pundits" eager to blow such sound bites out of proportion, it's easy to find the viewpoint we want.

Is it any wonder that today's America is so polarized?

I'm not a news expert, and chances are neither are you. What I "know" about current events comes from the stories I read and the people I talk to. If those stories and those people are on Facebook or Twitter, chances are I won't get the whole story—and even if I did, I can scroll down a bit and get a "better," less truthful, version. If we're ever going to come together as a nation, this must stop. And stopping it starts by treating what we see on Facebook with a wary eye.

Over the years I've learned to deal with some of my geeky social awkwardness. It's high time we do the same with our geeky social media tendencies. For while Facebook, Twitter, and the rest are great tools, they're great only when we use them properly. They're fine in their place, but do us great harm when they become the center of pretend lives built on games, biting comments, and extreme ideas.

# Chapter 4: Redeeming the Time

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

The King James Version calls "making the best use of the time" " _redeeming_ the time". "Redeeming" harkens back to Old Testament Israel, where someone could redeem family land—or even family members—from a creditor. When phones, Facebook, and the rest take over our time and our focus, it's up to us to redeem that time and focus back and put it to better uses. And that redemption starts with changing the way we look at our tech.

## Temptation or Tool?

When a man gazes at a bikini-clad woman and says "I'm in love," he's not thinking about marriage, courting, or companionship. He's saying "I'm in lust," a crude phrase that reflects crude thoughts.

We "love" our tech for many reasons, too. Some of us love tech because it gives us jobs or makes those jobs easier. Some love tech because it makes life better. And some love tech because it keeps us connected to the outside world.

But when our "love" of tech is really about _lust_ —to have, to hold, and to use all day long—it isn't _love_ anymore. It's the path to spiritual death.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

Tech is a temptation, one that can lure us away from a healthy, God-centered life. Tech in its proper place isn't an end to itself, but a means to other, better ends. In other words, it's a _tool_.

I own several hammers. One of them came with our house, the others from various hardware stores. I pull out a hammer when there's a picture to hang or a toy to put together; once I'm done, the hammer goes back in the toolbox. The only time I worry about a hammer is when I'm trying to find one.

We need to start seeing a bit of hammer in our tech products (and not just when they fail and we'd like to take the hammer to them...). When we treat our tech as tools, they're much easier to manage:

  1. It's easier to put away. We over-use our tech, in part, because we enjoy holding them and marveling at the cool stuff they do. But we don't buy tools for beauty; we buy them to do a job, and when the job's done we put the tool back up.
  2. There's less worry. I once lost my wedding ring. We were on vacation, and we immediately scoured our condo for it. If I ever lose or break a hammer, on the other hand, I'll just get another one. While no one likes losing or breaking a phone, if that phone is a tool, losing it or breaking it isn't a disaster so much as an annoyance. We simply get another phone and carry on.
  3. They cost less. When I buy a hammer, I don't care who made it or what it's made of. All I need it to do is hit nails. Tech that's a tool gives us that same mindset: why pay more if something cheaper does what we need?

Computers, phones, and tablets are great tools, as are Facebook and other tech services. They do amazing things when _they_ serve _us_ , but when _we_ serve _them_ they'll steal our time from more important things.

## The Need for Immersion

An old-school hard drive becomes "fragmented" when bits of data get scattered all over the disk; this slows the computer down whenever it must pull all those bits back together again. In our busy lives we get the same way: by splitting our days between work, school, kids, church, and a dozen other things, those days become tiny, disconnected moments. And with so many time fragments—and little time to make sense of them—our spiritual lives grind to a halt.

Technology ought to make these crazy days smoother, but all too often we use our tech to squeeze _even more_ into each day. We "read" more news stories by glancing at the headlines or listening to sound bites. We try to squeeze in one more email even as we hustle off to the next ballgame. Our "down" moments are less about reflection and more about catching up with Facebook. Technology, far from bringing order to our lives, encourages us to add even more chaos and distraction.

Compare this to what Paul told Timothy:

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:15-16)

Paul wanted Timothy to _immerse_ himself in his work as a preacher. This takes time. Just as you can't learn a complex skill in five minute chunks, you can't learn God's word and God's ways sound bite by sound bite. True Bible knowledge requires study and thought.

When I shove Bible study into one of my time fragments, I can't discover the riches of God's word. When I only pray in bits and pieces, I can't truly connect with my Father. If I'm going to immerse myself in God and His ways, I must clear out some of these time fragments and dedicate time to what really matters.

So if my color-coded schedule looks like my four-year-old dumped paint on it, it's time for me to cancel some of his play-dates. If my work schedule is full before the day even starts, it's time for me to look for meetings to skip or perhaps cancel that networking lunch. And if my prayer life is a series of two-minute splices, I need to stop checking email so much and start creating larger blocks of time to spend with my Father.

There are times when technology must wait. And, believe it or not, our tech _will_ wait if we train it (and ourselves) properly.

# Chapter 5: Saving for Later

When a computer tries to do many things at once, it slows down. It take a computer time to switch between jobs, and the more it must switch, the less time it has to do useful work. Once again we're the same way: when we split our focus between job, kids, church, email, news, Facebook, and everything else that we want to handle _right now_ , all of it suffers.

A computer combats time fragmentation by "batching" work: letting similar tasks build up and working them off as a group (checking for app updates once a day instead of each hour, for example). Leaving work for later and working it as a batch leaves the computer free to focus on what the user needs instead of juggling more minor tasks.

Once again, our minds work the same way. We deal with email better in batches for two reasons: we won't open the email app so often (batching), and working off emails in a group lets us get into a messaging "groove." Batching something like email for later lets us focus on other, more urgent, matters, and focus on working off the backlog later.

But waiting to deal with messages—or news stories, or whatever—goes against our society's get-to-it-now mantra. Yet it's this compulsive checking of email, news, and social media that turns our busy days into even-bigger messes. If we can learn to let tech wait, we'll declutter our days—and get more done, to boot.

This won't always work, of course. When my wife was eight months pregnant, I treated every phone ring as if it was "the call." Those that work in customer service know that you shouldn't make a frustrated customer wait. But when we aren't on call or awaiting important news, the _right now_ mentality leads straight to misery.

In fact, I've found that most of the clutter in my life can wait. Here's how I view my potential distractions:

  * Phone calls: handle now. Except for robo-calls, most of the phone calls I get are fairly urgent affairs. But if I'm in the middle of something or I don't recognize the caller, I'll leave it to voicemail.
  * Text messages: maybe handle now. I'll glance at them (and my smartwatch is great for this), but if I'm busy and it's not urgent I'll wait for a more convenient time to reply.
  * Email: let it wait. If someone has important news, they'll call or text me.
  * Weather alerts: now. I live in Texas, and tornados don't leave voicemails.
  * Weather forecast: wait. It's useful when deciding what to wear, but unless a storm's approaching there's no point in watching the temperature go up and down.
  * News stories: wait. I'm neither President, governor, nor even a city councilperson. The country won't collapse if I don't hear see breaking news for a few hours.
  * Facebook/Twitter: wait. As amazing as your latest post might be, it will keep till tomorrow.

My list isn't your list, of course, but if you'll take the time to examine the things that distract you each day, I bet you'll find that most of them can wait. And the very tech that bugs us with updates will help us let it wait—if we'll train them to.

## Training our Tools

Before we had phones to bug us day and night, checking email was a conscious act: you had to go to the computer, sit down, and log in. Today our email and news follows us everywhere, but with a little effort we can still create a buffer between us and our distractions.

Most apps let you turn off their notifications. In an email app, for example, you'll find settings for both _sync frequency_ (how often the app checks for messages) and _notifications_. Turning notifications off doesn't stop the phone from looking for messages; instead it keeps those messages hidden until you're ready for them.

Some apps (such as free games with in-app purchases) might not play so nice. If you can't stop notifications from within the app, the device itself will put an end to them. If you aren't sure how, Google "turn off app notifications for iPhone/Android/Windows" and you'll find step-by-step directions.

While saving messages for later is fairly easy, delaying news stories takes a little more work. News has its own form of fragmentation: since most of us get news from several apps and websites, it's easy to keep cycling through them throughout the day. But there's a service that will gather news items for you just as an email app gathers messages: a news reader. Most sites and blogs include news "feeds" that they update every time they publish a new story; news readers scan those feeds and hold on to the stories you haven't read yet. I use a service called InoReader, which caters to power users; Feedly is a good choice if you want something simpler. And since these services live online, we can read the news at our leisure, using whatever devices we want. Imagine that: news on _our_ schedule.

That leaves social media—but it already does this work for us. Some years ago Facebook stopped showing posts in chronological order. This angered people that wanted to see everything, but it's been a boon for those of us who don't check in every day. Facebook does a good job of placing the most interesting posts high up in our feeds, so even if we skip Facebook for a day or three we won't miss much that's important.

So, as I'm writing this, my email app is grabbing messages for me. InoReader is gathering the news I care about. Facebook is sorting through my friends' status updates, placing the most important ones at the top for me. They're doing _their_ job so I can do _mine_.

## Training Others

Our tech-loving friends may not understand it when we change our tech habits. They'll wonder why it takes us hours to reply to an email. They'll furrow their brows when they can't find us on Facebook. They'll question our sanity when we aren't up-to-the-minute on the news. But that's no surprise:

For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (2 Peter 4:3-5)

Just as the sexually immoral get confused when a new Christian stops joining their sinful acts, our techy friends may not understand it when we cut back on or give up the things they covet (which is idolatry, remember). But we can help them. We can assure them that we'll reply to their message, just not right away. We can tell them that we'd rather spend time with them _in person_ instead of on Facebook. They'll adjust—and if they see that it makes our lives better, they might want to follow our lead.

## Training Ourselves

Computers may do what their told, and friends might be forced to accept change, but there's one person that's harder to re-train: me.

When we're used to checking email and the news many times a day—and when society expects that of us—it's hard to cut back. After we train our devices to store what we need for later, and warn our friends that they'll see less of us online, it's time to reset our internal clocks so we don't feel the urge to check Facebook every hour of every day.

I was once addicted to pornography, and back then going more than a day or two without giving in was a fight. In the grip of tech lust, it's hard to go even _one hour_ without checking the phone or cracking open the laptop. If we're trying to fight an obsession on the obsession's terms—just trying _not_ do something—we can't win.

If we're going to beat our tech obsessions, we must change the rules. We must replace our tech time with something better, and use the resources God gives us to make the changes stick. Here are a few ideas:

  1. Find other activities. Pick a fun activity, any activity, that doesn't need tech: woodworking, painting, walking, reading3, whatever. By making a tech-less break enjoyable we'll our brains will stop thinking that we can only have fun with tech.
  2. Set a schedule. Carve out some time where it's okay to play a game or watch some Netflix. This will give you something to look forward to, as well as a chance to enjoy your tech without feeling guilty.
  3. Enlist other people. Admitting my pornography problem to my girlfriend (now my wife) got me started on the road to recovery. When you share your problem, you no longer have to carry that burden alone. Share your tech issues with your loved ones, then lean on them for help. They can remind you to put the phone away, help you come up with strategies, and support you when the going gets rough. "Confess your sins one to another" (James 5:16) is there for a reason.

But if all else fails, there's a more drastic option....

# Chapter 6: What do we (have to) Lose?

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' (Mark 9:47-48)

An eye doesn't cause us to lust, but "tearing it out" symbolizes the solution: sometimes dealing with sin means making difficult choices. A lifeguard that has a problem with lust needs to make a career change. A man with a drinking problem must move away from bars. And when we can't stop our tech from dominating us, it's time to do something drastic.

I love playing FreeCell4. A year or two ago, when I set up a new phone or tablet FreeCell was one of the first apps I downloaded. I played Freecell tens of thousands of times. In every spare moment it was FreeCell, FreeCell, FreeCell. I even came up with _strategies_ for playing FreeCell. FreeCell got between me and my family, not to mention between me and my bedtime. I couldn't control FreeCell, so I had to remove it. I'm not proud of that; it's just the choice I had to make.

When we can't stop something from running—and ruining—our lives, it's time to get rid of it. Delete the app. Trade in the smartphone. Remove the Facebook account. We might feel ashamed that we lost control, but the _real_ shame is doing nothing and living under technology's thumb.

This kind of sacrifice, of course, is anathema to a society built on having it all. Could we really live without a tech staple? What would our friends think?

## We Can Still Be Friends

I stopped following football a few years ago. I got sick of all the money, the immodest cheerleaders, the prima donna players, and the arrogant coaches and owners. Sick to the point that I didn't want to watch it anymore.

But how could a Texas A&M graduate live in Dallas and not watch football? Would anyone accept the idea of someone no longer worshipping the state's religion? How could I talk to friends if I didn't know about the last game or the latest controversy?

My friends' response surprised me. When I told people I hadn't seen the game or heard much about the latest brouhaha, they shrugged and moved on. There wasn't a fuss. I wasn't disowned. I'm sure some people found my change of heart odd, but I didn't lose friends because of it.

And I learned something else: it may _feel_ like everyone fantasizes about football, or is serious about smartphones, or loves to try out tablets, but it's not true. It's just that the passionate ones are the only ones talking about them. Cut out a tech device or a tech service and you'll discover plenty of people who share your distaste for that tech, and plenty more willing to accept your desire to do without.

But that still leaves the problem of living without a cherished tech device or service. Yet as bad as giving up on a tech item sounds, it's not as hard as we might think. To demonstrate, let's imagine getting rid of the most pervasive gadget of them all: the smartphone.

## Smartphone-less

For all their fancy features, there are only two things a smartphone can do that tablets and laptops can't: make calls and send texts. But there's another device that's good for calling and texting: the lowly flip phone.

Few want to go back to a flip phone, of course. Calling and texting are fine, but we want all the things that make a smartphone "smart": email, news, social media, games, books, movies, and music. A tablet or laptop can do these things, sure, but not when it's at home or in the bag. Suffering without a smartphone, then, isn't about what's _missing_ , but rather what's _delayed_.

Delayed and, to be honest, _improved_.

I'd much rather read a book on an e-reader than on a phone screen. I'd rather watch a movie on my tablet. And a laptop makes writing long emails (not to mention coherent ones) easy. We don't move these tasks to our smartphones because it's _better_ at them, but because it's _there_.

If I get rid of my smartphone, I won't have instant access to the news, email, or Facebook—and that's the point, of course. For while an LTE tablet or a mobile hotspot can let me reach the Internet on the go, the extra effort to pull them out and turn them on means I won't bother as much. Removing the smartphone creates a barrier between me and my tech, one that helps me keep that tech safely tucked away.

But what about that other smartphone staple—pictures?

## (Phone) Camera-less

Like all parents, we like to take pictures of our kids. When we had our first son in 2009, we hauled around our heavy camera almost everywhere. But just two years later, when we had our second son, our new smartphones meant we could take these pictures anywhere, anytime.

But pulling out a camera, even a phone camera, means splitting your focus between the action and the attempt to capture that action. We end up seeing the world through the camera's lens, and miss the smells, emotions, and background action that makes a memory special. In order to "save" our memories we give up part of the very thing we're trying to remember. And the ever-present smartphone just makes this worse.

But there's another problem with smartphone pictures: they aren't as good as what you can get from a good standalone camera. Almost any smartphone will create good photos outdoors, but take them inside and try to capture running kids and any smartphone—no matter the price—will disappoint you. A good standalone camera, with a real zoom lens and a proper flash, will beat a smartphone any day.

So if I were to ditch my smartphone I'd lose lots of pictures, yes, but by dusting off my regular camera I'll get more pictures that I'll cherish.

Getting rid of a tech gadget or service is difficult. It's hard to imagine life without a smartphone, Facebook, games, or a favorite TV show. But in most cases we won't lose as much as we might think—and we'll gain something far more precious in return: spiritual freedom.

# Chapter 7: Hang in There!

During the six years I was addicted to pornography I wondered if I would ever get out. But God was good to me. He brought my wife Valerie into my life, and she showed me what true love is. She also became my protector from online dangers. With her and God's help, I escaped the valley of sin.

It's hard to escape any kind of domination, but it's doubly hard when we've given an obsession years to wrap its tentacles around us. The years of bad habits and bad choices are tough to fix. But we can break those habits and improve those choices...if we're willing to fight back.

This kind of change won't happen overnight, and, to be honest, tech urges may never fully go away. Even after a year of writing about my tech obsessions I _still_ find myself falling back into a tech bubble now and again. But now, at least, I see it for what it is and I know how to fight back.

This is a war, a war for our souls, and in war you will lose some battles. But in war there are victories, too. Each time we leave the phone alone to watch the kids play, we win a battle and add to our new sense of peace. When we forget to check Facebook during the day—and find we didn't miss it—we know we're making progress. In a fight like this the most important thing is to keep fighting, for with God's grace and our desire to change our victory is assured.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:7-8a)

Remember that we're not just turning _from_ something that dominates us, but also turning _to_ God. We need to share our struggles with friends and family. We need to seek out non-tech activities when we need a break. And we must build time into our days to study, meditate, and, above all, to pray.

We must pray for God's forgiveness when we let technology dominate our time and our thoughts. We must pray for His help as we strive to overcome our tech problems. And we should pray, too, for all those that tempt us to go back to a tech-dominated life; they need God's forgiveness as much as we do.

The road that leads to tech domination may look like a one-way street, but there's also a path that flows the other direction. The return road might be long and hard, but it leads to a much happier land. So let's keep fighting to stay on that path. We'll make it!

# Chapter 8: Technology's Good Side

When we argue about whether tech is "good" or "bad" for us there's rarely middle ground. Tech is either the greatest invention in man's history or the most evil set of contraptions ever made. The truth, as in most such arguments, is somewhere in the middle. So now that we've looked at some of tech's dangers, let's balance those thoughts with some of the ways tech is _good for us_.

## Emergencies

There's nothing good about a car wreck, but they were once much worse. Before the cell phone, finding help meant running to a gas station or hoping a police car would wonder by. Today, we can summon help seconds after impact.

For all the ways they annoy us, the cell phone earns its place when minutes matter. It can reach the about-to-be-father when his wife goes into labor. It can call a son or daughter to a dying parent's bedside. It can call 911 even as we run from a burning house. It can even let us say goodbye, as it did for some during the September 11th attack. So while I might suggest that some folks give up their smartphones, I believe it's vital that we have _some way_ to get help in an emergency.

## A Helping Hand (or Ear)

My four-year-old son doesn't hear well. We learned this through a special hearing test that measured his brain activity as he listened to sounds. He now sports hearing aids, and our little Luke is turning into a normal boy—thanks to technology.

Technology gives the hearing-impaired new ears. It gives the blind new ways to read—and one day it will drive them around. It gives the mute a voice. It gives an amputee the chance to walk normally. It gives the wheelchair-bound new independence.

The tech world is much bigger than the devices we use every day. For those with disabilities, there's no question of "is tech good or bad"; for them, tech means the difference between a productive life and dependence on others.

## Finding Answers

Before Google made internet searches easy and (mostly) accurate, finding facts was a pain. You had to drive to the library, comb through a card index, track down the book among endless shelves, hope it wasn't checked out, and finally check _the book's_ _index_ to find the tidbit you were after. And should the first book fail you? Rinse and repeat.

The internet in general, and Google in particular, fixed all that. Almost any answer is now a search away.

Many will argue (with some truth) that we rely on Google so much that we soon forget what we "learn" from web searches. While you can't learn a complex topic via a quick Google search, it makes simple questions like "when does that movie come out" and "who signed the Declaration of Independence" easy to answer. And when you _do_ want to learn a complex topic, Google is still a great place to start. When I started out as a software developer, in the early 2000s, we used books for almost everything. But by the time I left it was Google that answered our everyday questions—and even pointed us to articles and books when we wanted to learn more.

## Managing Your Day

I missed the daily planner's heyday. By the time my days grew beyond classes and Ultimate Frisbee meet-ups, PDAs5 and online calendars were ready for prime time.

And that was just the start. Now my phone will buzz me when I need to leave for an appointment. It will warn me of traffic problems, help me find the office I'm after, and even remember where I parked my car. My phone is now my alarm clock and my calendar. It helps me remember when to get up, where to go next, why I'm going there, and how to find it6.

## Tech Gets Better

As fun as it is to buy a car, that purchase comes with a tinge of sadness. As soon as a car drives off the lot it starts losing value, and there's every chance that next year's model will make you wish you'd waited. Tech devices are the same, in a way (they lose value and won't have next year's hardware), but on the inside these devices get _better_ with time.

Computers are what we call "general-purpose" machines, able to do anything a software developer can dream up. Thus new apps or OS updates can give old devices new uses. And as the pace of hardware change slows, our devices will be able to run not only next year's software, but code that hasn't even been imagined yet.

Tech will always be changing. These changes often annoy us, but they also add value to our devices long after we leave the store.

## Communication

Facebook, for all its time-sucking dangers, is a great way to keep up with distant friends and family. 20 years ago we couldn't see a distant cousin's new baby until the family reunion, but today we can get pictures of her _the day she's born_.

And today it's easy to share your life and ideas with everyone, not just your friends. If you enjoy writing, you can start a blog in minutes. If you want to share the sound of your voice, creating a podcast is easy. If you prefer using video, there's always YouTube. And we can try all of these for free. Technology lets us connect with people we've never met, launch a business, or help people a world away.

## Spiritual Gains

Best of all, though, technology can transform how we build—and share—our faith.

Almost any Bible app will track our reading progress and hold our study notes, and it'll run rings around any concordance. We can compare Bible versions with a simple web search. We can even carry a library of Bible information with us wherever we go.

More exciting still are new ways for us to share our faith. We can talk to Christians the world over via email, blogs, social media, and video conferences. We can introduce people to Jesus without ever setting eyes on them.

Last year a young man from Egypt told my congregation his conversion story. When Islam didn't offer him the answers he sought, he turned to the Internet. This led him to a Christian in the United States who was willing to study with him from afar, answering his many questions with God's word and a keyboard. This young man didn't meet a Christian face-to-face until a travelling preacher set up a meeting with him (and set up the meeting online, of course). God used technology to help this searching soul find Him.

While technology can bring a lot of trouble to our lives, used properly it will also bring us great blessings. Praise be to God for giving us tools that improve our lives here and help us grow toward the life to come!

# Part II: The Financial Side

# Chapter 9: Counting the Cost

"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' " (Luke 14:28-30)

The idea of "counting the cost" has an ironic twist in our modern world. In Bible times people needed money on hand to begin a project, but with today's easy credit, "the American way" is to commit to the tower _now_ and find a way to pay for it _later_. In the tech world, this means we buy laptops with credit cards. We pick the phone and plan we want and worry about the monthly bill next month.

We've seen the ways that an out-of-control tech life costs us spiritually. But these desires also put a huge strain on the average family's budget—a strain that can also cause spiritual rifts.

It's time we figure out how much we spend on tech—and how to bring that spending under control.

## Self-Persuasion

$1,000 laptops are special. They're fast, portable, and look great, but they aren't fun to pay for. In order to assuage our inner accountant we come up with claims like these:

  * I'll use it every day.
  * I want it to last.
  * I need the speed.
  * It will help me do ________.
  * I'll pay for quality.

These claims sound good and reasonable when you're in the grips of tech lust (and I should know, having used them before). But step away from the tech hype and these claims make less sense.

Let's look at them one by one:

  * I'll use it every day. A $400 laptop will start up every day, too, and will run the same software as its more expensive cousin (except for some high-end games). And if we're trying to use our devices _less_ , is a super-sleek model really the best choice?
  * I want it to last. As Solomon would say: "time and chance happen to them all." $1,000 laptops die in drops, just as their cheaper colleagues do. And while years ago spending more would "future-proof" a device, today there's little need. The rise of lower-power phones and tablets means that the average PC app demands _less_ of computers today than it did five years ago.
  * I need the speed. If you're a video editor, this is true: a faster laptop can cut hours of waiting from your day. But for most of us "more speed" means "I can launch this app half a second faster," which makes the "need" more of a desire.
  * It will help me do________. The American way to "show your commitment" to a new goal is to open your checkbook, be it for a fancy gym membership to jump-start a weight-loss goal...or a $1,000 laptop for a new business venture. But all too often these high ideals backfire, and all the money spent in the process makes the failure doubly painful. Better, then, to start out a new venture with your existing tech and prove your commitment with _time_ , not money. Only then will you know how much that $1,000 laptop will improve things—if it will at all.
  * I'll pay for quality. Many cheap tech devices are, well, _cheap_ , but that's not a universal truth. It can be hard to find good devices in the sea of low-cost options, but it can be done. I've gathered some such devices on this book's website, www.putting-tech-in-its-place.com.

It's hard to look at our tech needs objectively when our society scorns anything without the proper logo and the latest specs. But to wrest our money—not to mention our time and thoughts—from our tech we must change how we go about buying them.

## The Monthly Payment

Most of us don't know what our cars cost. By law a car dealer must show us the full cost of the vehicle, including taxes, extended warranties, and so on. But we tend to focus less on that and more on what we'll write on the monthly check. Have a defibrillator handy if you ever look up what all those payments add up to.

In the tech world, ads condition us to believe that it's okay to spend $200 a month for cell phone service. But look at those payments in terms of their yearly cost and the ads' tune won't sound so rosy. $200 per month translates into $2,400 spent _each year_ just to make our phones work.

For whatever reason, we have trouble recognizing how much even "small" monthly bills cost us. But if we'll look at them by the year instead of month-to-month, we'll get an idea of just how much of our paychecks go to our little tech friends.

## The Accounting

Counting the cost is no fun. Even _finding_ all the costs is tough, because things like cases are often bought and forgotten. But counting the cost is worth the effort, because it helps us understand where our money goes and where we can save the most.

I've created a spreadsheet to help us add all this up; you can find it at www.putting-tech-in-its-place.com/tech-cost-spreadsheet. If you need an example, I put my tech spending spreadsheet there, too.

Let's walk through it together.

On the first tab, we'll total up how much we spend each year on tech devices and accessories. List each item in the first column, and what you paid for it in the second. (If you expect to trade the device in, you can subtract what you'll think you'll get back later). In the third column, take a guess at how long you'll use that device/accessory. The final column is the yearly cost of that device.

At the top of the spreadsheet you'll see how much your devices cost you each year.

The _Services_ tab does the same thing for our tech services. List each service in the first column, and how much it costs in the second. If you pay for the service once a year, delete the 'X' in the third column so the spreadsheet won't treat it as a monthly bill. The fourth column shows you the yearly total, and once again the grand total will appear at the top.

The final tab shows us our total yearly tech spending. With the total cost in hand, we can start looking at how to cut these costs down to size.

We want a true accounting of our tech costs, so please be honest. If your last phone died after one year, don't assume your current one will last for three. At the end of the book we'll come back to this spreadsheet so we can see how much we can save by changing our buying habits.

# Chapter 10: Re-defining Luxury

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)

The obscure Bible writer Agur wanted to be part of what we call the middle class. Since poverty might tempt him to steal, and wealth might tempt him to deny his Lord, he sought a middle ground.

Today's Agur might own a home, but it'd be a modest one. He might own a car, but it'd be a Chevy rather than a Cadillac. And while I'm sure he'd own some tech products, I doubt they'd be fancy ones. And in this Goldilocks lifestyle our modern Agur would find contentment.

But that's not the American way, is it? Capitalism is all about _aspiring_ to more. That desire to better our situation is fine in its place, but all too often our aspirations go far beyond Agur's vision. And while most of the things we aspire to buy, like fancy cars, give us hints about what's "mainstream" and what's "luxury," the tech industry goes out of its way to hide these distinctions.

When you go car shopping, you know who makes luxury cars and who doesn't. If you want a mainstream car, you'll consider a Toyota, but if you're after luxury, you'll look at a Lexus. The badge tells you which is luxury and which isn't. But just what separates a Lexus and a Toyota? There are some good things...

  1. A quieter cabin
  2. Nicer materials
  3. Better performance
  4. Cutting-edge features (safety, stereo tech, etc.)
  5. A better buying and service experience

...and some not-so-good things

  1. Poor gas mileage (due to the higher performance)
  2. A need for premium fuel
  3. More expensive repairs

Yet in most ways these two cars are the same. They both provide comfortable, reliable transportation, complete with engine, doors, seats, radio, airbags, trunk, and so on. A Lexus is _better_ than a Toyota, sure, but it's mainly a matter of details.

We're seeing the same distinction among tech products—except that, unlike Lexus and BMW, we don't coin tech products as "luxury" models7. Instead we call iPads, Galaxy Notes, and ThinkPads "flagships," "superphones," and "Ultrabooks." But what if they're none of these things? What if they're best described as _luxury devices_?

In early 2015, Samsung released the Galaxy S6, a 5.1 inch phone retailing for $600+. In mid-2015, Motorola released the 3rd-gen Moto G, a 5-inch phone with a starting price of $179. What do you get for your extra $4008?

  1. Better materials: the Galaxy S6 is made of metal; the Moto G uses plastic.
  2. Thinness: the Galaxy S6 is super-thin; the Moto G is merely slim.
  3. A nicer screen: the S6 sports twice the resolution of the Moto G (1440p vs. 720p), but most of that is lost to the average eye.
  4. Higher performance: the Galaxy S6 runs faster, but the Moto G will run everything the S6 can except for some high-end games.
  5. Special features: the Galaxy S6 has a fingerprint sensor and other cutting-edge features; they're useful conveniences, but don't fundamentally change the smartphone experience.
  6. A better camera: the Galaxy S6's camera takes better pictures, but the Moto G's camera is good enough for most situations.
  7. A lack of expansion: there's no way to add storage to a Galaxy S6, but you can to the Moto G.

You get more for $600 than you do for $200, but it's a matter of degrees. You get bet _ter_ materials, a thin _ner_ shape, a nic _er_ screen, high _er_ performance, and a bet _ter_ camera. It's the same distinction we saw between Toyota and Lexus: for an extra $400 a Galaxy S6 buys you more _luxury_ than extra _ability_.

Some people need the features only available in high-end phones. Others can purchase them without busting the budget or inciting tech lust. But it's time we recognize high-end watches, phones, tablets, and laptops for what they are—luxury models that add more pizazz per dollar than real usefulness.

But aren't these luxury devices the key to moving the tech industry forward? It's true that companies make more off of expensive tech items than basic models, money they then invest into further development. If we all bought lower-price devices, where would all that innovation go?

Let me answer that question with another question: would it be so bad if tech innovation slowed down? If next year's device wasn't that much different from this year's model, wouldn't it be easier to hang on to our devices another year? If product launches turned from hype to yawn, wouldn't we suffer less from tech lust? Tech innovation is great, but as with most such things, _too much_ innovation is dangerous. Better, as Agur said, to seek what we need, rather than all our eyes desire.

# Chapter 11: Wants vs. Needs

So much about new tech is emotional: the joy of opening a long-awaited present, the wow of holding the latest device, and the hope that the latest tech will make our lives better. The trouble is, these—and other, more base instincts—often replace common sense as our buying guide.

As we saw in the last chapter, a functional phone (or tablet, or laptop) doesn't have to cost that much; it's the upgrades—many of them cosmetic—that turn them into luxury devices. If we can use thoughts like these to re-calibrate our tech outlook, we'll learn to separate what's flashy on the outside from what's truly good for us.

Now I'm not suggesting we take all the fun out of tech. I wouldn't ask anyone to buy an ugly laptop, or a phone devoid of charm—unless that's all you can afford, of course. What I want us to do, instead, is to temper our longing for "the best" with some thought toward what's _best for us_.

But what features are worth having and which just add cost? That depends on what you do with your tech, which makes the answer unique to you. So instead of coming up with cut-and-dried rules, let's create a simple way to categorize tech features and upgrades:

  * Need: A feature I can't do without.
  * Strong want: It's the last thing I'll cut in the name of price.
  * Nice-to-have: Something I'd enjoy, but I can live without it.
  * Don't care: I probably won't use it.
  * Can't have: Makes the device useless.

We aren't talking about base features, but upgrades. When you buy a laptop, you'll always get a screen, a keyboard, a trackpad, and a processor. We're trying to decide if we need more (a faster processor or a nicer keyboard) or if we need something _different_ (such as small verses large). If you're like me, most of these features/upgrades/choices fall somewhere in the middle of this range: they're either "nice to have" or features I don't care about one way or the other.

As an example, let's look at a laptop I bought in 2014. I decided on a laptop because I wanted to take my writing away from home (for whatever reason I tend to focus better at McDonald's). Any laptop would give me a keyboard, touchpad, and screen, but where might I need more?

  * Operating System: **need.** I already owned Microsoft Office for Windows, so only a Windows laptop would do.
  * Comfortable keyboard: **need.** I type a lot, so a good keyboard is a must.
  * Number pad: **don't care.** I don't deal with numbers much, and I'm happy to trade a number pad for a smaller laptop.
  * Device size: **strong want.** Smaller laptops are easier to carry in a bag.
  * Tablet ability: **strong want.** I didn't have a tablet at the time, so a device that could turn into a makeshift tablet sounded useful9.
  * Screen resolution: **don't care.** The "base" screen resolution (1366x768) looks good enough on a small screen.
  * Fast Processor: **nice-to-have.** I'd enjoy more speed, but I rarely need serious computing power.
  * Long Battery Life: **nice-to-have.** Most days I'm not away from home all that long, so battery life isn't a huge deal.
  * Lots of storage: **strong want.** Since this is my main computer, I need enough space to hold my family's pictures and videos.
  * Fast storage: **nice-to-have.** SSDs (solid state disks) are much faster than spinning hard drives, but in 2014 they cost too much10.
  * Fast WiFi: **don't care.** A basic WiFi chip suits my needs.
  * Cellular radio: **don't care.** I can plan trips with free WiFi in mind.
  * Brand: **don't care.** I looked at devices from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and others.

I had two needs, three strong wants, three nice-to-haves, and five don't cares. These thoughts led me to a $400 Dell laptop which transforms into a large (and heavy) tablet. It has a nice keyboard, works great in a bag, and holds all my family's pictures. It may not check many nice-to-have boxes, but it suits my needs just fine.

Next let's try a service. In 2014, I also switched cell phone carriers to save money. Here's what led to my choice:

  * Phone payment: **can't have.** If I can't buy a phone outright, it costs too much.
  * Network: **strong want.** Sprint phones are stuck with Sprint, and Verizon phones with Verizon (and Verizon, in particular, offers few budget models). But most phones that work with AT&T will work with T-mobile, and vice-versa (not to mention all the prepaid carriers that use their networks, something we'll talk about later). Plus, there are tons of unlocked phones11 for those networks.
  * Wide network coverage: **nice-to-have.** In the US, AT&T and Verizon have the best coverage, but my coverage needs are pretty modest.
  * Fast network: **nice-to-have.** More speed is nice, but I don't need it enough to pay extra for it.
  * Mobile hotspot: **nice-to-have.** Most places I go have free WiFi.
  * Visual voicemail12: **don't care.** I don't get much voicemail.

I had one strong want, three nice-to-haves, one don't care, and one can't have. These thoughts led me to Cricket, a prepaid carrier owned by AT&T. Cricket gave me everything in my list except mobile hotspot support, all for a lot less than what I once paid Verizon.

When we buy based on emotion, we overpay. If we can stop and think about what we _need_ , not just what we _want_ , our budget will go further. And looking at our needs might convince us to skip some purchases entirely....

# Chapter 12: The Three R's

Years ago, education was all about reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic, taught in any order and in (more or less) equal measure. Today's three R's, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, aren't so equal. All three will help the environment, but the best of the three is _reducing_ what we use, followed by reusing and recycling.

The problem is it's easier to _apply_ the three R's in reverse. It's easy to recycle an old cell phone, for example...as you enter Best Buy looking for a replacement. _Reusing_ a device means ignoring the ads urging us to upgrade (not to mention the kids whining about hand-me-downs). But the best—and, naturally, hardest—way to save money on tech is to _buy less of it_. No sale can touch spending $0, after all. But above and beyond this, buying fewer devices and tech services means fewer distractions from what's important in life.

How can we make this happen?

## Reducing the Number of Devices

Let's do a quick exercise. First, list your tech devices, ranking them from "favorite" to "least favorite." Here's my list:

**Most to Least Favorite:**

  1. Tablet
  2. Smartphone
  3. E-reader
  4. Smartwatch
  5. Laptop
  6. Camera

Now create a second list, this one going from "most necessary" to "least necessary." Here's mine:

**Most to Least Necessary:**

  1. Laptop
  2. Smartphone13
  3. Camera
  4. Tablet
  5. E-reader
  6. Smartwatch

My lists don't look the same, and I suspect yours don't, either. That's why it's hard to get rid of devices: the one we ought to let go of are often the ones we enjoy the most.

The first step towards buying less, then, is mental. We're conditioned to believe that we _need_ a phone, a camera, a tablet, a laptop, and all the rest. But that's not true. I don't _need_ an e-reader; my phone and tablet can pull double-duty14. Most of us don't _need_ tablets, since phones and laptops can cover all they do. Yet when we need to cut devices, it's the fun ones that must get the boot.

But this doesn't have to be an either-or discussion. Many of today's devices blur the lines between device types: large phones that resemble small tablets, tablets with keyboard docks, and laptops that transform into big tablets. When a need and a want clash, check to see if there's an in-between device that will serve need and want alike. That way we can reduce our tech footprint without giving up too much of the fun.

## Reducing the Number of Services

Today we buy more tech services than ever before, which leads to a lot of overlap...and the chance to cull some old standbys.

In 2008, when we moved into our current home, cable TV was a no-brainer. But over the next five years Netflix and other services took over our TV viewing time. Cable became redundant, so we dropped it. Wherever two services overlap, see if you can drop one or the other.

Other services have free alternatives. I once paid for Norton Antivirus, but several years back I switched to Microsoft's free antimalware offering, Windows Defender15. If you have Microsoft Office but don't use it much, there are several alternative that might serve you just as well (which we'll detail later).

And remember that cutting out tech and tech services saves us more than money. If we're spending too much just so we can _watch too much_ TV, for example, cutting cable or nixing Netflix becomes a double cure.

## Reducing the Price of Devices

Back in the 1990s, _PC Magazine_ columnist Bill Howard like to say that the PC "sweet spot" was one step below the very best. That thinking made sense in the 90s, when you needed all the power you could afford, but not anymore. As tech devices reach the commodity stage, this "sweet spot" shifts from _near the top_ to a rung or two _above the bottom_.

Most super-cheap tablets aren't worth buying: they have terrible screens, meager storage, and pitiful battery life. But sitting just above the cheapest tablets are models from established brands that work quite well. They won't impress the neighbors, and they won't run every high-end game, but for everyday use they're plenty good.

You can say the same thing for any device that's been around for a few years: as the pace of improvement slows down, the smart buys shift down the pricing scale. So if you want the best laptop value, look near the bottom. Ditto for phones, cameras, or TVs.

The trick, though, is separating the wheat from all the chaff you find at the low-end. There aren't many reviews for cheap laptops and desktops, for example (I know from tracking them down for this book's website, www.putting-tech-in-its-place.com), but with a little help you can find your way.

You can also save with the age-old advice to shop around. Ten years ago you could count on Amazon and other online sellers to have the best prices, but today stores like Best Buy often match or even beat online offers.

If you want to save even more, consider buying used. We enjoy factory-fresh tech as much as we enjoy that new-car smell, but just as buying used cars generally leads to better deals, buying used tech can also save us a bundle.

"Refurbished," "open box," or floor models are the tech equivalent of a demo or certified pre-owned car: they can't be called new, but they've been tested and come with a warrantee. Truly used devices, first made popular by eBay, offer better deals—and bigger dangers. Used devices come without a warranty, but they make up for it in price.

And if you're truly in a bind, check your local pawn shop. Many pawn shops carry tech devices, and you'll often find the best deal there. Just beware that stolen devices often end up in pawn shops (and cell phones, in particular, might be marked stolen and blocked from further use).

As with anything used, do your homework. When buying online, scour the descriptions, look for pictures of the device in action, and check the seller's reputation. If buying in person, be sure to try out the device before buying. If you're willing to buy used, you can find some good deals. I've gotten good use out of several used devices (case in point: I wrote this sentence on a refurbished tablet). Refurbished and used tech is a great way to stretch your budget.

## Reducing the _Price_ of Services

The "sweet spot" inversion we've seen with tech devices applies to services, too. Back in 2000, expensive internet service was the only way to go. But now that dial-up is well and truly gone, the average family will be quite happy with less-than-maximum speed.

Prepaid cell phone carriers offer nearly the same service as the big carriers (on the same networks, even) at a big discount. You can also look at options like your data "bucket"; reducing how much data you buy each month can save you 10s of dollars in each bill (and give you another reason to leave your phone in your pocket, should you need it).

When you look at tech and tech services, start from the low end and work your way up. It's not as fun as getting "the best," but it's far easier on both wallet and conscience.

## Reusing

After trimming our tech load, the next step toward spending less on tech is to ignore the new device hype and hang on to those devices longer.

Devices we hold in our hands are prone to falls. A decent case, one that wraps around the device and provides some cushion, will protect it from most spills. You can find perfectly nice cases for anywhere from $10 to $30 online—and do buy it online, because stores will gouge you here.

Next, think about how you carry your devices. Laptop bags and backpacks include padded sections to protect your tech from travel's bumps and bruises. A $50 bag is a great insurance policy.

But despite all we do to protect our devices, they will break. Be it a failing screen, a key-shedding keyboard, a dead touchpad, or a charge-less battery, something will stop us from using the device as we first planned. (And as devices get smaller and harder to pry open, repairing them cost more, too.) But even if a device isn't worth fixing, it might still be worth saving.

When the "phone" part of my phone started to fail, it became my son's small tablet. A monitor, keyboard, and mouse can turn a laptop with a dead screen or missing keys into a desktop PC. A flaky touchpad can be fixed with a wireless mouse. A battery case can keep a phone's failing battery alive. A little creative thought can postpone our tech's appointment with the recycle bin.

## Recycling

Alas, the end comes for every device. But an old device—even a dead one—might be more than a paperweight. Before taking it to the Best Buy recycle bin, see if it has any value. Companies like Amazon and Best Buy will buy old devices, and even dead devices can be sold "for parts" on eBay.

But if the device still works, consider donating it to charity or giving it to a cash-strapped friend. A thoughtful hand-me-down can mean the world to someone who can't afford to buy their own.

# Chapter 13: Further Saving Thoughts

## Starting Low

Digging out of debt means cutting costs everywhere: eating at home, buying used—often, very used—cars, and cutting tech costs to the bone. While elsewhere I'll steer you away from the cheapest devices and services, when money's tight they're the best option. A no-name or hand-me-down cell phone, an ultra-cheap laptop, a bare-bones cell phone plan: when cost is all that matters, it's time to consider the bottom of the barrel. Once you right the ship you can move back up again.

## The "Deal"

Black Friday and Cyber Week give us extra reasons to splurge, since the low prices make it feel like we _aren't_ splurging in the first place. And, besides, sometimes Black Friday deals really are great deals.

If I'm looking for a laptop, finding one at a fire-sale price is a great deal. But what if that super price entices me to upgrade too soon, or gets me to buy a device I won't use? Price alone does not a good deal make.

"Introductory pricing" is service equivalent of the blowout sale. Many companies offers a low price for a few months or a year, or throw in trials of premium features (such as HBO or Showtime) to further entice us. But when we focus on "the deal" and don't budget for the regular price, we fall into the company's trap. If the long-term cost of a service isn't a good deal, neither is the introductory one.

## Add-ons

Buying expensive items messes with our sense of cost. A $40 HDMI cable sounds expensive until you pair it with a $1,000 TV. A $70 piece of plastic that covers your phone sounds crazy...unless we're buying it with a $700 phone.

It's even worse with tech services, where so often the price you see going in bears no resemblance to the price you pay coming out. Once you add extra phone lines, phone loan payments, insurance, extra data, taxes, and fees to your cell phone service, it's easy to double the advertised price. Cable TV does the same thing, as cable box rentals, premium channels, and other add-ons jack up the cost.

There are two ways to combat this. First, if we'll spend less on "big-ticket" items, we naturally look to spend less on accessories. Second, we should look at each item separately. We should comparison shop TV cables just as we would the TV itself, and consider each service upgrade on its own merits. If we'll keep our head we won't get gouged at the counter.

## Breaking the Lock

People come back to the same companies for many reasons. One is familiarity: when you own an iPhone, buying an Android phone means relearning how things work. Another is friends, family, and tech advisors: if they all use Android phones, you're the outsider if you carry an iPhone.

But there's a third, more devious reason we keep buying the same brands: lock-in.

Each computing platform (iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows, Mac) has an "ecosystem" of apps, music, and other content, plus accessories that only work with their devices. Some of these extras, like apps, won't work on other platforms at all. Others, like music, will move with you, but only with some work. The rest _might_ work on another platform...if we get it from the right sources.

To keep your options open, consider buying things like e-books and movies from third parties. While Apple, a hardware maker, uses content to keep you from leaving, a third party like Amazon doesn't care what device you use, since supporting all the major platforms lets them reach the most customers. When we buy from third parties, that content stands a good chance of following us no matter what devices we buy.

But, as I mentioned, some content won't move with you, which can make switching from iPhone to Android or Windows to Mac a daunting idea. But don't write off such a shift too quickly. Most of us have apps we no longer use, books we won't re-read, and movies we won't re-watch; if we switch platforms we won't re-buy them. And if a new device saves us hundreds of dollars, we'll still come out ahead even if we have to re-buy some stuff. Don't let ecosystem lock-in make you feel like you can't look at cheaper tech.

# Part III: A New Buying Guide

# Chapter 14: Dealing with Specs

So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And [the Eunuch] said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:30-31a)

Terms like GHz (gigahertz), GBs (gigabytes), MP (megapixels), 1080P, and 4K make one feel like the poor Eunuch trying to understand Isaiah. What do these terms mean? Are bigger numbers better? And how much is enough? In this chapter, we'll untangle a few of these knotty specs.

## Processor

At the heart of every device sits a processor. It handles every touch, keypress, and click, and directs the device's every move.

One of the numbers you'll see on a spec sheet is the processor's clock speed. While that number _is_ a measure of processor speed, what it doesn't say is _how much_ a processor gets done in each clock tick. A large laptop, with space for more complex circuitry—and a bigger battery to give it more power—will blow away a phone's processor no matter how "fast" each processor runs.

The other processor spec you'll see is the core count. A "core" is a mini-processor, and adding more cores lets a processor do several things at once16. A dual-core processor can do more than a similar single-core part, and—all else being equal—a quad-core (four core) part will run faster still. But often all else is not equal: it's hard to write software that uses lots of cores and, even when you do, the extra heat generated from running all the cores at full speed can force _all of them_ to slow down—especially in the tight confines of a phone or tablet.

In short, don't worry about these two specs. Almost any of today's processors will satisfy the average user; only those that run many programs at once or work with taxing programs like video editors should really care about what's under the hood. Instead, look for reviews that describe how well the device handles everyday use—which is all that really matters, after all.

Graphics processors, the chips that create what you see on your screen, deserve a special mention here. For many years buying a laptop with "integrated" graphics (a graphics chip that comes with the main processor) limited you to very simple games. Today, though, videos17 and casual games like Candy Crush will run just fine on any graphics chip. Only those with greater graphics needs should look for more.

## Storage and Memory

Your apps and content get stored in something called...wait for it...storage, and we measure their size in GBs (gigabytes) and TBs (terabytes)18. In 2015, storage comes in three basic types: old-school spinning hard drives, SSDs (solid-state drives), and flash storage.

Even as processor upgrades slow down, the SSD gives us a new way to supercharge our laptops and desktops. Nothing else will make a machine feel as fast; in my ho-hum laptop, for example, adding an SSD transformed it from pokey to responsive. In 2015 it's still rare to find an SSD on lower-end laptops or desktops (though many do come with "eMMC" storage, the SSD's smaller—and slower—cousin). But by 2017, I expect SSDs to show up in laptops of all prices.

How much storage do you need? It depends on the device, and how much stuff (apps, games, music, pictures, and movies) you want to store on it. Here's what I consider the minimum amounts in 2015:

  * Android phones and tablets: 8 GBs if you can also add a microSD card, though 16 or 32 GBs is worth the upgrade
  * iPhones and iPads: 32 or 64 GBs if you take lots of pictures or want to download movies
  * Windows phones: 8 GBs if you can add a microSD card, though s 16 GBs is better
  * Windows tablets: 32 GBs is just enough; 64 GBs lets you add more than a few games or movies
  * Laptops and desktops: 32 GBs will do in a pinch, but 128 GBs or more gives you some room for media files

A device's _memory_ holds programs as they run. Memory is the easiest stat to understand, since more is always better. But how much is _enough_? A phone or tablet needs at least 1 GB, but 2 GBs will make it feel snappier19. In a laptop or desktop, 2 GBs will do for basic work, but 4 or even 8 GBs will make a noticeable difference as you open more programs or browser tabs.

One warning: ads often quote a phone or tablet's storage as its "memory size" (which shows that advertisers don't understand tech, either). Make sure you find _both_ memory and storage specs before believing such claims.

## WiFi/Cellular

Once upon a time you needed a modem to get online (and ear protectors for the modem's screeching noises...and shouts from the kids for hogging the phone line). But yesterday's wired home is today's wireless world, thanks to WiFi and cellular data.

WiFi is a short-range technology that can share internet access in a home, business, or restaurant. Cellular signals are far stronger, but also cost more to use.

WiFi has two main specs: standards and bands. WiFi standards all begin with "802.11"; from oldest to newest they are 802.11a, b, g, n, and ac. But since all of these standards are backwards-compatible (meaning that an old laptop can connect to a new router, and vice-versa), it's not a spec to worry about unless you need fast data speeds.

WiFi **bands** , on the other hand, can make the difference between a network that's useful and one that's a useless mess. The most common WiFi band, 2.4 GHz (gigahertz), has the range to cover most houses, but since it shares this wireless band with other devices (and nearby WiFi networks) you might struggle to get a good signal. The other band, 5 GHz, works best in small spaces like apartments, since 5 GHz signals don't reach as far (walls and doors tend to block them). In an area crammed with wireless devices 5 GHz is the best option, though to use it both your router and your devices must support the 5 GHz band.

(And whatever kind of network you set up, be sure to secure it with a password, which keeps passers-by from seeing what's on your network. Your router's manual or a web search will tell you how to set up its security features.)

Among cellular networks, the spec that matters most is the network "generation" you connect to. 3G (3rd generation) is faster than 2G, and 4G LTE is faster than 3G20. Getting an LTE phone doesn't guarantee fast speeds, though: if you're far from a cell tower or sharing that tower with many other users your speed will drop. And while cell phone companies like to tout their nationwide reach, it can vary greatly from one street to another. In my home we barely get Verizon service, for example, and if you walk down the hill from our home it drops out completely. So don't rely on coverage maps; ask your friends and neighbors how well their phone service works for them.

## Screens

In 2010, Apple stunned the world with the iPhone 4's "retina" display, so named because you couldn't see individual pixels (dots on the screen) from a foot or two away. Other device makers soon followed Apple's lead and raced to cram more pixels into screens of every size.

But there are two problems with this resolution race21. First, by pushing higher resolutions these companies imply that lower-resolution screens are no good. Pre-retina iPhone screens weren't as nice, sure, but they worked for reading emails and watching movies. Second, a beautiful display is a big reason that we lust after the most expensive devices; a "lesser" screen, then, gives us one less reason to pull the device out.

Second, there's a point where more isn't better, just more. Luxury cell phones hit this point around 2014; to tell a difference between a Galaxy S5 (1080P, same as most TVs) and a S6 (1440P) requires either great eyes...or a microscope.

This doesn't mean that _any_ screen will do, of course. The cheapest screens look terrible unless you're looking at them just right; this is okay in a laptop where the screen stays in one place, but less so in a handheld device that moves around. Check reviews or look at demo models before deciding if a screen works for you or not.

There are two other main screen specs to check: brightness and contrast. Brightness is about where you use your device: all screens work indoors, but only screens that get bright can be read out in the sun. High contrast is like good laundry detergent: it makes whites brighter and darks darker. Once again, don't trust the specs completely; look at reviews and/or demo devices before calling a screen good or bad.

## Battery Life

Batteries have a simple job: keep your devices running while on the go. And the main battery spec, battery life, sounds simple, too.

But it's not.

_How you use_ a device will alter your battery life as much as the size of that battery. Playing high-end games, making the screen really bright, and roaming to the edge of a wireless network will all make your device hot and your battery life cold.

There's also a mental side to battery life. The claims of "X hours" of battery life comes from running the battery until the device shuts off, but I for one go outlet hunting long before that point. Thus your _perceived_ battery life might be far less than what you find on the spec sheet.

Batteries also fade with time; after a year or two they won't hold as much energy as they did when new. And as more and more devices come with sealed batteries, it's hard to keep these devices useful without paying someone to open it up or buying an external battery pack.

## Megapixels

A "megapixel" is one million pixels, and we use the term to describe how many of these dots make up a picture. But there's a funny thing about megapixels: unlike the other specs, where more may be neither good nor bad, more megapixels can actually make a camera _worse_.

Why? Taking a picture is all about getting light to hit the sensor that sits behind the shutter. More megapixels means splitting that light among more sensing bits, so unless you make another adjustment (like making the camera bigger) each pixel gets less light and can tell you less about the outside world. That's why most phones struggle indoors, because many sensing bits must share a small amount of light.

So when you're comparing cameras or phones, ignore megapixel counts. Look at reviews, which will tell you kind of pictures those pixels create.

# Chapter 15: Fixing Problems

One of the reasons we spend so much on technology is because we want stuff that _works_. The cheapest devices—the ones you should only buy as a last resort—have a well-earned reputation for flakiness and failure, which pushes us towards "safer," more expensive, tech.

But as we've seen, time and chance happen to all tech. No matter what you buy, if you want it to last you'll have to work through (or around) some glitches. So let's look at some simple steps we can take to combat common tech problems. These are the steps I use when my tech runs into trouble, and like aspirin they'll relieve many tech headaches without the need to call a doctor.

## Searching for Answers

Before Google, fixing a tech problem meant either a) digging up a manual, b) tracking down a techy friend, or c) going to a store and paying for repairs. But now that we have a world of tech information at our fingertips, many solutions are just a web search away.

Most tech enthusiasts are open people, willing to share how they fix their tech problems. Companies, too, share much of their repair expertise online (so they can cut down on support calls, no doubt). Don't blindly follow the first idea you see, of course; while Google does a good job of bringing the right information to the top of web searches, it isn't perfect. And don't do anything without making sure you have a good backup (which we'll cover in a bit). But if you can find someone who has fixed the same problem you're seeing, chances are that fix will work for you, too.

Is your device running slow? Try a search. Ditto when an app is acting up. Ditto-ditto for problems charging a device, wireless issues...you get the idea.

## Five More Rs

In the 90s, restarting Windows was so common that it became a joke punchline. Regular reboots aren't necessary anymore, but the advice endures: if you're seeing problems, **restart.** A restart will clear up many strange issues, both from apps and the system as a whole.

Antivirus software is pretty good at stopping PC malware before it does damage, but problems still slip through. If a reboot doesn't clear up a problem, **run a scan** ; a virus scan takes time, but it's an easy way to check for serious problems.

When an app still won't work, the next step is to **reinstall** it. Reinstalling an app was once a pain, but now that most apps come from app stores, reinstalling them is as easy as finding them in the store again. Wiping away the old version of an app usually purges whatever made it go to the far country.

Still having trouble? If you're using a laptop or desktop, you have another card to play: **rolling back.** This gives you a "do-over" if your system quits working. Before Windows installs its monthly updates, it takes a "snapshot" of the system. If you can't get your computer working, boot into safe mode (and if you don't know how, do a Google search for your model) and roll back to a time when you knew the computer was working. The Mac's "Time Machine" feature gives you the same option by keeping backups from earlier points in time.

If all else fails, there's one final option: a **factory reset.** Over time our devices get filled with forgotten programs, settings, and files. A factory reset removes all this clutter and returns your device to a pristine condition. This is the last option for a reason, though: a full reset will erase all your apps and data, so make sure they're backed up before taking this step.

(In Windows 10 you can try "refreshing" the system rather than a full reset, which will clean up Windows but won't touch your data.)

And if you need help with any of this, step-by-step directions are just a web search away....

So the basics of computer repair comes down to five R's: _restart_ , _run_ a scan, _reinstall_ apps, _roll_ back, and, if all else fails, a factory _reset_.

## Getting Back

In college I helped maintain some computer labs. My boss had just one rule: don't do anything you can't undo. That's still good advice: make sure you can get back to where you started before you do anything drastic. While app stores make it easy to get your apps back, when it comes to your data it's up to you to keep things safe, that annoying process called backing up.

Until recently backups were a pain, and most of us forgot to back up our data until disaster struck. Today, though, automatic backups are both simple and inexpensive. A "cloud" backups (where you save your data to an internet service), in particular, makes keeping your data safe almost painless. We'll talk more about online backup in a few chapters.

Technology scares people. It looks like black magic, a concoction of mysterious forces that go poof if you don't stir them just right. But while we should treat tech with respect, we also shouldn't freak out when something goes wrong. The simple steps from this chapter—the same steps I use when my tech breaks—will fix many issues without forcing us to pay for a repair or a replacement.

# Chapter 16: Device Advice: Handhelds

We're finally ready to talk about all the concepts we've discussed so far in practical terms. But even now we can't get too specific, since new devices pop up every month. For specific device ideas and up-to-date advice, check out www.putting-tech-in-its-place.com.

In this chapter we'll look at handheld devices, and in the next chapter we'll talk about their larger brethren. In the following chapter we'll talk about the services that make these devices useful.

## Wearables

Laptops moved tech from desk to bag; smartphones moved it from bag to pocket. Today's wearables seek to make the next shift: from pocket to person.

This shift brings with it an obvious danger: when tech is just a glance away, it's much harder to ignore. (And we won't even get into smartglasses, the ultimate in-your-face tech.)

But smartwatches, in particular, aren't all bad; in fact, when used properly they can _reduce_ our tech face time.

For a watch to fit on a wrist it must be small, with a tiny screen and a basic interface. Those small screens are great for alerting us to incoming calls and upcoming appointments, but poor for writing emails and setting up meetings. A watch, then, functions best as a notification device, not a full-blown computer.

My Pebble smartwatch shows me enough of each text message so that I can decide if I need to reply at once or not. And every time I decide _not_ to grab my phone I've saved myself the danger of getting sucked into that phone. And since I'm very careful about what I let buzz my watch (no emails, Facebook notifications, and other minutia), the watch doesn't go off that often.

The biggest problem with most smartwatches is that they don't work with all phones. The Apple Watch will only talk to an iPhones. Prior to 2015 most of Samsung's watches only worked with Samsung phones. Android Wear watches might support iPhones, but they don't work as well there as with Android handsets. The watch, then, is a potent form of ecosystem "lock-in," adding hundreds to the cost of switching from one kind of phone to another. For that reason, I suggest looking at watches that work on multiple platforms first, such as Pebbles and fitness-focused watches.

And since smartwatches are still in their infancy, consider giving them until 2016 or 2017 to mature—if nothing else, this should let the prices ease down some.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Display. A few watches, like my Pebble, use an e-ink screen that's similar to an e-reader; they're great in sunlight but less so in the dark (you have to twist your wrist to turn on a light). Other watches use phone-like screens, which are prettier to look at but tougher on the battery....
  2. Battery life. There isn't much room in a watch for a battery, so most of these early models won't go more than a day on a charge.

### Beware of...

  1. Charging cables Most watches use special cables or charging docks. If you travel a lot, plan on getting a spare.

### How long will it last?

Smartwatches are so new that there's no telling how long they'll last. Sitting on a wrist exposes them to the bumping and abuse all watches take. Plus, they're changing so fast that they'll feel obsolete in a hurry. My guess is that most 2015 models will last just a year or two.

## Cellphones

No device defines modern tech life—and modern tech problems—like the smartphone. It's portable and it's personal...but it's also persistent. Smartphones interrupt us day and night. They encourage snap replies, sound-bite news reading, and every other vice of our get-it-now, get-it-fast society.

And, for most of us, the smartphone costs us more than any other device. Even before adding in the monthly cell phone bill, the high cost of phones (made "cheaper" with loans disguise as "upgrades") and the typical 1-2 year replacement cycle means that we spend more on them than any other device.

What can we do? Breaking the phone's grip on us might mean going back to a flip phone, but short of that taming the smartphone means finding a device that will fit our needs without dominating our time and budget.

Smartphones come from three main ecosystems: Apple's iOS, Google's Android22, and Microsoft's Windows Phone (Windows 10 Mobile by the time you read this). Apple caters to the premium market, with even the cheapest iPhones costing about $450 outright. Android and Windows phones, by contrast, range from $50 junkers to $800 luxury devices.

All three phone platforms cover the basics: calls, texts, emails, web browsing, and music, so choosing one over another is more about the details. With three different companies offering three different takes on the smartphone, we can choose the flavor that fits us best.

All three platforms have lots of apps, though Windows Phone trails iOS and Android. For basic apps like Facebook any phone will do, but if you rely on niche apps or offbeat games Windows Phone won't work for you.

All of today's phones come with "virtual assistants." They do two basic things: walk you through tasks like making an appointment and presenting information about your day (such as directions to that appointment). iPhone's Siri is probably the best at interacting with you, while Android's Google Now is the best at telling you what you need to know before you ask. Windows' Cortana sits somewhere in the middle.

Once you settle on the phone you want, you face another choice: buy the phone from your cell phone carrier or buy it "unlocked." When you buy your phone from your carrier it gets "locked" to that network; carriers will unlock them, but not until you've paid off your phone and/or used it for some number of months. Unlocked phones might cost a bit more, but they give us the freedom to switch between phone carriers at will.

Most Verizon and Sprint phones, even when unlocked, won't work with any other network due to the uniqueness of Verizon and Sprint's networks. Most phones that work with AT&T will also work with T-mobile, and vice-versa, though you should check the phone's product page to be sure. One tip: beware of "international" models, since most of them don't work well with US networks.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Size. Since these phones live in a pocket or a purse, make sure it fits before buying. This is tough in a store (blame bulky security devices), so it's best to err on the small side.
  2. Storage. Most expensive phones won't let you add extra storage, hoping instead to push you to a more expensive model. Cheaper phones often skimp on internal storage, forcing you to buy a microSD card for your music and pictures.
  3. Processor and memory. As we saw in chapter 14, all of today's phones have enough power for email, web surfing, and watching videos. They do often skimp on memory, though; if you can afford it, extra memory is a useful upgrade.
  4. SIM type. Today's phones use a chip called a SIM card to tell it what phone network to use. In theory, you can move this card from phone to phone when you switch devices...except that there's more than one size of SIM card. Replacement SIM cards aren't that expensive; you just have to make sure you get the size you need.
  5. Cables. iPhones use an Apple-specific charging cable, while almost all other 2015 phones use microUSB. We're beginning to see a shift to a newer kind of cable, USB Type-C23. If you need new cables when you switch phones, buy them online—stores will overcharge both for cables and for chargers.
  6. Camera. Ignore the specs and look for reviews before judging a phone's camera. Know, too, that some cheap phones ax the front-facing camera, the rear-camera flash, or both.

### Beware of...

  1. Material. Most luxury phones use metal frames. They feel nice, sure, but you pay dearly for them—and if you use a case you can't tell the difference.
  2. Ultra-high resolutions. When your phone pushes more pixels than your TV, something's wrong. Phone makers have gone overboard pushing ever-higher screen resolutions. 720p (1280x720) is fine at most sizes; anything above 1080p (1920x1080) is a waste.
  3. Cases. Some people go without cases, but with the beating our phones take I strongly recommend them. Be wary, though: fancy cases cost as much as some phones. There are plenty of nice, inexpensive cases available online.
  4. Accidental damage protection (aka phone insurance). No one wants to buy a new phone when theirs breaks, but most phone insurance policies are terrible deals. And if you can't afford to replace your phone yourself, perhaps it cost too much to begin with....

### How long will it last?

Phones get jostled, dropped, and (if you have young kids) tossed. They sit in hot cars and join us on our snowy adventures. Their batteries fade from daily use. If you get more than two years out of a phone you're doing well.

## Mobile Hotspots

Until smartphones learned how to create mobile WiFi networks, a USB stick or hotspot device were the only ways to get your laptop online when you weren't at home. But now that most phones _can_ create mobile hotspots, why bother with a separate device?

If you don't carry a smartphone, a hotspot is the only option here. Even if you do carry a smartphone, you might still want a mobile hotspot, since many prepaid phone carriers (like mine) block phones from creating mobile hotspots. In this case it comes down to the math: will a prepaid phone plan and a pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot plan cost less than buying one (more expensive) plan that covers both?

### How long will it last?

Hotspots should last two years or more.

## Cameras

As smartphones take ever-better pictures, the standalone camera sees less and less use. But those of us with kids running around, not to mention those that enjoy taking pictures, will still want a dedicated camera.

Digital cameras range from cheap point-and-shoots to hulking, expensive DSLRs. The sweet spot, as elsewhere, is toward the bottom of that spectrum: point-and-shoots with large zooms, entry-level "mirrorless" cameras, and low-end DSLRs24.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Low-light ability. Don't rely on the specs; instead look for reviews that try the camera in the dark.
  2. Video. Most of today's cameras also take videos, to the point where very few people need a separate camcorder. As always, look to reviews for how well the camera does at taking videos.
  3. WiFi. Many cameras include WiFi so they can automatically copy pictures to your computer. It's a convenience, but not a must-have feature in my book.
  4. (Physical) Zoom. A large zoom (say, 10X or more) lets you shoot both near and far objects. Just be sure you're looking at the _physical_ zoom....

### Beware of...

  1. Digital zoom. Digital zoom is a fancy term for cropping (cutting down) a photo to give the _appearance_ of zooming in. Ignore this number and, if you can, turn off your camera's digital zoom.
  2. Interchangeable lenses. Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs let you swap in different lenses. This makes them more versatile, but those lenses get pricy.

### How long will it last?

Cameras don't suffer the day-to-day abuse we inflict on other devices, so they tend to last much longer: five years or more is a good bet.

## E-readers

E-readers are great for reading, but poor at everything else. Why, then, should we bother with a single-use device when a phone or a tablet app will let you read, too? Because that single use is also the e-readers strength. I love my Kindle for bedtime, in particular: with no email and no Facebook, I can settle down without the temptation of other tech services.

E-readers use a screen technology called e-ink, which looks a lot like ink on paper. These screens give e-readers awesome battery life (measured in weeks), but because they don't use light to create the image you can't see the screen in the dark without a light (though an integrated light is a common e-reader feature now, at least).

The bigger downside to e-readers, though, is that they limit your book choices. Amazon books are meant for Kindles, and Barnes and Noble books for Nooks, to name two. If you like to comparison-shop e-books, an e-reader isn't for you.

### How long will it last?

An e-reader's stellar battery life means that it shouldn't die of a failing battery. Barring an accident, expect an e-reader to last many years.

## Tablets

Tablets are the original "tweener" devices. They look like large phones, and sport phone-like insides. But in use a tablet can feel more like a laptop, doing things you'd never try on a phone. I can't imagine writing a book on a phone, but a tablet gives me just enough room to make it work. Tablets are also great for airplanes, where a phone is too small and a laptop too awkward.

But while tablets are useful, in most cases they can't replace a phone or a laptop—and a phone and laptop together certainly _can_ replace a tablet. A tablet, then, must earn a place. That place might be letting you trade a smartphone for a flip phone, or as a mini-laptop by adding a keyboard. But if a tablet is just an _additional_ device, it's hard to justify when budgets are tight.

When looking at tablets, we must make two big decisions: size and operating system.

Tablets range from 6-inch lightweights to 12-inch (or more) behemoths. At 6 or 7 inches a tablet will feel like a large phone, and by 10 inches you're creeping into laptop territory. I see 8- or 9-inch models as the sweet spot: they're small enough for easy carrying yet large enough for web browsing, movies, and light-duty work.

Among tablet screens there's also a choice of aspect ratios (screen height vs. screen width). Before 2015, almost all non-iPad tablets featured wide screens; today you see a mix of wide and squarish displays. In general, wide screens are better for movies and squarer screens for reading, but it comes down to personal preference.

Today's tablets use three operating systems: iOS (iPad), Android, and Windows. iOS and Android tablets are a lot like iOS and Android phones: they're good at doing one thing at a time, but not so good at shuffling between several apps. Prior to 2015, Windows tablets felt like shrunken-down laptops, but Windows 10 brings with it a legitimate tablet experience—even as it retains Windows' great app-switching features.

iOS has the best tablet apps, with Android in second place. Windows is a distant third; we'll see if Windows 10 can narrow the app gap.

Apple sticks to the premium end of the tablet spectrum; while older iPad minis start around $250, current-gen iPads start around $400. You can find decent Android and Windows tablets for $100, and there are many great choices at less than $200.

There's also the Kindle Fire, Amazon's offshoot of Android. It offers some nice features (including FreeTime for giving kids a safe environment to play in), and they're cheap for what they give you. But since Amazon also offers great iPad and Android apps, it's hard to justify a Fire tablet unless you're a big Amazon user.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Cameras. Most tablets come with poor cameras. For video calls they're fine; otherwise your phone will do better.
  2. Materials. As with phones, metal feels nice while plastic costs less—and a case (which I highly recommend) will hide the material, whatever it is.
  3. Storage. Movies, pictures, and music libraries take up a lot of space. If you want these on your tablet, you'll need more than low-end models give you. Most Android and Windows tablets include microSD card slots for expanding your storage; with iPads what you buy is what you get.
  4. Mobile internet. A few tablets include cellular radios, making them even more like phones (though few actually make calls). But mobile internet adds a price premium—even before paying the monthly fee to add a tablet to your cell phone plan.
  5. Keyboard. Keyboard cases sound great, but be sure to try them before buying: most are too small for easy typing, and they can make the tablet bulky and awkward when not in use. If you type a lot, consider buying a separate, larger Bluetooth keyboard instead.

### Beware of...

  1. Expensive accessories. Stores like to overcharge for tablet accessories, just as they do with phones. Look online for the best deals.
  2. Ultra-high resolutions. As with luxury phones, today's high-end tablets sport insane resolutions, well past the point of reason. My 8-inch tablet's screen is 1280x800, and works well enough even for small text—yet some tablets _double_ that resolution. Don't pay a lot more just to get a super-sharp screen.

### How long will it last?

Expect a tablet to last between two and four years.

# Chapter 17: Device Advice: Larger Devices

Next we'll look at our bigger tech devices: laptops, desktops, printers, TVs, and gaming systems.

## Laptops

For most folks, laptops are boring. They were boring even before smartphones pushed them out of the Best Buy limelight. Sure, there are sleek models that will wow you, but for most of us a laptop is a necessary evil, something we buy because we have to, not because we want to.

And this is good.

It's good because, with laptops, there's little reason to upgrade. When new models look and perform much like last year's tech, there's no point in moving up. There's also no shame in pulling out the old model, since few can tell the difference.

Since most of today's software is built to run on lower-performance phones and tablets, today's laptops have a pretty easy life. Case in point: Windows 10, released in 2015, and Windows Vista, almost 10 years old now, have almost the same system requirements. "Future-proofing," one of the reasons we used to spend big on laptops, isn't a problem right now.

Choosing a laptop, then, comes down to four things: size, operating system, features, and price.

The smallest laptops sport 10 inches screens, though 11.6 inches is more typical of ultraportable models. These laptops, especially those at the low end, sacrifice some speed and comfort in the quest for easy carrying. Mid-size laptops, at roughly 13 or 14 inches, balance power and portability, combining full-size keyboards with faster processors. Larger laptops, at 15 inches and up, give you the most power per dollar, but you pay for it in size, weight, and (often) battery life.

Laptop operating systems come in three flavors: Mac OS X, Windows, and Chrome OS25. As much as the Mac OS X and Windows faithful like to snipe at each other, on laptops the two platforms are more similar than they are different. They're both designed to help you get work done, whether on the web or with local apps. (Chrome OS takes a different approach, so we'll look at it in a bit.) Most people prefer one operating system over the other, but as a _tool_ either a Mac or a PC will get the job done.

Decent Windows laptops, as well as Chromebooks, start around $200. At this price you won't get much power (or even storage, in some cases), but these laptops will work for basic tasks. Move up a bit and you'll find big upgrades in speed, storage, and/or screen. Venture hundreds of dollars further and you'll find the luxury models from Apple and others; they're amazing machines, but more than the average consumer needs.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Keyboard and trackpad. Keyboards and trackpads are very personal items; what feels good to a reviewer might feel awful to you, or vice-versa.
  2. Processor. Intel, the dominant chip maker, makes a wide range of chips with a confusing mix of names. Listed from least powerful to most, in 2015 they are Atom (sometimes appended with x3, x5, or x7), Celeron, Pentium, Core M (m3, m5, m7), and Core (i3/i5/i7). AMD, the other PC chip maker, uses A4, A6, etc. for most of their processors, with larger number again meaning more speed. Any of today's processors will cover the basics, but you'll want to look higher if you run power-hungry programs like Photoshop.
  3. Graphics. Unless you play high-end games or edit videos, you'll be fine with the graphics that comes with any modern processor. (This is a change from even five years ago, when "integrated" graphics were just terrible.)
  4. Memory. As we said in chapter 14, more memory is always better. Note that this is also called RAM (for random-access memory).
  5. Storage. Low-end laptops use either small amounts of flash storage (the same as you find in tablets) or large spinning hard drives. As they drop in price, SSDs (solid-state drives) are starting to show up in mainstream laptops. If you can get an SSD, do so; nothing else will do as much to make your laptop feel fast.
  6. Screen resolution. In 2015, most budget laptops come with a 1366x768 screen resolution. At 11 or 12 inches this is fine, but on a larger laptop a higher resolution (like 1080p, 1920x1080) will make a noticeable difference.
  7. Screen tech. Most lower-end laptop screens don't get that bright, and they look terrible from the sides. This is generally okay since laptops tend to stay indoors and don't move around like a tablet does. That said, an "IPS" display will be a treat for your eyes if you can find one that fits your budget.
  8. Touchscreen. Macs don't come with a touchscreen (in 2015, at least). Windows works better with a touchscreen, but it's okay without one.

### Beware of...

  1. Ultra-high screen resolutions. Extra-crisp screens look nice, of course, but they add hundreds to the purchase price and put an extra strain on the laptop's battery.
  2. Anti-virus software. Windows includes perfectly good anti-virus software (called Windows Defender in Windows 8 and 10). It's free, and I've been happy using it. Most PCs come with a trial for another program, but from what I've seen these trials exist just to nag you into buying a subscription.
  3. The missing DVD drive. To save cost and weight, most of today's laptops do without DVD drives. Now that most apps and movies come from online stores, this is no big loss—though it's worth having a cheap external DVD drive, just in case.
  4. Missing ports. Most mainstream laptops include all the ports you'd expect (USB, HDMI for connecting to a TV, SD card, etc.), though some smaller laptops drop some ports to save space and weight.

### How long will it last?

A decent laptop should last you at least three to five years. With the most common failure point—the spinning hard drive—on the way out, an SSD-equipped laptop should last even longer.

### Chromebooks

I really want to recommend Chromebooks. Chromebooks are simple, since they're just a web browser and a few utilities. They're inexpensive, they start up quickly, they silently keep themselves up-to-date, and they're immune to most viruses and other malware.

But this simplicity is also the Chromebook's great weakness. If you need Microsoft Office, you're choices are the (nice, but limited) web version of Office and...a regular laptop. You won't find Photoshop on a Chromebook, either (though again there are less powerful web-based photo editors). Most of us need at least one thing that a Chromebook can't provide, which makes a Chromebook an _additional_ device, not a _replacement_26, and thus hard to recommend.

## Hybrid Laptops

Before Samsung released the first Galaxy Note, all phones had small screens and all tablets had (relatively) large screens. The Note made the case for replacing both devices with one large phone. Today we're seeing the same kind of thinking blur the line between a tablet and a laptop.

There are two main types of "hybrid" tablet-laptops: tablets that include a detachable keyboard (what I'll call a "tablet-first" hybrid) and laptops that can transform into tablets (a "laptop-first" hybrid).

Tablet-first hybrids run tablet operating systems: iOS (iPad and iPad Pro), Android, and Windows. With Windows, you'll have the best experience with the keyboard attached, while iOS and Android shine brightest in pure tablet mode. These tablet-first devices, not surprisingly, use a tablet's slower processors and limited amounts of storage.

Laptop-first hybrids, as you'd imagine, start as regular laptops; in most cases you can't tell it's a "convertible" until it does its origami act (folding the screen 360 degrees to rest behind the keyboard, in most cases). But since they're laptops with forever-attached keyboards, these hybrids are much bigger and heavier than "real" tablets. With few exceptions, all laptop-first hybrids run Windows and use laptop-like insides.

We've yet to see a device that excels as both a tablet _and_ a laptop. The Microsoft Surface line comes close—and, perhaps because of this, costs as much as a decent tablet and a decent laptop combined. For now, the choice comes down to what you want from a hybrid device: if you need a tablet that can do occasional work, look at a tablet-first hybrid; if you need a laptop most often, look at a convertible laptop.

There's also the do-it-yourself option. All tablets support Bluetooth keyboards, and both Android and Windows also support Bluetooth mice. The biggest problem with most tablet-first hybrids is the keyboard and touchpad; the small screen of a tablet makes typing and scrolling cramped. But by using a separate Bluetooth keyboard and mouse you can pick the models that feels best to you, and pair them with any plain-Jane tablet. That's the route I went with my tablet; with a Bluetooth keyboard my 8-inch tablet became a mini-laptop.

## Desktops/All-In-Ones

Ah, the desktop, remnant of a time when all computers were big, beige, and boring. While today's desktop computers come in many sizes and many different colors, they're still pretty staid. Who should bother with such an immobile machine in a mobile world?

Lots of people, as it turns out. If you, like me, struggle to keep your tech put away, a desktop can turn working with tech from an ever-present temptation to a deliberate act. If you're on a tight budget, a desktop gives you the most performance per dollar. If you have sight or typing issues, nothing beats a desktop with a separate monitor and keyboard. And if you enjoy upgrading your PCs, a desktop is your ticket to tinker.

But today's desktops face you with the fast-food dilemma; in this case it's "do you want a monitor with that?" The "entree only" option is the desktop of old, a box that you hook up to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and (perhaps) speakers. These desktops range from tiny USB sticks that can plug straight into a TV to the bulky boxes of yore. The "combo" option is the poorly named "all-in-one" (AIO) computer. But in this case it's a combo of burger and fries without the drink: you get a monitor and desktop in one package, but the keyboard and mouse are still separate.

Which should you buy? An all-in-one is like a large, immobile notebook: it's easy to set up but hard to upgrade—and a pain when one part fails. When a regular desktop breaks, you buy a new one; when an all-in-one's insides fail, you might have to replace _both_ computer and monitor, since many all-in-ones won't double as a monitor for another desktop. Screen failures aren't quite as bad, but even then you'll face the awkward sight of having two "monitors" on your desk, one of which is forever dark. For these reasons I prefer buying a desktop and monitor separately and living with the extra cables.

Inside a desktop you'll find laptop-like components (though usually more powerful and more power-hungry), so I won't bore you by repeating those details.

### How long will it last?

Desktops, especially those with solid-state drives (SSDs), should last at least 3-5 years.

## Printers

"The paperless office" ideal goes back decades, yet even in this age with a screen in every hand there are still times when ink on paper work best.

There are two basic kinds of printers: inkjets and lasers. Inkjets print by spraying ink onto paper, while laser printers print by rolling toner onto the page. Inkjet printers cost less (especially when you compare color models), but buyer beware: in my experience, inkjets just don't last. I _think_ it's the violent motion of the print head as it jumps left and right that leads to untimely demises but, whatever the reason, every inkjet I've owned died within a year or two. My laser printers, by contrast, have each given me several years of good use. So do yourself a favor and buy a laser printer.

Laser printers aren't perfect: they don't print great photos, and they can get loud (but nothing like the hideous _screeching_ of a dying inkjet). If you need photo prints, your best bet is Target, Walmart, or your local drugstore, which will produce better prints than almost any inkjet for a reasonable price.

There are two other features to look for in printers. The first is "all-in-one" capability, which means that the printer will also scan and copy documents (and, depending on the model, fax them). An entry-level all-in-one printer won't stand up to tons of scanning and copying, but for light use they're a great way to combine two devices into one convenient package.

The second feature worth looking for is wireless printing. A wireless printer comes in handy when you want to print from more than one device. If you can afford one, a wireless printer takes a lot of the hassle out of printing.

There are other specs—printing speed, how much paper the printer holds, support for different paper sizes, toner costs, etc.—but only heavy printer users should worry about them. The rest of us should just look for an inexpensive laser printer with good reviews.

## Computer Quick Hits

Here are a few thoughts on computer accessories:

  1. Unless you need a touchscreen or the most accurate colors, a low-end computer monitor will serve you well for many years.
  2. There are several ways to connect a computer to a monitor. Most new devices support HDMI (the same cables that TVs use), but there are also adaptors if you run into a cable mismatch.
  3. There are two kinds of wireless keyboards and mice: those that use a USB "dongle" to talk to a computer and those that use Bluetooth. Keyboard "dongles" are the easiest to set up (just plug in the dongle and turn on the keyboard), but they're no good for devices like tablets that lack USB ports. Bluetooth keyboards don't need a dongle, making them best for tablets and phones, but they tend to cost more and take a minute or two to set up. Since all these keyboards are "wireless," it's easy to get confused and buy the wrong kind. Look for "Bluetooth" on the box; if you can't find it, it's not a Bluetooth keyboard.
  4. Some wireless keyboards and mice use AA or AAA batteries, while others include a rechargeable battery. Either way, you should get months of use per charge.
  5. If you plan to connect your laptop to a keyboard, mouse, and other accessories, consider getting a USB hub. This lets you share one USB port among several peripherals, and means only one cord to take out when you want to take the laptop with you.

## TVs

The TV, one of tech's oldest devices, is a poster child for the "hype cycle" we saw in chapter 1. By the 1990s, a TV was a commodity, with many low-priced sets from many manufacturers. But since low prices are bad for profits, TV makers searched for ways to re-ignite the hype cycle.

The flat-screen TV was the first such change to catch on. Flat-screen TVs freed us from the hulking entertainment centers of yesteryear, and their jaw-dropping pictures started a new hype cycle. After a few years of hideously expensive models and little HD content to play on them, prices dropped enough to make the flat-screen TV the gotta-have-it home entertainment item. Today, though, flat-screen TVs are commodities, too, and you can find good models at almost any price.

The end of the flat-screen hype forced TV makers to look for the next big feature. Their first attempt, the 3D TV, didn't catch on (and for good reason). Now we're seeing a new wave, a combination of 4K and "smart" TVs.

A 4K TV has twice the resolution of a 1080p (or "full HD") display, but it has the same problem we've seen over and over now: at some point more resolution buys you little other than extra cost. In a store, where you stand right in front of a TV, you can tell 1080P and 4K apart, but from a couch you're less likely to notice any difference. And don't worry about playing 4K movies on a 1080P screen; they'll look fine. For a typical 30- to 50-inch TV sitting in a living room, 1080P is still a fine—and cheaper—choice.

A "smart" TV is a TV with a computer inside, one that lets you stream from Netflix without a separate box. While it's good—in principle—to combine two devices into one, most of the 2015 "smart" TVs are harder to use than a Roku or Apple TV that's hooked up to a "dumb" TV. As always, check reviews before buying.

All this TV hype comes back to the advice from chapter 1: avoid new gizmos until they (and their prices) settle down.

### Other things to keep in mind...

  1. Size. Even if your room will support a big TV, consider stepping down in size: besides costing less, smaller TVs are less tempting to watch.
  2. Viewing angles. Many TV pictures don't look good from the side. If you plan to watch your TV from the next room over, check out a store model to make sure it looks okay from the side.
  3. Refresh rates. The refresh rate is how often a TV changes its picture. 60 Hz (60 updates a second) is common for low-end TVs, with more expensive models offering 120 Hz or more. Higher refresh rates smooth out fast-moving images, but most of us won't notice a difference. Unless you have sensitive eyes and you watch lots of fast-moving action, 60 Hz will be fine.

### Beware of...

  1. Buying more. Back in the 90s people placed cheap TVs all over the house. With flat-screen TVs reaching those same prices it's tempting to do the same all over again. While TV watching isn't what you'd call "quality" family time, it sure beats letting each kid watching his or her own TV. Besides, adding TVs means more "hidden" costs: extra cables, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, etc.
  2. Cables. Stores save their worst gouging for HDMI cables (the cable that connects a cable box, Blu-ray player, or other device to a TV). Buy your cables online and you'll save 10s of dollars without losing any quality.
  3. Speakers, receivers, etc. Most (if not all) TVs include speakers, but they're a far cry from a multi-speaker audio system. It's easy to overspend on these systems, though. My advice: try using the TV's speakers first; if they don't work well enough, look for something better.
  4. Installation costs. If you want to hang your TV from a wall, you'll need mounting equipment. And unless you're the handyman type you'll want someone to install the TV for you—which often runs hundreds of dollars.

### How long will it last?

A long time, baring disaster. My 12-year-old tube-based TV still works, as does my 5-year-old flat-screen. Unless there's a power surge or other accident, a TV can last you a decade or more.

## TV content

Today there's an ever-growing list of ways to feed your TV "need":

  1. Digital tuners. We tend to forget it, but free over-the-air TV is still out there. In fact, there's more of it than ever; the switch to digital TV signals lets TV stations split their signal into several "sub-channels." All you need to pick up these signals is a digital tuner—though if you, like me, live in the suburbs you'll want an outside antenna for the best reception.
  2. Cable boxes. One of cable TV's gotchas is that, unless you buy your own cable boxes, you must rent them—often for upwards of $100 per year _each_.
  3. Streaming boxes. Unless you buy one of the smart TVs we talked about earlier, watching Netflix and other online services means buying a separate box. We like our Rokus, though Apple TV and other competitors have their selling points, too.
  4. DVD/Blu-ray players. While many Blu-ray players will also stream Netflix, most of them are even harder to navigate than a "smart" TV. In my home we like the combination of a simple Blu-ray player and a simple streaming box best.

## Game Consoles

If you're a gamer, a gaming console is the ultimate TV accessory: you get games built just for your console of choice, designed to be played on your home's biggest screen. But while Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox sport some of the most devoted tech fans, the game console is undergoing a big squeeze.

Any smartphone or tablet (and even some set-top boxes) will play games, and even gaming-focused tablets often cost less than a game console. Even better, mobile games cost far less than their console brethren. These games aren't as nice as console offerings, but for the casual gamer they're plenty good.

At the other end are PC gaming rigs, which are even more expensive than game consoles but sport higher graphics quality.

The game console isn't standing still, of course. Buy an Xbox One or Playstation 4 and you get a game console, Blu-ray player, and Netflix streamer in one package. But this shouldn't tempt a non-gamer to buy one. A game console is one of tech's most clear-cut choices: either you're serious about console games and want one or you don't—and won't.

### Beware of...

  1. The time commitment. Today's amazing games make it easy to get sucked in and play long into the night. (The same goes for phone, tablet, and PC games, of course.)
  2. Expensive games and accessories. While game consoles cost a lot, it's easy to spend more on a few games and accessories than you do on the console itself.

### How long will it last?

Game consoles tend to last a long time, and come with very good support. Most often you're ready for a next-generation console before your old one gives up the ghost.

# Chapter 18: Studying Services

Once upon a time we could measure tech costs at the computer store, since buying a tech product was a one-shot deal. But today's devices are the _beginning_ of our tech expenses, not the end. All that we love about our modern tech, calls, email, news, music, movies, and so on, cost money each month. And if you're like me, these monthly bills dwarf the yearly cost of the devices needed to use them.

In this chapter we'll take a look at the major tech services we pay for, discussing what to look for, what to avoid, and how to spend less on them.

## Cell Phone Plans

For most families, the cell phone bill is the biggest of them all. And part of the reason why this bill gets so big is that cell phone companies like to hide many of their service costs:

  1. Taxes and fees. The government wants its share. Anyone surprised?
  2. Extra data. No one likes to pay overage fees, so we're encouraged to buy a bigger data "bucket" just in case.
  3. Phone loans/leases. In order to offer iPhones, HTC Ones, and Galaxy Notes for low up-front costs, the cell phone company floats you a loan. Some now offer leases, which is another way to keep you forever upgrading to the latest and greatest. That loan or lease payment often isn't part of the advertised price.
  4. Optional extras. Like taxes and fees, extras like international calling and phone insurance only show up after you've picked the plan you want.

How can we cut through the fog surrounding these plans and save some money?

You can't stop the government from taking money, but you might be able to reduce your data "bucket" (how much mobile data you get each month). Unless you're away from WiFi a lot, chances are you aren't using that much mobile data. Reducing how much data you buy can save you 10s of dollars each month—and, as a bonus, a smaller data bucket gives us another reason to keep our phones put away.

Buying a phone without a loan or lease can save you $20 or more every month. Buying a phone outright also makes it easy to switch carriers, since it's the phone loan or lease that keeps you wed to them.

Some optional extras, such as international calling plans, can save you money if you use them enough; others, like accidental damage protection (phone insurance), generally won't. This insurance includes both a monthly fee and a deductible, and unless your phone dies quickly you might pay more for the insurance _even if you end up using it_. Better, I think, is to buy a cheaper phone and use the savings to create an emergency fund for accidents.

All these ideas can help, but if you really want to save on your cell phone bill, consider going prepaid.

### Going Prepaid

The cell phone plans promoted by AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon are called "postpaid" plans because you pay for your service after the fact (after each month's service). On a _prepaid_ plan you buy your service up-front. That sounds worse (especially for that first month), but it gives you several benefits:

  * There's no credit check, since you pay before you use.
  * The bill won't surprise you, since you'll pay for the first month at the store. (Even better, the advertised price of most prepaid plan includes all taxes and fees—a transparency unheard of elsewhere in the cell phone business.)
  * There aren't any overage charges, since you've already paid for service. If you go over your data bucket, a prepaid carrier will just slow down your data speed.

Until T-Mobile shook up the prepaid market a few years ago, there weren't many good prepaid plans. Today, though, each of the major carriers offers prepaid plans (including carrier-owned brands like AT&T's Cricket and Sprint's Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile). Other companies, such as Target and Walmart, also have prepaid plans that piggyback on the big carriers' cell networks.

Prepaid isn't perfect. Many prepaid carriers won't let you use your phone as a WiFi hotspot, and some limit your data speeds (though not severely, in my experience). You also probably can't add a tablet, laptop, or mobile hotspot to one of these plans. But if you can live with these restrictions, going prepaid can save you a ton of money.

### Family Plans

Family cell phone plans, which offer you discounts for adding extra phones/tablets/hotspots to an existing plan, look great on paper. But I found out the hard way that family plans come with hidden dangers.

If financing one cell phone makes it hard to leave a carrier, imagine what financing _several_ phones does to the break-up fee. Getting rid of one of these plans means either a killer bill or a long wait as you pay off all your phones.

Once again, prepaid is here to help. Most prepaid plans also offer discounts when you add extra phone lines, and since you're always paid-up, you can leave at any time. For families with kids there's an added bonus: most prepaid plans give each line its own data "bucket", so if Johnny or Jane streams to much music one month the rest of the family won't suffer along with them.

I think you get the idea: if possible, go prepaid.

## Home Internet

There are three main types of home internet: DSL, cable, and fiber-optic. DSL is fine for basic use, but the faster options fit better when you need to share your connection with several devices at once.

We use two numbers to describe internet service: speed and data caps. Your "speed" is how fast you can send (upload) and receive (download) data27. 20 Mbit/sec of download speed should serve the average family well28, though look for more if you want to run a home business or if your family likes to streams more than one movie at a time.

Data caps (limits on how much you can download) have made their way from cell phone plans to some home internet plans. If your plan has a data cap, you should be able to track your data use on your provider's website. (And should the cap force you to watch fewer movies or play fewer online games, consider it a blessing in disguise.)

Most internet providers trace their roots to the phone and cable companies we've long despised, and the service horror stories haven't stopped. When you have a choice of internet providers, consider spending a bit more if it means a company known for good—or, at least, not horrible—service.

Note that those who live in rural areas might be left without any of these options. These lonely folks get to choose between cell service and satellite internet. Cellular internet generally piggybacks onto your cell phone plan, which means it's expensive (streaming an HD movie, for example, could cost as much as a movie ticket.) If you can get it, then, satellite internet is your best bet—though even satellite internet falls well short of what us city-dwellers enjoy.

## Audiobooks and Podcasts

There's not much I can say about music, because I prefer listening to people talk instead of hearing them sing29. If you're a music lover, you can choose to buy songs one at a time (through iTunes, Amazon, and others) or pay for a music service. Spotify and Apple Music, among others, are great services if you listen to lots of music, though if you're an Amazon Prime member you should check out Amazon Prime Music: it's no extra cost, though it doesn't include as many songs.

But if you, like me, are a speaking stranger in a musician's world, podcasts and full-length audiobooks offer an endless supply of the spoken word—for better and for worse.

Podcasts are a lot like radio shows, except that you can download and listen to them whenever you want. There are thousands of podcasts available today, and because they use ads (and far fewer ads than radio stations) there's no cost to try them. They're so easy to create that many churches, like mine, publish their sermons as podcasts.

Audiobooks, like the paper books they're based on, cost money to buy. While Amazon will let you buy audiobooks one at a time, their audible.com service (as well as competitors) encourage you to buy an audiobook subscription, paying a monthly fee to get one book each month.

The problem with both podcasts and audiobooks is time. There are so many good podcasts out there that it's easy to stack up dozens of back episodes. Audiobook subscriptions are even worse, since they taunt you with the book-a-month pace. I've learned the hard way to watch my listening habits: earlier this year I cancelled my audiobook subscription because I got obsessed with keeping up. But when you have the time to spare—on a long commute, say—podcasts and audiobooks are a great way to get entertained—and learn—on the go.

## Video

Two years ago my family dropped cable TV. While we still miss watching the occasional ballgame, we certainly don't miss the rest of it: explicit commercials, scantily-clad cheerleaders (and news anchors), channels we don't want, and the high monthly bill.

But cutting cable isn't easy. After iTunes made a mess of the music industry (by letting you buy just the songs you want), TV and movie companies vowed to avoid the same fate. It seems to me that their goal is to create that _one thing_ (sports, 24-hour news, or a hit show) that only exists on cable TV, and use that _one thing_ to sell you the whole package.

But if you can learn to live without the one thing, as I did with sports, you can reduce your exposure to sin even as you cut a huge tech expense.

### Streaming

Netflix, Hulu Plus, and other services offer large TV and movie libraries for a fixed price—about $10 per month each in 2015. These services will work wherever there's an internet connection, so you aren't tied to your TV. But watch out—while instant access to thousands of shows may sound like a dream come true, binge-watching _instead of_ _dreaming_ will make the next day a living nightmare.

I avoided YouTube for several years, fearful of all the junk and illegally-copied content on it, but I was pleasantly surprised once I gave it a try. Today I use YouTube to find tech reviews, Bible videos for the kids, and movie trailers. Better yet, as YouTube's algorithms learn our viewing habits, it offers us more of what we like...and less of what we don't. As long as we don't go looking for explicit videos, YouTube shouldn't offer them to us. And YouTube commercials, which no doubt use the same algorithm, also prove rather mild—far milder, certainly, than cable TV.

### Buying Digital

If your favorite movie isn't on Netflix or Hulu Plus, getting it on your devices means buying it. Companies like Amazon, Apple (iTunes), and Vudu sell digital movies, but all these services share the same flaw: they limit where you can play the movies you buy. For some, like iTunes, the movies are limited to select devices. But for all of them, it's the lack of a physical disc that can kill them—if you have a DVD player in your car, for example, a digital-only movie is a no-go.

The best solution I've found, oddly enough, comes from the movie studios themselves: a service called Ultraviolet30. When you buy an Ultraviolet DVD or Blu-ray, you get a code for a digital copy. Once you redeem that code with an Ultralight service such as Flixster (the one I use), you can play—and even download—the movie on just about any device. And you get to keep the disc for those road trips.

### What about Cable?

Cutting cable isn't for everybody, of course, so here are a few ideas for reducing your cable bill without cutting cable entirely:

  1. In 2015 Dish Network launched Sling TV, a service that streams live cable channels to your devices at a price far below traditional cable. It may not last, but I hope it and similar services are a sign of things to come.
  2. Cable companies change their line-ups all the time, so check every so often for a cheaper bundle.
  3. Check out the competition. Even if you don't change companies, the threat of a switch could convince your provider to give you a better deal.
  4. Returned any un- or under-used cable boxes. High-end cable box rentals can run $20 per month; returning just one will save you hundreds each year.

## Office Software

For decades Microsoft Office was the only real choice for writing school papers and creating presentations. In 2012 Microsoft turned Office into a subscription service, called Office 365. Office 365 gives you access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—as well as a generous amount of OneDrive online storage—for a monthly fee.

And if you want to use the new mobile versions of Office, going beyond simple edits—and in some cases, any edits at all—means buying that subscription.

I need Microsoft Word for my writing (it's the format that editors use), so I chose an Office 365 business subscription that lets me write on both my laptop and my tablet. But I'm far from an average user; for many, there's no need to use Office anymore. Those looking to ditch Office can look in one of these directions:

  1. Desktop office suites. Many Apple fans love the iWork suite, which comes free with new Macs and iPads. There's also LibreOffice and OpenOffice, two free office suites for PCs and Macs that do pretty well with Microsoft Office files.
  2. Mobile apps. There's a wide variety of mobile office suites, created in part because Microsoft was slow to release Office for iPad and Android. These apps are fine for simple work, but they tend to get confused by pictures and fancy text.
  3. Online apps. Free web apps like Google Drive and Zoho might not match Word or Excel feature for feature, but they're plenty for everyday needs. And since they're online, you can access them from any device.

Could one of these services replace Office? It depends on your needs. If all you do is create simple documents—or view documents created by others—you don't have to pay Microsoft for the privilege anymore.

## Backup

Now that we've spent all this time looking for ways to spend less on tech, I'm about to do the unthinkable: ask you to _buy something new_.

Creating a backup of our files is something we love to ignore...until our hard drive starts ignoring us. Anything that makes backups easy will help us avoid these digital catastrophes—and when we put that backup online, even a house fire can't snuff out our stuff.

Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive all offer easy online backup. All of them offer generous free accounts, but even if you need more room extra storage will run you less than $100 a year. You can also look for online storage as part of a bundle: Microsoft bundles OneDrive storage with Office 365, and Google gives away Google Drive storage with Chromebooks, just to name two.

Google Photos, launched in 2015, took free backup to a whole new level. As long as you're okay with some size limitations (as of this writing, some image and movie compression and a 1 GB limit on movie uploads), Google Photos will store _all_ your photos and videos for free31.

There's another reason to use online backup, though, called device syncing. "Syncing" is a fancy way to say that all of your devices have access to all of your data. The classic example is creating a document on your laptop, tweaking it on your phone, and presenting it using your tablet. And when your documents are available in the cloud, setting up a new device gets much easier: all you do is install the backup app, sign in, and watch your files show up.

Online backup comes with downsides, of course. Your first backup will take time (days if you have lots to save or a slow internet connection), and that initial backup is a good way to burn through an internet data cap. More concerning to some is the mere idea of storing data where hackers might find it. While all services take steps to secure your data, some go the extra step of scrambling your data _before_ it gets sent to the service (meaning that even the people that run the service can't read your mail). I find plain-Jane online backup reasonably secure, so long as you protect it with a good password...which is where the other service I recommend buying comes in.

## Password Manager

Passwords are the bane of the modern tech world. It was bad enough when all we had to remember were work passwords, but now that we have passwords for email, websites, banks, and so much else, it's just about impossible to keep them all straight without some help.

A good password is long and hard to guess...which, of course, makes it hard to think up. A good passwords uses numbers and special characters (such as !, @, #, and $)...which makes them hard to remember. And good passwords only get used once...which multiplies the pain with each new account. But instead of relying on sticky notes or a password book, let me suggest something else: a password manager.

A password manager will create random passwords and store them for you. They'll even automatically fill in usernames and passwords as you need them. All you have to remember is your "master" password, a code (that you create) that unlocks all the passwords stored in the service. The cost for all this is very reasonable: LastPass, the service I use, cost $12 _a year_ in 2015.

Note that you shouldn't trust all your passwords to a service like this. If you use a Microsoft account for your PC, don't use a password manager for it; it's a good way to get locked out of your laptop. Be careful with work passwords, too, since your company may not allow them to be stored like this.

I long for the day when we won't need passwords anymore. Apple's Touch ID is a step in that direction, as is Windows 10's support for new ways to prove your identity. But until we can do away with all of our passwords, a password manager is the best way to keep our online activities secure.

# Chapter 19: Putting It Together

After three chapter's worth of tech ideas and tech details, it's high time we step back and try to make sense of it all. To do this we'll outfit several "typical" people with the tech and tech services that best fit their needs. I doubt any of these people match you exactly, but I hope this range of needs and ideas will help you come up with a plan for your own tech life.

## The Tech-Averse

Our first subject doesn't like computers; he owns one only because his family makes him. Society might call him "backwards" or "behind the times," but in a world gone tech-mad he's a refreshing reminder that there's more to life than phones and Facebook.

So let's respect his wishes and keep his tech life simple, with devices that are easy to use and easy to support (since we'll get the panicked "my TV isn't working!" calls).

### Equipment

  * Phone: flip phone. He doesn't care about all the cool things a smartphone's does, and he won't thank you for complicating his life with one. He just wants to talk. And since flip phones get great battery life, he can talk without joining our nightly plug hunt. COST: $30-$50.
  * Computer: Chromebook, if possible. While most tablets do a good job of keeping things simple, a Chromebook is a whole new take on simple computing. Chromebooks start quickly, update themselves, and generally keeps their users out of trouble. COST: $150-$300.
  * Printer: a basic laser printer/laser all-in-one. COST: $100-$250.
  * TV: something basic. A "smart" TV is a needless complication. COST: $250-$400.
  * Blu-ray player: something basic. A DVD/Blu-ray player that comes inside a TV might even make sense to save this man from the scourge of modern tech life: changing TV inputs. COST: $50-$100.

### Services

  * Cell phone: a prepaid plan with automatic payments. It comes with low prices, no worries about running out of minutes, and no need to mail a check. COST: $25/month ($300/year).
  * Home Internet: something cheap. At most he'll want to stream a movie, which DSL will handle just fine. COST: $40/month ($480/year).
  * Video: cable or Netflix. I would pick one or the other, just to keep things simple. COST: $10-$100/month ($120-$1,200/year).
  * Backup service: something free. COST: $0.
  * Password manager: this takes the hassle out of remembering internet logins—and will help him keep his few accounts secure. COST: $1/month ($12/year).

### Total Cost

  * Equipment: $580-$1,100.
  * Services: $76-$166/month ($912-$1,992/year).

### The Spiritual Side

Tech dangers aren't limited to tablets and phones. Old standbys like radio and TV can dominate us, too—and now that we've added Netflix the TV is more potent than ever. Think about it: between Netflix and the hundreds of cable channels, we can access most of _the last seven decades_ of TV content. This makes it easy for people of any age, but especially retired folks, to turn on the 'tube and tune out for the rest of the day.

But there's another threat to those who don't like technology: us, their tech-loving friends. The man we're talking about here doesn't need a smartphone. He doesn't want to use Facebook. Yet in our zeal to share technology with everyone we're happy to stuff this unhappy man full of tech he doesn't want, doesn't need—and can't figure out, besides. Some people don't want to join the tech revolution, and as refugees from the horrors of tech domination we should be glad for them.

## The Homebody

Even in this age of mobile tech there are still reasons to leave that tech at home. For some, it's an ailment—like poor eyesight or a hand injury—that makes mobile tech difficult to use. For others, it's the desire to limit distractions on the go. When a man doesn't need (or want) mobility, what should he get?

### Equipment

  * Phone: flip phone or low-end smartphone. A flip phone is the easiest way to leave distractions at home, though someone with sight issues might like a large smartphone's screen. COST: $30-$250.
  * E-reader: optional. E-readers let us adjust text size, turning any e-book a large-print edition. I use this feature so I can read in bed without my glasses; for someone with serious sight issues an e-reader might mean the difference between easy reading and pulling out a magnifying glass. COST: $0-$130.
  * Computer: a desktop. Even low-end desktops contain enough power for everyday use. COST: $200-$500.
  * Monitor: as big as he needs. Even large monitors are cheap, though if he needs more than the basics (such as the most accurate colors), chances are he already knows it. COST: $100-$250.
  * Printer: a low-end laser printer or a laser all-in-one for scanning, copying, and faxing. COST: $100-$250.
  * TV: keep it basic. COST: $250-$400.
  * Set-top box: it's the easiest way to watch Netflix or other streaming services without a computer—though some "smart" TVs are good enough to work here. COST: $50-$100.
  * Blu-ray player: keep it simple. COST: $50-$100.
  * Accessories: depends on his needs. I have minor wrist issues, and so my home setup includes an ergonomic keyboard and an upright mouse. If you have trouble using _any_ keyboard or mouse, look at Dragon NaturallySpeaking, software that will let you control a computer by voice. COST: $0-$200.

### Services

  * Cell phone: prepaid. When someone is trying to keep his work at home, prepaid is plenty. COST: $25-$40/month ($300-$480/year).
  * Home phone: optional. If he sends or receives faxes, he'll need a phone line. Otherwise, skip it. COST: $0-$40/month ($0-$480/year).
  * Home internet: as much as he needs. DSL might do, but if he streams lots of movies or deals with large files, faster internet is a good investment. COST: $40-$100/month ($480-$1,200/year)
  * Video: streaming services and/or cable. If Netflix and its kin serve his needs, he can avoid cable and save over a grand a year. COST: $0-$110/month ($120-$1,320/year)
  * Office software: optional. With only one computer, an Office 365 subscription doesn't make a lot of sense. If he needs Word, Excel, or PowerPoint he can buy them separately, or else he can look at the Office alternatives we saw in the last chapter. COST: $0-$100/year
  * Backup: a free account is enough unless he keeps lots of big documents or video archives. COST: $0-$100/year).
  * Password manager: while it's good for everyone, it's especially useful for those with sight or typing issues. COST: $1/month ($12/year).

### Total Cost

  * Equipment: $780-$2,180.
  * Services: $76-$308/month ($912-$3,692/year).

### The Spiritual Side

Putting tech on a desk creates a nice barrier between us and it, but it doesn't rid us of tech worry. Once you sit at that desk, a desktop PC will prove more immersive than any phone or tablet. We have to watch our tech use, no matter what the device.

## The Frequent Flier

This is the homebody's opposite number; her "office" must fit into her carry-on.

### Equipment

  * Smartwatch: for notifications. Whenever there's a flight changes, a smartwatch will let her know the fastest. And with the right apps she can check on her travel plans without taking out her phone—useful when entering an airport shuttle, for example. Skip the "fashionable" watches for something functional—and cheaper. COST: $100-$250.
  * Smartphone: long battery life helps. When a day spans many hours and many destinations it can get hard to find an outlet. She should look for a phone with long battery life, and pick up an external battery—which can also top off a tablet, if needed. COST: $200-$400.
  * Mobile hotspot: if needed. With the right cell phone plan her phone can do this, but it's often cheaper to combine a prepaid cell phone service with a pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot plan. And since few things drain a phone's battery like turning it into a mobile hotspot, a separate hotspot device will improve her phone's battery life, too. COST: $0-$200.
  * E-reader/tablet: still useful. As we'll see in a bit, even though a phone and laptop can do everything a tablet can, an e-reader or tablet can still find a place. And in a cramped airline seat, a tablet is the ideal size. COST: $100-$250.
  * Laptop: small enough to travel; large enough to use. While a tablet and keyboard _could_ do the trick, for "real" work nothing beats a laptop. She should go for an 11-inch model if the keyboard is large enough to type on; otherwise, look for something in the 13-inch range. COST: $300-$600.
  * Printer: A basic laser printer/laser all-in-one should cover her home office needs. COST: $100-$250.
  * Home setup: keep it simple. Why should she buy lots of home tech when she won't be there to use it? A simple TV and set-top box should provide enough home entertainment, and a basic monitor, keyboard, and mouse will let her spread out her weekend work. COST: $400-$700.

### Services

  * Cell phone: prepaid if the price is right. As I said above, it might be cheapest for her to combine a prepaid cell phone plan with a pay-as-you-go mobile hotspot plan. COST: $40-$60/month ($480-$720/year).
  * Mobile hotspot data plan: if her phone won't cover it. COST: $15-$60/month ($180-$720/year)32.
  * Home internet: keep it cheap. She doesn't need lightning-fast internet when most of the time she's thousands of miles away. DSL might be enough; low-end cable/Fiber-optic almost certainly will be. COST: $40-$60/month ($480-$720/month).
  * Video: make it mobile. Netflix and other online services will travel with you. And why buy cable TV when it comes with hotel rooms? COST: $10-$30/month ($120-$360/year).
  * Audio: depends on her interests. Downloaded songs, podcasts, and audiobooks make the most sense, especially with the limits (and cost) of in-flight WiFi. COST: $0-$20/month ($0-$240/year).
  * Office Software: if she needs it for her job (and her job doesn't pay for it), an Office 365 subscription will let her edit her files on all her devices. And the OneDrive storage Microsoft throws in will keep her data synced and safe. COST: $0-$100/year.
  * Backup: even if she don't buy Office 365 (with its included OneDrive space), a free account will probably give her enough room. COST: $0.
  * Password manager: a no-brainer. It will work on her phone, her tablet, and her laptop, helping to keep her connected even as it safeguards her passwords. COST: $1/month ($12/year).

### Total Cost

  * Equipment: $1,200-$2,650
  * Services: $106-$239/month ($1,272-$2,872/year)

### The Spiritual Side

This person faces the biggest tech challenge, since she has to carry her tech everywhere. How can she stay sane?

One idea is to give different devices different roles. Let the phone and laptop be work devices, and make the tablet or e-reader the entertainment hub. This way she can create a barrier between herself and Facebook: when she's not on her tablet, she's not on Facebook, either.

She can also help herself by keeping her tech in her bag. On an airplane, that bag can go in the overhead bin if she needs an extra barrier. In the hotel that bag can sit in the closet. It's possible to get a handle on technology when travelling: it just takes some creativity.

## The Christmas List

20 years ago only a rich uncle would buy you a computer for Christmas; today tech is a staple any time there's gifts to be given. Which leads to an interesting question: could we fill out _an entire tech life_ with nothing but gifts?

For most of us the answer is no...but we can come close.

### Equipment

  * Phone: flip phone or low-end smartphone. iPhones and Galaxy Notes are common gifts, sure, but for most families they cost too much no matter who's buying. A perfectly decent $100-$150 smartphone will fit many gift-givers' budgets; a flip phone could even serve as a stocking-stuffer. COST: $30+.
  * Camera: point-and-shoot. A simple point-and-shoot might not take perfect pictures, but it will run rings around almost any phone's camera. COST: $80+.
  * E-reader: grandma's gift. An e-reader is the gift of reading, so it's a great way to get a device from someone who otherwise wouldn't consider a tech gift. COST: $60+.
  * Tablet: something lower-end. Now that decent tablets from name-brand makers have dropped below $100, getting a tablet for Christmas is feasible for many families. Tablets at this price won't play high-end games, but they'll handle the basics just fine. COST: $50+.
  * Laptop: if the price is right. In 2014 the list price of Windows laptops reached $199, and in 2015 entry-level Chromebooks dropped to $149. $150-$200 is a stretch for most Christmas budgets, but a holiday sale could put a decent laptop within reach. A laptop like this won't impress your friends or play the latest games, but it'll do fine for school papers and presentations. COST: $149+.
  * Printer: if needed. Printers aren't exciting, but frame it as a way to print school papers (or resumes, should you find yourself living at home) and your family might just bite. COST: $100-$150.
  * TV: another stretch. A TV for the living room might cost too much, but a computer monitor that doubles as a TV could work as a gift. COST: $100+ each.
  * Accessories: stocking stuffers. This is a great way to get small-budget gift-givers into the tech-buying spirit. Headphones, keyboards, mice, cables, gift cards—there are lots of options for those that can't spend much. COST: varies.

### Services

While it's common to get tech products as gifts, tech services are another matter. Unless you're truly desperate, don't expect many tech service gifts.

  * Cell phone: prepaid. Unless you're really bad off, asking for a prepaid phone card makes you look cheap. COST: $25-$50/month ($300-$600/year).
  * Home internet: DSL is your best bet. COST: $40/month ($480/year).
  * Video: a Netflix or Hulu Plus subscription is a nice gift. COST: $0-$10/month ($0-$120/year).
  * Audio: an audiobook subscription will appeal to the same folks who like giving e-readers; failing that, look at podcasts and free music services. COST: free.
  * Backup: use Google Photos to hold your pictures and videos, and a free online backup account for the rest. COST: free.
  * Password manager: worth buying even if you can't get it as a gift. COST: $1/month ($12/year).

### Total Cost

  * Equipment: $0 (for those with generous family and friends).
  * Services: $66-$101/month ($792-$1,212/year).

### The Spiritual Side

A Christmas tech list will cut down on our costs, but it doesn't free us from tech danger. Even low-end tech can cause lust, especially in the lead-up to the holidays. And a tablet doesn't have to cost $500 to suck us in and take over our days.

The solution? Be careful what you wish for....

For gift-givers: while it might feel good to wow loved ones with luxury devices, giving an expensive tech gift is every bit as bad as buying it for yourself. For along with such devices come the other "perks" of luxury tech: a lust to use it, worry about breaking it, and the desire to get an upgrade next year. Giving reasonable tech lets you share the tech lessons you've learned with your loved ones.

(And if you want to give this book to reinforce that lesson, I won't mind....)

## The Family

Families with kids buy more of everything: food, fuel, cars, sports equipment...and tech. How can we keep a family's tech spending from going out of control?

For our example we'll use a couple with two teenage kids. We'll give the kids the basics they need; should they want more, they can always find a job....

### Equipment

  * Cell phones: keep them cheap. If buying one iPhone, HTC One, or Galaxy Note is enough to give you heartburn, imagine buying _four_ of them. Give everyone functional phones (or hand-me-downs) and you can equip the whole family for less than the cost of one "superphone." COST: $150-250 each ($600-$1000 total).
  * Camera: spend more if you need to. Cameras tends to last many years, and they're the only real option for capturing kids playing sports. Between $300 and $500 you can choose between nice point-and-shoots and low-end (or year-old) DSLRs and "mirrorless" cameras. COST: $300-$500.
  * Tablets: time to share. We think of tablets as "personal" items, but since both Android and Windows tablets support multiple users, there's no reason we can't share. And making a tablet a "family" tablet will make it easier to monitor what your kids do on them. COST: $100-$250 each ($200-$500 for two).
  * Laptops/desktops: more sharing. Now that tablets can handle many school assignments, we don't need one laptop per child anymore. COST: $250-$500 each ($250-$1,000 for 1-2).
  * Printer: a wireless laser printer for everyone to share. COST: $100-$250.
  * TVs: no more than necessary. With movie-watching shifting from TVs to tablets, one TV might suffice. As always, avoid the fancy, high-priced models. COST: $250-$500 each ($250-$1,000 for 1-2).
  * Set-top boxes and Blu-ray players: one each per TV. COST: $100-$150 for each TV ($100-$300 for 1-2 TVs).
  * Game system: tread carefully. Game consoles last a long time, sure, but they're a huge time suck, and their expensive games and accessories can easily double the initial cost. COST: $0-$500.
  * Accessories: varies. Extra game controllers, keyboards, mice, cables: they all add up. COST: $0-$600.

### Services

  * Cell phone: prepaid family plan if possible. They're cheaper, and since they come with individual data "buckets", the kids won't stream you into reduced speeds—or overage charges. COST: $100-$200/month ($1,200-$2,400 /year).
  * Home phone: unless it comes bundled with something else, why bother? COST: $0.
  * Home internet: cable or fiber-optic. DSL isn't enough if several people want to stream movies at once. COST: $60-$100/month ($720-$1,200/year).
  * Video: cable if you must. If you can get by with a digital antenna and Netflix, you'll save a ton of money. COST: $10-$120/month ($120-$1,440/year)33.
  * Audio: subscription service or buy your own. Depending on how much music your family listens to, a family music subscription can save you lots of money. COST: $0-$20/month ($0-$240/year).
  * Office Software: if needed. Many schools offer Office 365 for free. If yours doesn't, a free alternative might do the trick. If you do need Office, look into an Office 365 family plan. COST: $0-$99/year.
  * Backup: Google Photos if you can. If you take lots of pictures, see if the free version of Google Photos will work for you. If not, backup space is relatively cheap. COST: $0-$100/year.
  * Password manager: for everyone. Get accounts for the kids, too—and make sure you know their master passwords. Your home, your money, you in control. COST: $4/month ($48/year).

### Total Cost

  * Equipment: $1,800-$5,650
  * Services: $174-$461/month ($2,088-$5,527/year)

### The Spiritual Side

The touchscreen brought technology to younger eyes in a way no laptop or desktop can. Even a two-year-old can learn how to use his favorite game on a phone or tablet. As we add more devices to our homes, we can inadvertently unleash the full power—and danger—of technology on our young ones.

As parents, we must help our kids learn healthy tech values. We must teach them not to lust after the latest and greatest tech. We must help them put limits on their tech use—up to and including taking that tech away if they abuse it. We must encourage them to create real friendships, ones based on talking and not just texts and Facebook messages. They're the same values we're trying to learn ourselves; let's work to save our kids from the problems we face as the first connected generation.

We must protect our kids, too. The Internet contains many dark and scary things: pornography, scammers, and stalkers, just to name three. It's our job to tell our kids about these online dangers and, at the same time, help keep them at arms' length. Here are some ideas:

  * Create restricted accounts for your kids on your PCs (and tablets, too, if you can). This will stop them from installing random software, and also let you monitor their accounts.
  * Look into software that blocks inappropriate websites.
  * Learn how to monitor your kids' web use. Just the knowledge that mom or dad might be watching will help them avoid temptation.
  * Keep your devices in the open. Satan likes dark and lonely places, so keep your kids' computing where you can see it.
  * Don't give your kids their own smartphones until you're comfortable with them using the Internet when you're not around.
  * Make them share all their passwords with you. You're the parent; you need access to their email and Facebook accounts. The easiest way to do this is give each of them their own LastPass account and make sure they share the master password with you.
  * Don't share _your_ passwords with _them_. Passwords for your accounts and for your WiFi network should stay in your head, lest the kids learn how to get around your restrictions.
  * Be open. We need to share our tech struggles with our kids, and show them that we must be tech-savvy about _how we use_ our devices, not just about the devices themselves.

## Lessons

What can we learn from these examples?

  1. There are tech dangers everywhere. Even if all you own is a TV, you can still over-use it.
  2. Our influence is important. We can use that influence for evil (giving tech to those who don't want it, letting our kids run wild with "their" tech, etc.) or we can influence others for good.
  3. Tech is expensive. Really expensive. Even our "minimum" setups cost a lot. If you must cut further than I did, that's okay: better is a little tech with financial peace than a lot of tech with money misery.
  4. In most cases we kept device spending under $1,000 per person, yet it's easy to spend more than that on _just one_ tablet, laptop or TV. At every turn there's an opportunity to overspend...but around each bend there's also an opportunity to save.
  5. While tech devices are expensive, it's tech services that really kill our budgets. In each of these cases our test subjects paid more for services each year than for all their devices combined.

Now's a good time to take a second look at the tech spreadsheet from chapter 9. At the right of each sheet you'll find space for a new tech plan. Now that we've armed ourselves with a greater understanding of tech's ins and outs, we can create a plan that's much easier on wallet and soul alike.

# Conclusion

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:10-13)

When God destroys this world, all our phones will go with it. Every tablet will burn up. The Internet with all its wonders will vanish in that final moment.

But what will heaven be like without any tech? I can't say, exactly, but I do know this: _in eternity we won't need technology anymore_.

In Heaven we won't need to text fellow saints: they'll be right there. In Heaven we won't need web searches: the Source of all things will answer every need. And in Heaven we won't need mindless ways to pass our time: the God and Creator of all things will be our company.

In Heaven there will be no more emergencies. No alarms to set. No days to plan. No places to find. _No need for technology_.

Tech is helpful here on earth, but it won't be needed—or wanted—in the life to come. Our gadgets, then, are a _temporary_ means to help us through our _temporary_ lives here.

When tech lust wrecks my thoughts, when Facebook overuse wrecks my relationships, or when tech spending wrecks my budget, I miss this point: I put the temporary before the eternal. Tech is a great tool for helping us reach heaven, but when technology _itself_ becomes the end, rather than a means to a far greater end, it can cause us to miss our heavenly reward.

As we've seen, putting tech in its proper place is a long struggle. Companies, society, and even friends and family take turns urging us to buy more tech and to keep our heads buried in them. But now that we've seen what's gone wrong, we can take action.

With careful self-reflection we can see the bad things we let tech due to us—and what to do about it. We can learn to put our devices up when we don't need them—or, if that proves too difficult, get rid of them entirely. We can learn to see our tech as tools, not as "wonder" devices that make us mad when they stop working. Above all, we can learn how to redeem our time and our money for better uses.

If you're a tech enthusiast like me, the fight to see tech in its proper light will be a life-long struggle. But so long as we stay watchful we can use tech in a godly way—and help others do the same.

Technology is a great blessing. Be glad for it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Just keep it in its place.

# Afterword

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. I hope that what we've talked about here will help you use your tech in a godly way, just as it's helped me see mine in a better light.

If you gained something from this book, all I ask is that you share it with others. In particular, if you bought this book online please take a moment to leave a rating and a review. It's one way you can share what you believe in with people from around the world.

Let me leave you with this prayer, a prayer for all of us:

"Thank you, Father, for the times we live in, and the amazing world You've made. Please grant us the wisdom to understand all that You've given us. Help us be good stewards of the time, the money, and the technology You bless us with each day. And, above all, help us to use all the time, blessings, and talents You give to us to Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen."

Sincerely,

Erik Peterson

erik@findingaplacebooks.com

# Also by Erik Peterson:

_Thinking Beyond Coding_

_Thinking Beyond Coding: Supplemental_

# Notes

1 While the Bible doesn't mention pornography by name, I know—from personal experience—that you can't separate pornography from lusting after a woman (Matthew 5:28).

2 Please don't, if for no other reason than because young kids look at Facebook, too.

3 Reading works even if you're using a Kindle or Nook e-reader, since they're designed to let you read without distraction.

4 A card game in the Solitaire family.

5 Personal Digital Assistants, for those of you too young to remember them.

6 Our focus on distracted driving, in my opinion, has gotten out of hand. Texting in the car is dangerous, yes, but when we navigate by phone instead of paper we have _fewer_ distractions, not more.

7 Except for a handful of ultra-expensive, limited-edition tech that's more Bentley than BMW.

8 See http://www.samsung.com/us/explore/galaxy-s-6-features-and-specs/ for the full Galaxy S6 specs. For the full Moto G specs, see https://www.motorola.com/us/products/moto-g.

9 Turns out that an 11-inch "tablet" is too big for most tablet-y activities. But at least it's a good laptop....

10 A year later I got a good-sized SSD as a $100 birthday gift, which transformed my laptop from ho-hum to snappy. While still not common in budget laptops, as SSDs get cheaper we'll see them in laptops of every price.

11 Phones you buy from a carrier come locked to that carrier, at least initially. "Unlocked" phones aren't tied to a carrier, so you're free to take them wherever you wish.

12 Visual voicemail is an app that lets you listen to messages without calling a number first.

13 For me a laptop and a phone are just about equal, but since I need my laptop for work, I bump it ahead of the phone that the laptop helps pay for.

14 Though, as we'll see later, a single-use device still has a place if it can help us reduce tech distractions.

15 It only seems fair to let Microsoft protect Windows, after all....

16 Though a single core can juggle multiple tasks, too.

17 High-definition videos that use Adobe Flash _will_ struggle on lower-end processors—but most sites (including YouTube and Netflix) don't use Flash anymore.

18 A megabyte (MB) is 1 million bytes of information, and a picture can take up from one to several megabytes. A gigabyte (GB) is 1000 megabytes; a high-def movie will consume many gigabytes. A terabyte (TB) is 1000 gigabytes.

19 Apple products are the exception here. While iPhones or iPads sometimes come with less memory than Android devices, they all handle iOS just fine.

20 AT&T and T-mobile will sometimes call their enhanced 3G networks "4G." If it isn't LTE, it isn't true 4G.

21 "Resolution" is the number of pixels on a screen, listed as the number of pixels in each column and row. For example, 1080P or "Full HD" is 1,920 columns of pixels arranged in 1,080 rows.

22 Though among Android phones there's even more variation. HTC, LG, and Samsung (among others) "skin" Android to create a unique look, to the point where it's hard to tell that they share a common base.

23 The big advantage of USB Type-C over microUSB is that it's reversible: there's no way to plug it in upside-down. I expect that all phones (including iPhones) will use USB Type-C in another year or two.

24 A DSLR uses a mirror to direct light up to the viewfinder when composing a picture; their distinctive "click-click" sound is the mirror moving out of the way and then back into place. A "mirrorless" camera skips the mirror and uses the camera sensor to preview the shot instead.

25 There's also Linux, a niche operating system favored by some power users (including me some years ago). While Linux works well enough, it isn't for the average consumer.

26 Chromebooks can now run some Android apps, but don't expect Office or Photoshop to show up anytime soon.

27 Most plans offer more download speed than upload speed, but this is fine since most of us watch more movies than we post to YouTube.

28 Rarely will you see your full "rated" speed due to congestion in your neighborhood, but 20 Mbit/second gives you some cushion.

29 As my wife likes to tell me, I'm weird.... J

30 Disney offers a similar service that will add digital copies of your movies to your iTunes or Google Play library (and Google Play works on Rokus and other non-Google devices).

31 If you prefer to leave your photos and videos untouched, Google Photos can use your Google Drive storage instead.

32 While a traditional cell phone plan would make this cost $0, it will also bump up the cell phone bill, which is why I'm including some "minimum" money here.

33 I made the maximum cost higher than elsewhere to cover a second cable box rental.
