Every day we’re bombarded with ads trumpeting the newest tech gadget. It seems as soon as you buy some new gadget the next version is available. So how do you keep up? Or better yet, should you keep up? Is the cost of constant upgrading worth it?

This leads to the idea of good-enough technology. Good-enough technology is tech that accomplishes the tasks required of it and nothing more. No flashy interfaces, graphics, or construction material. An aluminum laptop may look neat, but it doesn’t help you meet your business goals.

So what qualifies as “good enough for your needs”? First take stock of all the everyday activities you do that require technology. This could be a rather long list, so try to keep it to business-related activities. Do you use your cell phone to check email as well as take calls? Do you bring a laptop with you or does it stay on your desk? Once you’ve made your list, I think you’ll find that you may not take advantage of much of the functionality available in the devices or software that you’re currently using.  While this isn’t to say that you won’t find some new technology that suits your business better than what you use now, what the list will give you is an inventory of what works for you and an idea of where to look for new technology.

Take the cell phone as an example. Just about everyone has one, but beyond making and receiving calls, not everybody uses all other features equally.  Some people don’t use any other features at all.  Here’s a list of common cell phone features: voice calling, SMS (or texting), email, a web browser, calendar, and camera.  If your phone use is limited to calls and email, then all of the added functionality is useless to you; your needs can be met with some of the least expensive models available today. And you can apply this same type of reasoning to any type of technology you’re thinking of purchasing. One thing to keep in mind is that some form factors (i.e., the aluminum casing) can be important. For example, with cell phones and laptops, screen size is something you should consider as a feature or function.  Larger screens cost more but are easier to read.

Upgrading software can be a bit different from upgrading hardware, for a couple of reasons. 1) Software makers often require periodic upgrades so the software can keep some or all of its functionality. 2) When upgrading hardware, you may find that the software version you use isn’t compatible with your new hardware.

The rule of good-enough technology is naturally frugal and applying it to your technology purchases can save you money. Even if frugality isn’t your aim, understanding how and why you use technology can be equally valuable.

Ian Smith
ismith@realtors.org