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Last month I could not get my 2016 Samsung Smart-TV to play a film I wanted to see for my movie club.
After exhausting remote control finger gymnastics, the movie’s name came up in a list to the right of where I was typing. But, try as I might, I could not get the cursor over to the list to click on the name. It was so frustrating. I tried numerous times to accomplish this feat.
The next day I went to the Best Buy store in my town where I purchased this wonder of wonders of a television five years ago for $1200. A polite young man, maybe age 20, said, “It’s not your fault. Your smart TV isn’t so smart anymore because of all the technological advancements that have happened.”
I sucked in my breath, expecting him to try and sell me the latest and greatest model, guessing the price tag would be double what I had paid for my television. Instead, he guided me to a shelf and kindly suggested the $39.99 Roku, a streaming media player, to make my TV smarter. I had never heard of Roku and had no idea what was a streaming media player.
After returning home, I installed the device the best I could. I hoped to see the movie before the group met later that afternoon. But to no avail. I could no get the Roku to work and emailed my friends about my woes. They encouraged me to come to our meeting anyway.
One of our members brought her “middle-aged” son to the gathering. He was visiting from Chicago, had seen the movie, and wanted to join our discussion. When the meeting ended, he and his mother offered to come to my home so he could fix my problem. Within 30 minutes after they walked into my front door, he had the Roku working, and I knew how to use it!
Oh, Ladies! This technology stuff is so frustrating, But, “What is a girl to do in this world today?”
No, I don’t think it we are dealing with planned obsolescence. We, ladies-of-a-certain-age, heard this term often in the 1950s and 1960s. According to Wikipedia, “By the late 1950s, planned obsolescence had become a commonly used term for products designed to break easily or to go out of style quickly.”
What I experienced with my television is the rapidly changing technology of our times. For example, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives, software, plugged-in mouses and keyboards, have been outdated by WiFi, Apps, Bluetooth, the Cloud, etc. Recently I came across many of these old computer products on a shelf on my desk. Oh my, it wasn’t that long ago I had to learn how to use them. I thought when I bought them I would never have to know any more technology. I cleaned them all out. Yes, I am cussing because it is challenging to learn new technology, much of which I had never heard anything about, such as Roku.
Ironically, I love my Elwood, Indiana 100-year-old Sellers Kitchen cabinet, which I have used for my desk for decades!
Disclaimer: I receive no compensation from any company, nor do I endorse any product.
Copyright – Elizabeth J. Wheeler, July 28, 2021
2 Comments
August 2, 2021 at 9:39 pm
I love your kitchen cabinet desk also. Unfortunately, reading your blog made me feel as though there is no way I will ever be able to keep up with future technolog.
September 4, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Oh, I’ll watch it. I’ve heard it said, “No situation is hopeless.” There are lots of people who help and sites and places to get help. My friend’s son came through. I just want it easy!!