I’ve been obsessed with tech and gadgets for pretty much all of the 37 years I’ve been alive. While I now spend my days thoroughly testing the latest products like the Pixel 10 Pro or driving electric cars in the Arctic, tech of all kinds has always dominated my existence. As a child, I’d get excited over Casio watches with built-in calculators. I was never off my family’s first Acorn Archimedes home computer, and I’d use tape-based dictation machines to record episodic “radio shows” with my brother, long before podcasting was a thing — possibly a precursor to both him and me hosting technology podcasts as adults. I grew up with tech, and that passion is what’s driven my 14 years as a tech writer for CNET.
However, in recent years, I’ve noticed a shift in my relationship with technology. What once filled me with excitement has become a source of frustration. The innovations that are supposed to make our lives easier seem to fall short, leading me to question: Has tech genuinely changed, or have I?
The Frustrations of Modern Gadgets
It’s not that I don’t like technology. I do. It’s just that many gadgets meant to simplify our lives don’t work as they should. For instance, my Xbox Series X brings joy when operational, but when I decide to play, I’m often met with lengthy updates for both the console and the games. By the time the downloads finish, that fiery desire to game has fizzled out, so I resort to other activities instead.
Similarly, my experiences with the PS5 bear striking resemblance to this scenario. Plus, too many games launch with major bugs, requiring extensive day-one patches just to be playable. I find myself reminiscing about the simplicity of my Scrabble set—no updates and it functions perfectly every time.
The Bluetooth Battle
Then there are my Bluetooth earbuds. I’ve tried several, including the AirPods Pro 2 and the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro. Occasionally, one earbud inexplicably disconnects or gets out of sync, turning what should be an enjoyable audio experience into a frustrating ordeal.
When it comes to audio, my first-gen Apple HomePod generally performs well—but that reliability often falters. I encounter disconnections mid-song and frequently struggle to reconnect via Spotify. A smooth experience is often replaced with a troubleshooting exercise, making me feel as if I’m performing tasks like a tech novice rather than enjoying my music.
The Rewarding Retro
Amidst this frustration, I discovered something refreshing: vinyl records. A few years back, my brother gifted me a vinyl record player, prompting me to invest in a rich variety of albums. From Periphery to classics like Green Day and Linkin Park, the whole experience has been a revelation.
Strikingly, I find joy in simply placing a record on the turntable and letting it play, free from digital interruptions. I enjoy listening to entire albums without shuffling through a playlist filled with random songs. Seeking out vinyl in record stores offers a definite satisfaction missing from endlessly scrolling through music streaming services.
It’s worth noting that I’m aware of the stereotype surrounding vinyl enthusiasts in their 30s, yet I remain drawn to the tactile and straightforward nature of playing records. As a professional photographer, I find a balance between old and new, embracing the nostalgia of film photography while still relishing high-end digital cameras, like my $8,000 Leica.
Facing Tech’s Frustrations
This leads to the larger question: Is it me or is technology simply more bothersome? We’ve reached a point where familiar tech principles—constant updates, communication dropouts, and half-finished products—become part of our daily battles. I wonder what happened to devices doing what they’re supposed to without demanding constant attention and patience from us.
Am I justified in feeling frustrated? I find immense enjoyment in tech’s potential, such as gaming and video calls with loved ones. I yearn for seamless integration and joy from the gadgets I cherish without the constant specter of technical issues looming over me. In this digital age, we’ve come to expect an easy, fluid experience, and the continuous setbacks make that expectation feel increasingly elusive.
So, as I sink into my favorite chair with a cozy blanket, I ponder how to reclaim the joy I once found in my tech-inspired world.