How often do you see a commercial claiming a “new and improved” formula, or just something stating it’s “new” or “the latest”. Almost every month they design a new toothbrush that’s supposed to be an improvement over the old one. I still use a simple average toothbrush and it does what it’s supposed to.
The best example I can think of right now in this struggle to convince the consumer to leave the old is Gillette. You know, that company that produces safety razors. Something like a decade ago they designed the mach 3 and it’s still selling (a quick Google search told me they actually introduced it in 1998). Somehow I get the feeling Gillette wants to get rid of that model. Not only are they offering you a discount on a newer model if you hand in your mach 3 but they even compare it to their latest model in TV ads. Claims like “12 more patents applied” and “even smoother shave”. The only problem is that the mach 3 just is the “perfect” razor to most shavers. I myself use one and it does what it’s supposed to without costing to much in replacement blades. I see no need to replace my mach 3 a all.
Another great example, be it less known is a certain type of keyboard: The IBM Model M. These fossils (dating back to the eighties) have buckling springs under each key making them very loud. A problem in most public area’s but a minor issue at home. These keyboards however are so incredibly over-engineered that most of them still are in operation and are claimed by a lot of frequent typists to be the bests keyboards out there. No other keyboard has lasted this long. It’s even the only keyboard I know of that actually has a dedicated website and fan-base.
Of course I had to know what the big deal was about these M’s so I set out looking for one. They sell for tens of dollars over eBay but can occasionally be had for just a few bucks if the seller doesn’t know what it is. Exactly that happened to me yesterday. I found one in a second hand store for just 1 euro. It has taken me months to find one (They aren’t as common here in The Netherlands as in the States) but finally I got it and I immediately felt what the big (and heavy) deal was about these.
Now most people would call me crazy, why in God’s green earth would I want to be typing on a noisy keyboard that’s old enough to vote. One word:
“Quality”
There are some things out there that are just so damn good that newer and “improved” models just can’t compete with it. Sometimes research and development is done and reached the end of the line. The Mach 3 is one of them, and so is the Model M. These two items are at the pinnacle of design. Granted the model M doesn’t have fancy multimedia buttons or even windows buttons but it’s design is so successful that Das keyboard is making black versions of them, with USB connector (M’s have a PS/2), USB hub and the buckling springs and selling them for $129! Yes, a new buckling spring keyboard will cost you serious money. An old one just one euro. A keyboard is made for typing, do you really need an LCD screen on it? And if you’re playing a game (first person shooters in particular) looking down at your keys is suicide.
A Mach 3 will give you a close shave, do it quick and do it good enough. Does it really need more blades? A grille in front of the blades to protect you? Vibrations to get a closer shave? an Aloe Vera strip to sooth the skin? An indicator strip to tell you when you need to replace the blade. Probably designed so you need to replace the blade every week!
What’s my point here you might ask?
I’m taking a stand against consumerism here. I don’t need all the latest things mass-media tells me I need to be happy nor will anyone notice that I can shave a micron closer to my skin. It’s about awareness that new isn’t always an improvement, an upgrade can actually be a downgrade. And with a model M a downgrade is an upgrade.
It’s about being content with what you have and not letting “them” tell you what you have is no longer good enough.
And I feel like a pig in mud, for just one euro!
[update]Now that I have one IBM model M I’m actually looking for a second going by the name of “space saver”. There are several versions but they all share one characteristic: the lack the numerical pad. I would like to convert it to “Programmer Dvorak“. Do you have an IBM space saver you’d like to part with? Please let me know.[/update]
6 Comments
June 24, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Wonderful post Christiaan and one which I can echo.
I actually abandoned the Mach 3 and any of the new “disposable” sorts of razors for a tried and true Merkur Safety Razor which is sturdy construction and a pack of 5 blades will cost you about 2.50$ U.S. There is far less to throw away, thus much more sustainable, and it’s a far better shave than any non-straight razor I’ve had. On top of that I use a brush and shave soap so no cans of foam for me.
And the Model M keyboard is amazing, had one that sat on my desk at work in NYC cause I couldn’t plug it in to the Mac Pro. Those things are some of the best keyboards out there.
June 24, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I had a Matias Tactile Pro keyboard that uses the same buckling-spring switch, but the clackita-clackita noise finally drove me over the edge. It’s not bad in places with a lot of ambient noise, but in a quiet room it was maddening. Love the feel of it, but not all the racket. Happy with the thin aluminum keyboard that came with my iMac.
But, yeah, yay quality!
June 25, 2009 at 1:26 am
I haven’t had that experience yet. I just might become crazy f the sound, or find it soothing, or even find is somehow meditative while I write. Somehow ending up in a writers trance because of it.
A big reason for me to try the model M is that I want to learn how to type properly (as in, with ten fingers and touch typing) Now I’m not saying that this keyboard will magically make that happen or that any other keyboard won’t do. It’s just that I’ve read so much positive reactions about it and how a “clicky” confirms that the key has been struck both in tactile and in auditory feedback that it would make the job easier.
Time will tell. n the worst case I can sell it with a profit and buy another keyboard.
I’ll let you know how things ended up.
ow, and I’m usually listening to music in the background so I’ve always got ambient noise.
June 26, 2009 at 3:31 am
Christiaan,
What are you trying to do? Destroy our economy?
June 26, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I can’t destroy what’s already in pieces. *evil grin*
June 26, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Loved my Gillette Mach 3! When the 4 came out, I couldn’t find new blades for the 3 so I switched.
Well the Gillette 4 is not as good as the 3 for me. It cannot reach specific places because the razor blade is larger (you need space for those 4 blades) and I had trouble shaving under my nose.
Finally a friend visited from Europe and left his Gillette 3 with a stock of blades! Now when I shave… I am smiling again*
(*This refers to your next post)