What Will Become Obsolete in this Decade?
By elayne001
Working at a University, each semester I hear numerous outcries from the students about the cost of textbooks. Several websites have seen the need and now offer used textbooks at discounted prices. A few of these great sites are Amazon.com, Booksprice.com and Cheapest Textbooks.com. You can even rent textbooks on Chegg.com. At Coursesmart.com and TexbookMedia.com you can download over 7,000 textbooks.
Toyota Prius Hybrid
 | Amazon Price: $174.99 List Price: $199.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $174.99 List Price: $199.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $272.95 List Price: $299.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $199.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $79.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.99 List Price: $19.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $99.00 |
What do you think will be the first to become obsolete?
See results without votingBesides aesthetics and functionality consumers will consider the more important attribute of energy efficiency in home appliances. Appliances must not only look good, but use resources wisely this decade. The cost will be higher, but those that are Energy Star certified will replace the less expensive models. Incentives offered by the government include a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. Those involving eligible insulation, windows, doors and roofs are set to expire by Dec. 31, 2010. Say goodbye to energy inefficient appliances.
Also, bid farewell to newspaper and magazine subscriptions. What one needs to know can be found online almost instantaneously. Why kill the trees, man the press, and hire the paper boy when you can get the same information practically for nothing? The publishing industry has noticed a sharp decline in the past few years. It is just a matter of time before libraries become museums of how life used to be .
It is predicted by the EIA (Energy Information Administration) that gas prices will be even higher in 2010. Gas-guzzling vehicles are on their way out. When SUVs were all the rage just a few short years ago, families grabbed them up, but now see the wisdom in purchasing cars that get more miles to the gallon. The most fuel efficient cars today include the Honda Civic Hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta and Golf which run on diesel fuel, and the Toyota Prius hybrid.
Advancing is the demise of the CD industry. With the new mp3 and mp4 formats, ipods, itunes, and such, it is only a matter of time before CDs are no more. Say adios to record stores including Virgin Megastores and Tower Records.
Does anyone still have a landline? Most people prefer to carry their phone with them. With Skype and other online video conferencing services, it is easier and less expensive to stay in contact. Also twitter and facebook are quite effective in getting the word out.
Bust the Blockbuster. Going down the road to get a video is considered old fashioned now. Services like Netflix, Verizon and Time Warner Cable offer movies on demand. Who wants to wait for anything these days? Aloha oe to DVD sales. Does that mean movie theaters will shut down soon? With the invention of the in home theater and huge HDTVs being sold, who wants to spend the big bucks only to be overcharged for popcorn and drink?
Think back only ten years to the brisk changes we have seen. It will be interesting to see what the next ten will bring. Hopefully we will still be around to witness it.
Comments
I really enjoyed this hub with all these thoughtful savings.
Thank you.
Things are changing so rapidly that, frankly, it is impossible for me to keep up.
Thanks tobey100. I do not claim to be a prophet, but it is the trend now. Who knows, maybe the internet will die and then we will go back to the good old days. Aloha!
Interesting, but books will never be completely obsolete. Nothing electronic can replace the feel and enjoyment of a real book. ...Bob
Thanks for your comment diogenes. I hope you are right!
I know I will get bad comments for this but, the one about fuel efficiency makes me sad. Only because I hate how all fuel efficient cars look. Theyre so ugly =(, which is such a shame.
So many things are new. I had to have my son explain to be the big advantage to Blu-ray. So, obviously the older DVD's and CD's will become delete in the not too distant future. And to think I still have some VHS tapes.
Thanks yenajeon and Pamela99 for your comments. It is okay to express your true feelings. Change is hard sometimes.
Great hub and very interesting. We have a whole slew of family videos on VHS tapes. We are trying to convert them to DVD. By the time that happens--we may be switching to something else :). Oh well, that is the way technology rolls right now :). Great hub!
Very well done! I might add that basic math skills are becoming obsolete, also. I constantly see people in the "Ten Items or Less" line with...........well, way over ten items.
Greg
math was never my favorite subject so I don't mind that one at all - lol. Aloha!
Nooooooo.....
We can't say goodbye to DVDs, not unless they are replaced by something even better. I love movies and without these little fellas, my entertainment would be badly affected!
Yes, it is hard to say goodbye to old favorite technology, but seems they keep coming up with something better. I use netflix which I can get in the mail as DVDs or watch movies anytime right on my computer screen. It is very convenient. Aloha RamonB.
When the over-all price of energy gets too expensive, self-powered homes and electric cars charged by these homes are going to become a nesessity...even cell phones without the web app are becoming obsolete...
Things change so fast. Just since I wrote this article cell phones have changed quite a bit and we now have the iPad and many more fancy gadgets. Thanks Mentalist acer for your comments.
Correct. Things are happening so fast. What's in today maybe out tomorrow. But what the world really need is a new source of energy to resolve the ongoing energy crisis.
So true docmench. Thanks for pointing that out. We can have all the gadgets in the world, but without our daily needs, we will surely fail. Thanks for your comments.
tobey100 2 years ago
God I hope the CD industry hangs on for a while. I write music, with a catalog of over 1750 songs. The economy's killing me as it is, can't afford to lose the revenue. This hub is entirely too truthful. Are you a seer? I do believe you're gonna be proven right.