Chapter 1: The New Arrival

I recently unwrapped my brand new Apple MacBook Air M3, touted as the pinnacle of technology, thanks to its shiny label and steep price. However, as I powered it on, a wave of unexpected disappointment washed over me.

This sleek device, which should have felt light years ahead of my previous laptop, felt oddly familiar.

While my old laptop had been a reliable, albeit sluggish, partner—booting up took so long that I could grab a coffee in the meantime, and multitasking felt like an extreme sport— it still managed to fulfill my basic needs. It might not have been the best for editing high-res images, but for tasks like browsing, writing, and the occasional Netflix session, it performed well enough.

Perhaps modern laptops are simply that impressive. It seems Moore’s Law, which predicts continual advancements in processing power, has reached a plateau. Unless you’re a dedicated gamer or a video editor demanding peak performance, the differences between last year's model and this year’s might be minimal.

As I began transferring files from my old machine, I was struck by the speed—impressive, yes, but not groundbreaking. The interface looked nearly identical, and the same suite of applications greeted me. It felt more like a fresh exterior on an aged engine.

Now, I’m not suggesting that one should cling to a decade-old laptop until it becomes obsolete. However, this experience led me to reevaluate the increasingly rapid upgrade cycles. Perhaps it’s time to reassess what “new” truly signifies in the realm of laptops. Sometimes, maximizing the potential of your current device is the best kind of upgrade. That money saved could be better spent on a new experience—perhaps a second monitor, a more comfortable desk chair, or that ergonomic keyboard you’ve had your eye on.

So, before you click “buy” on the latest model, ponder this: is your existing laptop genuinely holding you back, or is it merely the upgrade culture seducing you with promises of improvement? You might be astonished by how much you can extract from your reliable tech companion.