The complexity of modern stuff

It seems that modern life is morphing into a tangle of apps and subscriptions for so many things one buys or uses. We always rent a new car for our bi-annual road trip to Texas and spend half the way there trying to figure out how things work. They don't put manuals in the glove box anymore so you have to load an app or try to find info online to do basic things. Ditto with a new TV we just bought. For some programming, it requires an app to "turn on" or get to local networks. I read that many new appliances now require an app or subscription service to do certain things. It is all too complex and does not fit my simple living mindset to have to devote time to all the complexity of stuff now.

if one more thing comes into my house that I have to figure out from a manual to operate, I’m done. Done with life! Ha ha.

I’ve already decided that now I am officially too old to change car brands because I will not learn a new dashboard and operating system. the complexity of the digital cars was brought home to me when we had to replace a windshield. There was digital fiddling that had to take place and the tech had to come back a second day to fiddle with it. A windshield! Now interactive with a digital system.

just occurred to me a few months ago that I don’t know if my red sports car has cruise control. It doesn’t look anything like the Ford version. I suppose it does since it is a 2019 model but I’ll be damned if I’ll look up that manual for it

I already have a long list of tech stuff. I have to figure out, but these are not hardware or physical pieces.

I did a drop off at the local recycle center and they had four large bins full of big monitors, probably from some sort of corporate review and replacement. Those sorts of things seem to get wonky or obsolete every 5 or 10 years.

I went to a lecture a few years ago by a renowned wildlife photographer. Back when digital cameras were pretty advanced, but not totally replaced by smart phones. He said he didn't used 90 percent of the features on the high end digital cameras. They do make things more complicated than is really necessary. And then there's all the passwords.

It would be an impossible comparison, but quality of life and overall happiness in the pre- digital days was maybe no better or worse than now, except for maybe health and safety.

DH and I are rising to the challenge of being able to accept Venmo payments at the fair tomorrow. Last year, we were one of the only vendors that did not, and fewer and fewer people are carrying cash. I personally would never dream of going to a little fair or farmers market without cash, but I guess that's because I'm old. Ha. Anyway, we have printed up our QR code (at the library since we don't have a printer), and I think we're about ready.

We were just talking about this. We had to buy a new dishwasher, and the first one we bought had the top buttons, and you had to open the machine to turn it on, and there were several options, and it didn't work right--first it wouldn't turn on, then it mysteriously turned itself on, and then it wouldn't stop running on the test cycle. My husband took it out and returned it and we bought the simplest one that was in stock, and it was on sale for 300 dollars. The best thing about it is that you only have to pick your cycle and turn it on, and the controls are on the front. We both feel so much better with the simple one.

My car doesn't even have push button windows, and I love that there is no key fob and no car alarm.

Well, I have to say way back around the year 2000 when we bought our neighbor’s used Ford Taurus, it was the most luxurious car I have ever had and that holds thrue to this day. It had push button windows! It had an electronic seat adjustment. It had velvet fabric seats.

Now that stuff is standard so am used to it. But I don’t value a keyless fob. LOVE that backup camera but of course that is a whole tone of things to go wrong.

I'm currently raging about key fobs. The one for our 2013 van (with 225K miles, so I admit it's had a long life already) has been getting more and more demonic. Several years ago it started randomly opening doors while we (and the fob) were still fairly close to the van - after locking the doors. Then it started opening them with the fob in the house, in the middle of the night. In a rainstorm. So I started wrapping it in foil, and finally got it a faraday pouch. then it stopped opening doors at all (sometimes). Now it only locks them, no matter what you push, if it's out of the pouch and near by. we had to remove the emergency key from the fob and currently we use that to unlock the driver's door, then put the fob into the ignition before you an unlock the rest of the doors from inside the van. If the fob isn't in the ignition, it just relocks the doors as soon as you push the button to unlock them. ARG! Took the car in to have a tire repaired. Explained to the tech the importance of never having the single emergency door key in the van, unattended. They got locked out three times. I don't want to buy new, expensive fobs for an old van with other issues, it just feels like asking the fates to break something more critical. And we can't afford another car right now. Sheesh. I'm typing this on a Windows 10 computer which can't be upgraded. Our phone provider has just told everyone they are doing away with wired land-lines and going to I'm not clear what, which will not work if the power is out, unless we have a battery backup system. Cell service here is spotty, which is why we still have a house phone. I feel like all this technology is spiraling out of control! Somewhat useful, but very frustrating.

I will join in on the angst of too much technology that changes so fast I am behind and lost before I have even tried to master it. I ordered a laptop in March...have yet to get comfortable with it and have to do so soon! I don't like windows or word, all my things are in Libre Office and I am clueless how to transfer from my WD hard drive thing plugged into the desktop tower to the dang laptop. I find "the cloud" frightening...alll I can think of is the gang of idiots grabbing and disabling it all!!! And passwords!!!!! But now they want to have us swith to pass codes...or fingerprints..or facial recognition. What if I die and someone must get into my computer???? At least I have a LONG list of passwords but even that is frustrating. This probably should go in the Rant section.
Early Morning, You must be so frustrated.

I’m on a search for a decent Model A pickup truck. For someone trying to live a simple life, many of the innovations of the past few years seem devoted to causing me more fuss and bother than they are worth.

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Originally Posted by early morning

I'm currently raging about key fobs. The one for our 2013 van (with 225K miles, so I admit it's had a long life already) has been getting more and more demonic. Several years ago it started randomly opening doors while we (and the fob) were still fairly close to the van - after locking the doors. Then it started opening them with the fob in the house, in the middle of the night. In a rainstorm. So I started wrapping it in foil, and finally got it a faraday pouch. then it stopped opening doors at all (sometimes). Now it only locks them, no matter what you push, if it's out of the pouch and near by. we had to remove the emergency key from the fob and currently we use that to unlock the driver's door, then put the fob into the ignition before you an unlock the rest of the doors from inside the van. If the fob isn't in the ignition, it just relocks the doors as soon as you push the button to unlock them. ARG! Took the car in to have a tire repaired. Explained to the tech the importance of never having the single emergency door key in the van, unattended. They got locked out three times. I don't want to buy new, expensive fobs for an old van with other issues, it just feels like asking the fates to break something more critical. And we can't afford another car right now. Sheesh. I'm typing this on a Windows 10 computer which can't be upgraded. Our phone provider has just told everyone they are doing away with wired land-lines and going to I'm not clear what, which will not work if the power is out, unless we have a battery backup system. Cell service here is spotty, which is why we still have a house phone. I feel like all this technology is spiraling out of control! Somewhat useful, but very frustrating.

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Yikes. My husband similar issues with a Mazda van and went to a locksmith and he reset the fob with the vehicle.
We also bought a new fob at the dealer for 155 dollars.

He also suggest getting a fob online and resetting it with your car.

The woman who hosted my Thanksgiving meal just traded in her 20+ year old car with roll-up windows and regretted letting it go. I just traded in my old Tacoma for a Ford Maverick hybrid. The Tacoma had manual shift, which I don't really miss, but assumed a young person would not be able to steal it. I have to say the heated seats and the rear camera are nice upgrades. I miss having a real key to start. I'd much rather have manual controls instead of the display screen.

I have no issues keeping track of my stuff.

And passkeys instead of passwords are great. You can use device passcode instead of biometrics if desired.

We have a 14yo Honda CR-V with 85000 miles. It will soon require quite a bit of maintenance and new tires, ie expenses. DH is jonesing for a newer vehicle - you know, the last one before getting too old to drive. Lots of decisions since cars have changed so much the last few years.

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Originally Posted by pinkytoe

We have a 14yo Honda CR-V with 85000 miles. It will soon require quite a bit of maintenance and new tires, ie expenses. DH is jonesing for a newer vehicle - you know, the last one before getting too old to drive. Lots of decisions since cars have changed so much the last few years.

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I would definitely keep that car; it should run to 250000 miles. But I can see why your husband would want a newer bells and whistles car.

I think I am going to get a back up camera for my car, as I like the one on my husband's truck.

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Originally Posted by Tybee

I would definitely keep that car; it should run to 250000 miles. But I can see why your husband would want a newer bells and whistles car.

I think I am going to get a back up camera for my car, as I like the one on my husband's truck.

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backup cameras are magic!

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

Well, I have to say way back around the year 2000 when we bought our neighbor’s used Ford Taurus, it was the most luxurious car I have ever had and that holds thrue to this day. It had push button windows! It had an electronic seat adjustment. It had velvet fabric seats.

Now that stuff is standard so am used to it. But I don’t value a keyless fob. LOVE that backup camera but of course that is a whole tone of things to go wrong.

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I’m with you! Less stuff on it means less can go wrong. Absolutely hate the new washing machine! Once the lid is shut, no adding or stopping it.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

backup camera cameras are magic!

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If they work! Had a woman back into me because she relied solely on the camera. Sheesh!

My 18-year old Prius has just the right amount of technology for me. When I bought it I was dazzled by the navigation system, which is SO outdated now, but it still gives the best look at where I am on a trip. I can zoom in and zoom out with the touch of a button. I do have a rudimentary back-up camera, but not like the newer ones with the red/yellow/green guardrails and the beeping alarms. It also does have Bluetooth phone connections which is great. But no bluetooth music. I have an old-fashioned CD player.

When bought our Chevy Chevette in the 80s, we chose a basic model with no AC or electric anything. It did the job. But I do like some bells and whistes.

The only car I have ever bought is a 1997 Honda Accord which I got new. It is now 28 years old and has almost 167,000 miles on the original engine and the original transmission. It has been repainted once and I am considering having it repainted. It has unexpected, odd things that happen from time to time like the button for the gear shift falling off and the attachment locking the gas tank falling apart, so I guess those are issues with old plastic. Mechanically, it has been fantastic. It is ironic given that I know nothing about cars and have never learned anything. Thankfully, I have been very fortunate to meet honorable Honda specialists who have taken care of my car for 26 years and I have tried to do routine maintenance pretty consistently. It never occurred to me when I bought this car that it would last this long, but I'm so happy it has. My car has not discovered the internet, so the most complicated it gets are automatic windows which I have had repaired and automatic door locks which I tried to have repaired but my mechanic said they don't generally stay fixed. My doors have manual locks too so I just use those. Now, I'm glad for the lack of technology. I love my car and highly recommend Hondas.

Wow Big Bear! When we gave our 2000 GMC Sooma truck to the Second chance garage - they were happy to have it. No repairs needed! apparently it was given to a woman and her brother who had lost 3 faimily members during covid...were struggling to get to jobs- so our 23 year old at the time trucks had a second chance. Not as many miles as your Honda, though. We then bought a Honda Ridgeline that has all the bells and whistles, too many, but it is the most comfortable vehicle. Nice to know it should outlive us!

Yep, too much tech. Will it get worse? "Open the pod bay doors, Hal" Hal, "f*** you!"