Technology is an obsession with some people who have to own the 'latest gadget' simply because it does more things than the previous models (regardless if they have a need for it or not) I'd like to think I'm more practical. I cannot say I stay abreast of new technology, although it would be fun at times. For me, life doesn't change so quickly that I constantly need to upgrade the technology I use on a daily basis.
My Pentium 4 computer is technically obsolete and has been for many years. But, It and my older computers I use in the office do everything I need without any great deal of wait. If I'm going to print a shop drawing on 11" x 17" paper it usually takes 30 - 45 seconds to send the information to the printer and less than 2 minutes to actually print it.
It's funny, I know people who actually stand and watch the printer, sorta mesmerized waiting to see printed documents emerge from the front slot... I do other things while printing. Really. If I'm printing several documents, I'll glance over to see I have selected 'full page' mode, but I won't stop just to watch an entire document being printed.
Last week, someone came to the factory soliciting a new video-phone technology they claim will replace our need for a landline. The woman's opening line was "Have you ever see a video phone before" and my reply was "Sure... the 1964 New York World's Fair"
She wasn't ready for a comeback like that... 
I honestly wasn't trying to be a smartass, but a video-phone was part of the 'Phone of the Future' exhibit.
Remember (comic book character) Detective Dick Tracy? He had a video-phone wristwatch back in the 1950's and though we didn't really have the technology then, mankind had already designed applications for non-existent products.
She showed us a video phone made by Nokia that (unlike conventional cellphones) has the camera on the keypad side. She also showed us a palmtop sized flip phone that contained a webcam. Both phones were designed to be used on a new system similar to Skype or Vonage where you can talk over the internet (do away with the phone company) and should you be talking to someone with similar equipment, you can share the webcam capabilities.
Here we are with such powerful technology at our fingertips but I had to send the woman away. She had no clue that AT&T will not provide us a line with DSL (to support the Wi-Fi connection needed to operate the phone) without us paying for phone service. Just a small 'gotcha' the phone company has over us. Sure you can bring in dedicated DSL. It just costs 5 times the price of having phone service with DSL.. So nothing is saved. Too bad for the woman selling webcam phones on the premise they can replace landlines... maybe people living in apartment houses where their neighbors have wireless internet setups (Wi-fi) allowing free connection to others would be better prospects.
To us, her new phone system was a worthless as having Uhura's communicator without having the Starship Enterprise to make it work!
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