Monthly Archives: December 2024

technology

The Complete Guide For Seniors And Others Who Want To Upgrade Their Computing Devices (Tablets and Laptops). Save Money, Get What You Really Need!

I wrote this post to educate seniors about the various computing options available. This information would be helpful for anyone who wants to understand this topic better or needs to replace their existing computing device. However, if you are looking for the bottom line, go to the last section of this post. In this post, I’ll only discuss portable options, specifically tablets, and laptops, as these seem to be the devices many seniors desire.

If you are a senior citizen in 2024, you likely have a computing device. However, consider updating that gadget before the proposed upcoming tariffs are implemented, as they could dramatically increase the cost of all electronics. With so many choices, deciding how to maximize your cost vs. benefit ratio can be challenging. For many, buying a $3000 computer is out of the question. However, those same individuals likely don’t want a $50 computer from Temu. I hope this post will help you sort things out.

Not long ago, having a PC and an internet connection was a luxury. That time has passed. Most of us carry the internet with us on our smartphones. For some, that is all the connectivity they need; however, if you do any type of personal computer work, from writing stories to online shopping, or if you use the internet for media consumption, or if you do any sort of work from home, you will benefit from using a larger device.

In 2024, the many options available may confuse the average senior. Should you spend $25 on a reconditioned school Chromebook or over $6000 on a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro? For most, the answer lies in between.

Tablets

Everyone knows of Apple’s iPad, but several other tablet types use operating systems that are different from Apple’s iOS.

A tablet is a perfect choice for media consumption.  You can watch Netflix and Hulu, stream music, view YouTube videos, and catch up on Facebook.  You can also do home business tasks like shopping and banking or talk to the grandkids via a video chat app. Tablets allow you to keep a calendar, address book, and set reminders. You can easily catch up on your email correspondences. Typing short messages using a tablet’s on-screen keyboard is possible, but buying an external keyboard is best if you plan to type long documents.  

Some keyboards can be purchased as part of a tablet case, which is a convenient choice.  Naturally, these keyboards will be smaller than standard, making typing very long documents frustrating for some (my sister, Nancy, hates using a tablet keyboard, while I have no problem using one).  Some tablets allow users to connect peripherals, like a monitor or a mouse, to them. You can print from a tablet if you have the right printer. Some gaming is possible on tablets.  Complex games require premium tablets with fast processors and storage for large gaming apps. 

Most tablets have excellent battery life. They are great for everyone who prefers a more visual/hands-on approach to computing. Their small size makes them perfect for browsing in an easy chair or bed, and they tend to be less intimidating than large computer systems.

Each family of devices allows you to download additional programs, called apps, from their respective app stores.  Some apps are free, some charge a one-time fee, and others require a monthly subscription fee, so read the app’s description carefully.  You can get apps that do many things, from word processing to games. For instance, you can download the free Facebook app to access Facebook easily.

Tablet Families

Fire Tablet Family

Amazon sells these tablets using a “razor and blade” philosophy. At the turn of the last century, Gillette popularized the safety razor, which they sold at a very reasonable price. These quality grooming tools were made so well that I still can use a razor made in 1953, my birth year (yep, I have one). Gilette didn’t care if they made money on the razors; they were interested in customers buying their overpriced blades.  

Amazon’s objective has been to use the cheapest components to make an acceptable tablet and sell it at a bargain price.  They fill the tablet with Amazon-specific apps and encourage the user to buy everything from books to toilet paper using the tablet. Most of their tablets support Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant.  

A virtual assistant uses AI (artificial intelligence) to answer your questions.  For example, you could say, “Hey Alexa, what is today’s weather.”  Alexa would then give you the forecast. 

The majority of Amazon tablets are usable but of lower quality. The exception is the Fire Max 11, which combines better-quality components at a reasonable price.

Amazon uses a “forked” (heavily modified) version of Google’s Android operating system. 

An operating system is the main computer program that allows all other programs to work.  Examples of operating systems are:

Fire OS for Fire tablets 

Windows OS for Windows computers 

Mac OS for Apple computers

Chrome OS for Chromebook computers

Android OS for Android phones and tablets

Linux OS for many things

iOS for iPhone-for iPhones

iOS for iPads-for iPad tablets  (optimized for tablets)

Operating systems are developed for different purposes.  For example, Chrome OS is designed to work with low-powered computers, while Mac OS is designed to run very complicated programs on speedy computers. 

Amazon’s software engineers modified Google’s free Android OS to create Fire OS. Fire OS is a closed OS that only runs on Fire devices, forcing users to use Amazon’s ecosystem. 

A computer ecosystem is a group of related technological things. In this case, Fire OS runs programs from the Fire app store, uses Alexa as its virtual assistant, and is preloaded with Amazon apps. 

Some apps, like the excellent free Google apps, Instagram, and Dropbox, are unavailable as they are not in the Amazon Fire app store. I also checked to see if my doctor’s office app, called MyChart, or my banking app was available in the Fire store; they were not.  However, Fire tablets support many other apps, like Netflix, Facebook, TikTok, and Zoom. 

You can access some unsupported programs by connecting with their website versions using “Silk,” Amazon’s proprietary web browser. Still, the experience may not be as good as when using a dedicated app. Additionally, some websites are designed to work best on popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, or Safari, which are unavailable in the Fire app store.

A browser is a program that allows the user to access and interact with the Internet. The first graphical browser, Mosaic, was released in 1993. The development of browsers changed the way people use the internet.  In the early 1990s, I could only access the internet using a text-based program called Gopher.  It was clunky and not interactive.  Browsers brought a graphical interface to the internet, allowing for other features like hyperlinks. Hyperlinks allow the user to click on a link on a webpage and be instantly taken to a different spot on that page or another page in the World Wide Web (WWW). Every time you view a website full of photos and graphics, thank your browser.  Browsers brought the internet to everyday citizens.

You can side-load the Google Play store to access millions of apps, including those created by Google. Side-loading is a hack used to install apps that are not available on the Fire app store. Although this procedure is relatively straightforward, it does involve a number of steps and temporarily connecting a Windows computer to the tablet; some report difficulty implementing all of this. This option may not be reasonable for a senior who wants to use a tablet right out of the box.

Most Fire-based tablets have an expansion slot for a micro-SD card, allowing you to dramatically and inexpensively increase your device’s storage capacity. This additional storage is best used for data like photos, movie files, and documents. However, some apps will allow you to run them off external storage. However, they may run slower when doing this.

Fire tablets offer unlimited cloud storage for photos.  

Cloud storage means that photo files are saved on Amazon’s massive remote computers, not on the device. You must have an internet connection to store and retrieve the images, which is not usually a problem in today’s Wi-Fi-filled world. 

A word of caution: Google Drive used to offer free cloud storage for photos. Once the service became popular, it started charging for it. Amazon may do the same in the future.

Fire devices are best for those who spend a lot of time in the Amazon ecosystem and use apps available in the Fire app store, such as Facebook and Netflix. If that is you, you can score a reasonable tablet at a good price. At this time, the Fire Max 11 is a good choice. It is selling for a fantastic sale price of $139.99, a 39% discount from its usual price.

The Amazon Fire Max 11 is an upgrade from other Fire tablets and can be had for a reasonable price.

The Android Tablet Family

Android OS is free, so dozens of tablet manufacturers use it as their operating system. This has led to some good products and some truly terrible ones.  

The Android OS has been around for a long time and is constantly being updated. Reputable tablet manufacturers post updates for their tablets. However, for other tablet brands, you may be stuck with the OS version that the tablet was shipped with. Updates not only bring new features and stability but also supply security patches. 

Some manufacturers sell a range of devices from bargain level to high-end. Mid-priced Android tablets may offer more dollar value than a comparable Apple iPad.

Some Android tablets pair well with Android phones, specifically Samsung tablets paired with Samsung phones. The Google Play store has millions of apps for just about any need. Notably, all Google-created apps are available and free. Stick with apps from the Google Play store, as other sites may have malware-filled programs. 

Malware is software designed to do destructive things, like infect your device with a virus or steal private information from you. 

Most Android tablets use Google Assistant, a very powerful virtual assistant. You can also download Alexa (Amazon’s virtual assistant) and use that app.

Many Android tablets have an expansion slot for a microSD card, allowing you to increase your device’s storage capacity inexpensively. This additional storage is best for data like photos, movies, and documents.  Some apps will allow you to run them off this external storage.  However, they may run slower when doing this.

Apps like Google Docs (word processor) and Sheets (spreadsheets) store their documents in the cloud-based Google Drive. Google gives all users a small amount of storage space for free, and their paid starter plans are inexpensive.

Most Samsung tablets have a Dex feature, which makes the tablet look more like a desktop when connected to external peripherals, like a Bluetooth keyboard. Some will even let you connect an external monitor.

Remember that Android is an operating system designed primarily for phones, not tablets.  This may lead to some issues when running some apps on a tablet. 

A decent Android tablet may be a good choice if you already use an Android phone.  Additionally, it is possible to find a functional Android tablet at lower prices than an iPad.

It is difficult to give a specific recommendation for an Android tablet as there are so many, and they change frequently. Consider a brand-name tablet with 4 GB or more RAM and at least 64 GB storage. If you save a lot of large files, like many movies, go for more storage (or add an inexpensive microSD card). If you play many complex games, go for a faster processor, more RAM, and storage—i.e., a high-end tablet. Remember that streaming movies and music does not permanently use storage space on your tablet. It may use a bit for buffering, but that is not permanent. 

The higher-end units within a brand’s range will have better screens, faster processors, and better construction.  They may have more features, like a stylus or the ability to connect an external monitor.  However, a budget/mid-range, brand-name tablet will do the job for many.  

Go to a store like Best Buy for a hands-on experience before you buy. Regarding inexpensive Android tablets, I have read good things about the Walmart Onn 12.1, the Samsung A9 Plus, and the Lenovo M11 Android tablets.  These budget tablets aren’t the latest or greatest, but they work.  Currently, these tables can be had for less than $200. Samsung tablets have the best reputation for software updates of the three. Lastly, some caution is advised with brand X Android tablets, which may contain malware pre-installed at the factory.

The Samsung A9 Plus offers a lot of value and is currently on sale.

The Apple iPad Family

This is the gold standard when it comes to tablets. iPads come in various price points, from a reasonable $350 to several thousand dollars. Higher prices provide better “everything,” from displays to memory to powerful processors. 

iPads are stable and built to last. They are enjoyable to use because they are refined and designed to be user-friendly.

Millions of apps are available in the iOS app store, and you can do anything with them. However, like other tablets, iPads are best for consuming media, viewing social media, and performing tasks like email, shopping, and banking. Naturally, there are games adapted for iPads. Your personal information may be better protected with Apple products, as Google’s primary business is selling user data. 

If you plan on using an iPad as your only device, it is best to buy a keyboard case. Apple keyboard cases are excellent and sophisticated, but they are highly priced.  You can purchase off-brand keyboard cases for significantly less. They won’t be as good, but they will do the job. 

You can download Google Apps, like Google Docs and Gmail, on an iPad. They can be used offline but work best when connected to the internet. You can also download Amazon apps like the Kindle app, which allows you to order and read ebooks (books converted to an electronic form) from Amazon.

Apple supplies many useful apps for free, including Pages, a word processor; iMovie, a simple yet robust video editor; and Photos, a good photo editor that runs without an internet connection. Apple also includes other apps like FaceTime for video chat, Apple Messenger, a sophisticated texting app, and Notes, which allows you to save anything from your mom’s secret meatloaf recipe to a PDF file of your washing machine’s quick-start guide. iPads are the number one selling tablet, so all the usual apps from Facebook to YouTube are available.

Apple’s virtual assistant is Siri, but you can add Google Assistant and Alexa via their respective apps. 

Apple apps synchronize with other Apple devices, so you can start a word-processing document on your tablet and finish it on your Mac. This ability makes an iPad a clear choice if you already use other Apple devices, like an iPhone or Mac computer. 

A few years ago, Apple separated iPad iOS from their phone iOS. Although many similarities exist between the two operating systems, iPad apps can utilize the iPad’s additional size and other capabilities. iPads have become more computer-like and now allow a variety of peripherals, including keyboards, hard drives, and monitors, to be connected to them. Modern iPads can use a stylus, which varies from model to model. iPad iOS includes features that make it more functional for “real” work.  However, iPads are not as comprehensive as a traditional computer for most business applications. With that said, many business applications have specifically been written for the iPad.

The reasonably priced basic $350 iPad will do the job for most seniors.  If you keep a lot of movies on your iPad, buy one with more storage. If you plan on regularly doing complex jobs on an iPad, like 4K movie editing, go with one of the higher-end models. The iPad Air M2 is incredibly powerful for the price. The top-of-the-line iPads are called iPad Pros. They are costly and are overkill for most seniors.

My sister Carol changed from a laptop to a basic iPad several years ago and hasn’t looked back. She can use FaceTime, send text messages and emails, watch YouTube videos, stay up-to-date on Facebook, and quickly check up on various news sites.  iPads generally have excellent build quality and long battery life.  Since they are built well, they usually work for years. You can only download apps from Apple’s app store, which is monitored to prevent viruses and other malware.  Millions of apps are available for just about anything you could think of. 

The excellent basic iPad starts at around $350 and is enough for most. You can often find this model for less on sites like Amazon. The current “generation” of the basic iPad is the 10th generation. You can order all iPad versions with more internal storage but at a steep price. Unless you use massive apps or need the storage space for other reasons, 64 GB of memory will likely serve you. Using iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage service, you can store documents and photos. Apple provides a small amount of free cloud storage, and basic plans are inexpensive, with 50 GB of storage costing only 99 cents/month. iPads do not have micro-SD slots, so you are stuck with the amount of internal storage that you buy at the onset. 

You can also buy a refurbished iPad from Apple (https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/ipad) or last year’s model at considerable savings without sacrificing much performance. Avoid very old iPads resold from sketchy companies. Even if they work, their battery may be on its last legs, and they are expensive to replace.

I would buy an iPad if I were interested in getting a new tablet. However, if cost is an issue or if you use an Android phone, a good basic Android tablet is a reasonable choice. Amazon Fire tables are great if you can get a good deal and heavily use Amazon services. 

iPads have long been the tablet of choice due to their quality and ease of use.

Laptop Families

The Chromebook family

When Chromebooks were introduced 15 years ago, they were a joke. They were very cheaply made with puny processors and tiny amounts of storage.  They were a glorified web browser. However, Google has consistently improved Chrome OS into an efficient operating system that runs well on lower-powered (and therefore less expensive) machines.  

Six years ago, I did a deep dive into Chromebooks and reviewed several units selling in the $100 to $300 price range.  None of the units were sexy; they had so-so displays, mushy keyboards, and small trackpads.  However, they were all perfectly functional.  Many browser-based programs (programs accessed through a computer’s web browser) were also available, allowing me to write long documents, create spreadsheets, do my banking, watch YouTube videos, listen to Spotify, and even manage this website.

In those days, browser-based photo editing apps like Google Photos had limited abilities but were still useful. However, Google Photos is more powerful now and even has AI functionality. The only thing that was impractical for me to do on those older units was video editing. However, I could record and upload a simple video to YouTube using a Chromebook.

A few years ago, I recommended a Chromebook to my father-in-law, who has been quite happy with it. Before that acquisition, he had been using inexpensive Windows machines and had constant issues with slowdowns, crashes, and other problems.  

Chromebooks update easily, and their performance is surprisingly fast since they are primarily web-based. Two of my kids were given Chromebooks by their schools, and they used them until graduation from high school. My daughter felt she was never hampered by using one during those years.

Schools love Chromebooks because they are inexpensive and easily managed by their IT team. Viruses are not an issue if you only use Chrome OS. Since Chromebooks are primarily cloud-based, students who forget their Chromebooks can be given a loaner. When they sign in, the loaner is configured exactly like the computer they forgot, including their assignments and apps. 

Chromebooks are most useful when connected to the internet, but they can run some programs in situ (directly on the computer).  Chromebooks can now run many Android apps, giving users many more options, including additional games and even some basic video editing.  However, video editing requires a lot of internal computing power, so don’t expect miracles.  

Chromebooks recently added the ability to run Linux programs, many of which are free and powerful.  There are Linux versions of Audacity, which is a DAW (for audio recording), and Gimp, which is a free powerful photo editor with much of the functionality of Photoshop. Here, too, you will be limited by the lower processing power of Chromebooks.

Some Chromebooks have a microSD slot, allowing memory expansion. However, this option is phasing out on newer models. Documents, photos, and the like are stored in Google’s cloud service, Google Drive. Google gives a small amount of this storage for free, and basic storage plans are available for a small monthly fee. 

The ability to use Android and Linux apps opens up additional potential for Chromebooks but also holds additional risk, as downloads may contain malware. This is especially true if you download programs from sketchy sites. 

A basic, inexpensive Chromebook will be fine if you spend most of your time using browser-based applications. If you want to run many Android apps and/or Linux programs, you will need a Chromebook with a faster processor, more storage, and a better display.  This year, Google introduced Chromebook Plus Chromebooks, which have more powerful processors, more storage, a better display, and a better webcam. These models can also use Gemini, Google’s advanced AI (artificial intelligence) program.  For a Chromebook Plus model, expect to pay $250-400.  You can pay much more for a premium Chromebook, but at higher prices, most are better off buying a traditional laptop.

Some Chromebooks offer touch screens and can fold backward to create a tablet. However, they are bulky and not nearly as comfy as traditional tablets. A touch screen may be handy if you run many Android apps, as many are designed to be controlled by touch on Android phones. 

Chromebooks allow many peripherals, including printers, scanners, monitors, and external drives.  However, you must check the web to see if your device supports Chrome OS.  You can check the device’s website for compatibility or simply Google, “Is XXX compatible with Chrome OS.” Some peripheral manufacturers don’t make specific drivers for Chromebooks. You may be stuck using a generic driver that may not offer as much functionality as the dedicated drivers written for Windows or Mac OS.  However, most users will get enough useability from a peripheral device if it is compatible with the Chrome OS.  

Editor’s Note:  I just tried to print using my Epson printer using an updated Chromebook, which was significantly easier than when I did this 6 years ago. Chrome OS found the printer and connected with it with a click.  However, its functionality was reduced; for instance, I had no option to print double-sided. 

Battery life on most Chromebooks is excellent.

At this time, I would only buy a basic Chromebook if money was very tight.  Instead, I would spend $250-$400 on a Chromebook Plus Chromebook as everything about them will be better. I would avoid refurbished Chromebooks on eBay as some previously lived as school Chromebooks, and you can only imagine how they were treated.  A Chromebook will give you a laptop experience and an excellent price point.  Many are durable, and since their processing is mainly done in the cloud, they don’t slow down over time like Windows computers.

Chromebook Plus computers offer value, excellent battery life, and useability for casual computer users.

The Windows family

You can buy a Windows computer for a few hundred dollars, but they are trash. Companies introduced these ultra-cheap Windows computers to capture the Chromebook market.  What they produced were horrible, slow, and clunky computers.  I tested one when I explored Chromebooks around 6 years ago.  I’m sure things have improved, but that computer was the worst experience I have ever had using a computer, including the first computer I ever owned, a Commodore 64, gifted to me in 1983! Expect to spend around $500 or more on a basic functional Windows OS computer. For around $1000, you can get a quite nice Windows machine.

Windows computers have many positives as well as some negatives.

The Windows operating system is highly robust and was made to run complicated programs using the computer’s built-in hardware.  Windows computers can do complex tasks like editing photos in Photoshop and video editing using Adobe Premiere. You can run these complex programs on a $500 Windows computer. However,  you will be limited and get better performance with a more expensive Windows computer with a fast processor, lots of RAM, and a big and fast SSD drive.  

Another Windows advantage is that some software only runs on Windows, the most popular operating system for laptops. In the day, every place I worked at used EMR (Electronic Medical Record) software that ran only on Windows. However, more specialty software is now cloud-based and will run on many machines via a web browser. My wife uses an EMR software called “Simple Practice,” which is browser-based and can be used on devices from Chromebooks to Macs. 

There is a broader variety of software programs for Windows machines.  Pick any category, and you will find more software titles than those available for other systems, including Mac OS.

Some Windows laptops have touch screens.

On the negative side, because there are so many Windows computers, they are targeted by malware.  Because there are so many manufacturers and models of laptops, some models run Windows better than others.  With its many features, Windows tends to be bloated and requires more expensive/faster everything for optimal performance. 

Windows updates can be long, buggy, and frustrating. If you haven’t updated your computer in a while, it may take a very long time to update. I have had Windows laptops running well, but after an update or a new Windows OS version, they slowed down and became highly frustrating.

Windows machines tend to get slower over time, often forcing users to buy a new machine after several years.  Naturally, the more premium the machine, the longer it will remain functional.  

Cheaper machines can have poor battery life, and less expensive Windows machines may also be bulky and heavy. If you are not tech-savvy, you may do better with a different OS system.

What to buy? For a user with simple needs, go for a $500-$700 computer. Don’t buy a machine with a traditional hard drive; get one with an SSD (solid state drive) of 256 GB or larger (these are now commonplace) and at least 8GB of RAM (more is better). If you are out and about with your computer, try getting one that is 3 pounds or less. Naturally, if you are into editing 4K videos or playing the latest and most complicated games, you will need a higher-end unit, but that is beyond the objectives of this post. 

Windows laptops can be amazing machines, but expect to spend at least $500 for a basic model, as lower-priced ones will likely disappoint.

The MacBook family

MacBooks have become increasingly popular.  Mac OS is a comprehensive OS, just like Windows.  However, Apple designs Mac OS and also builds Mac computers, allowing them to be optimized for each other.  MacBooks are famous for their stability, reliability, and longevity.

They are also more expensive than a comparable Windows machine, but they will likely last longer and continue to run well throughout their life.

MacBooks are not upgradable, and ordering a model with more RAM or storage quickly escalates costs.

Although there are fewer software choices than Windows, much of the available software for the Mac OS is excellent and stable. Macs are used professionally for every application, including movie editing, photo editing, CAD, and other advanced needs. You should be able to find great software, except for specific specialty software that only runs on Windows. However, as I stated in the Windows section of this post, more and more specialty software is becoming browser-based and works on many different operating systems.

I did a lot of video editing in the early days of video editing on computers.  Buying a video editing Windows computer then was extremely expensive, so I taught myself how to build my own.  I built many Windows computers for myself and my friends but switched to Macs over 15 years ago.  Their combination of software and hardware allows me to do things on my laptop without constantly trying to figure out how to tweak a program to stop it from crashing (as I did on my Windows machines). Macs just work. Macs are the best full-featured laptop for most of us.

All Macs come with software, including a terrific office suite and simple but useful movie and photo editors. Macs include an excellent texting program called iMessage and an amazing video conferencing tool called FaceTime. Naturally, calendar, appointment, and note-taking apps are also included. 

In 2020, Apple switched from using Intel processors (the computer’s brain) to processors of its design. These “M” chips are more energy efficient, often process faster, and very capable. The “M” processor is a game changer, making even the most basic MacBook Air a mighty machine.

My favorite thing about MacBooks is their integration with other Apple products.  I can send and receive iMessages, take and make phone calls from my computer, easily view photos taken on my iPhone on my Mac, edit a word processing document created on my computer on my iPhone or tablet, and so much more.  I am a fanboy of Macs.

What is the downside? Price. A basic MacBook Air will start at around $1000 and go up from there. A powerful MacBook Pro that is all spec’d out can cost many thousands of dollars. Additionally, MacBooks are not upgradable, so you need to buy a computer that will meet your needs now and in the future (MacBooks tend to be usable for a long time).  

If you want a traditional computer but can’t afford the latest MacBook model, buying an older model with an “M” series chip is reasonable.  M3 and M4 chips are being used at the time of this writing.  However, a MacBook Air with basic specs and an M1 chip is still an excellent machine.  I just checked the Walmart website, and they are selling NEW 2020 MacBook Airs with an M1 chip and 256 GB of storage for an amazingly low $650.  You can buy a renewed Air with an M2 chip on Amazon for around $720. These super-powerful machines will serve the needs of all but the most demanding users. 

The MacBook Pro is the next model up from the MacBook Air. You would know if you needed such a powerful computer; most seniors don’t. 

For a basic MacBook Air, 8 GB of RAM is acceptable, and many users will be just fine with 256 GB of storage. I’m typing this post on a 2020 MacBook Air with an M1 processor, and it does everything I need a computer to do. If this were a Windows machine, I would likely have already replaced it. I have had this computer for almost five years and have only used 150 GB of storage. However, I archive thousands of photos to an external hard drive. 

Editors note:  I’m an enthusiast photographer who does some professional work.  I take a lot of photos using professional gear, which I back up to an external drive.  My iPhone photos are backed up to the cloud. 

iCloud, Apple’s cloud storage service, allows you to store files, documents, and photos. Apple provides a small amount of free cloud storage, and basic plans are inexpensive, with 50 GB of storage costing only 99 cents/month. You can also expand your storage locally using a flash drive or an external SSD. All your Apple devices can access files stored in the cloud.

The MacBook Air is a fantastic computer that should last a very long time.

So what is the bottom line?  

Consider a tablet for non-technical people who consume a lot of media, use social media, and want maximum portability.  My pick is the iPad, but an Android tablet could be a choice if you already have an Android phone or if you need the best bang for the buck. Fire tables are suitable for those who spend a lot of time in the Amazon ecosystem.

If you want the layout of a laptop but your needs are simple, go with a Chromebook Plus laptop. Software and security issues are managed automatically. The Chrome OS is simple, so your computer should work well for quite some time.  For a very inexpensive price, you will get a full-sized laptop that will allow you to do everything from online banking, to watching Netflix movies, to video chatting with the grandkids. I use the Google Office Suite for the majority of my writing.  In fact, I’m using it right now to write this blog post.  This suite is free and accessible via a web browser to all computer operating systems, including Chromebooks. I have used this Office Suite to author complex documents, create complicated spreadsheets, and make “PowerPoint” like presentation slides for talks I have given hundreds of people. Did is say it was FREE?  (I guess I did)

If you plan to run programs directly on your computer or do a lot of photo editing or simple video editing, I suggest a MacBook Air with an “M” processing chip. These are excellent computers and a joy to use. My friend still uses his 2017 MacBook to run a business in December 2024. MacBooks are built to last. 

You can buy Airs that are new but an older model for an excellent price. Check websites like Walmart and Amazon. Additionally, look at the Apple website’s refurbished section. Avoid shady sellers pushing old units with Intel microprocessors, as that is old tech. The average user won’t notice much difference from a Mac with a “M” chip built a few years ago. If you are running high-demand programs, buy the best laptop you can afford. 

If you need to run software only available for Windows, get a Windows computer but spend at least $500 (you may need to pay considerably more depending on the software needs). 

Also, Windows computers are better for serious gamers. Remember that complex games usually require high-end systems. True gaming laptops can be very pricey, so don’t believe an advert claiming that a $500 Windows laptop is a gaming laptop.

Having a computing device has become a necessity in today’s world. I hope that this post has demystified this topic for you. 

Peace

Mike

Images are from Amazon and are being used for educational purposes only.

psychiatry, psychology

How Corporate and Governmental Greed Used The Distance Rule To Control You and Your Beliefs.

The following is my personal opinion.

Over the years, I have observed a phenomenon in various situations: I have dubbed it the Distance Rule. The rule is simple: the greater you can separate yourself from a person or group, the easier it is to justify or ignore harmful actions against that person or group. 

The converse rule, which I call the Closeness Rule, also applies.  The more one can relate to a person or group, the more difficult it is to justify harmful actions against that person or group.  

There is a qualifier.  These rules apply to individuals who have a moral center.  Those with sociopathic tendencies will do whatever is in their best interest, as their ability to empathize with another person is absent.  

Lastly, there is the phenomenon that I call Convenient Sociopathy, where it is so advantageous for an individual or organization to dehumanize an individual or group that they find a rationale to do so, often using the Distance Rule. Think of the corporation Enron, which regularly turned off electric power to parts of California, which caused harm to the most vulnerable while increasing the wealth of Enron’s shareholders. 

Entire nations can use these rules, often employing propaganda to reach a goal. This tactic is always seen in war situations.  During WWII, American propaganda portrayed both the Japanese and German citizens as bloodthirsty monsters, making it easier for US soldiers and the homefront to unite against them.  Naturally, similar campaigns were launched against Americans in those countries.  

Additionally, a systematic propaganda campaign was developed against non-Arians in Germany in the 1930s, and specific efforts by Germany, Italy, and Spain were developed to eliminate a particular minority population, the Jews.

Other groups were also targeted, from Eastern Europeans, to Romani, to gays, to those with physical, mental, and psychological issues. Creating an emotional distance between these groups and the general population allowed ordinary citizens to do the most horrific things to human beings.

It is easy to devise a method to separate one group from another. However, this process is more effective if the aggressor uses an easy-to-identify characteristic such as race, religion, economic status, education level, sexual orientation, or nationality. The aggressor’s goal is to gain power and control. That power can be expressed in privilege, wealth, or other forms of domination. 

A common characteristic of serial killers is that they dehumanize their victims, using the Distance Rule to turn them into objects for gratification. This can be seen in predators who kill for sexual thrills, such as John Wayne Gacy and the BTK killer Dennis Rader.  

The ability to distance from others to justify a behavior can be seen in less global ways. As a psychotherapist, I would see patients use the Distance Rule to create an emotional separation from a spouse when they enter into an affair relationship.  At the same time, I would witness them using the Closeness Rule to idealize the affair partner as further justification for their actions. I have never heard a person active in an affair say something like, “My spouse is great, but I decided to cheat on them anyway.”  Typically, an excuse is made focusing on their spouse’s flaws, lack of sexual response, inattentiveness, or whatever.  Likewise, the AP is usually characterized in an ideal way as the one “who understands me,” the one “I can talk to,” or the one “who appreciates my sexual prowess.” 

This Distance Rule is commonly seen in the corporate world and was promulgated by Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric. Before Mr. Welch, most large corporations’ strategies were for long-term, steady growth. Giving a workforce a sense of stability and rewarding them for their loyalty was part of that growth equation. Jack’s focus was very different. He saw a corporation as a profit-generating machine for stockholders and felt that the role of a corporation was to benefit those individuals. So be it if a job could be done less expensively in another country. A division that was not as profitable as another one should be closed and damn to the factory workers and communities that they lived in. Using that method, Jack made a lot of money for GE’s shareholders and himself.

GE survived as a corporation. However, this Distancing Rule sometimes destroys not only lives but also corporations. One example of that phenomenon is former Sunbeam CEO Albert Dunlap, known as Chainsaw Al for his business practices.  

Sunbeam Corporation was a 100-year-old company that made small appliances under the Sunbeam and Oster brands. These were well-regarded US-made appliances. My mother used a Sunbeam Mixer daily from the 1950s until the 1970s, when she was gifted a Kitchenade Mixer. That original Sunbeam Mixmaster was a quality product.  However, due to mismanagement, Sunbeam was less profitable than possible, so they brought in Chainsaw Al to improve the bottom line. Al fired around 50% of Sunbeam employees, closed down most of Sunbeam’s factories, and reduced their product line, destroying the lives of many.  Robert Reich, then secretary of labor, noted, “There is no excuse for treating employees as if they are disposable pieces of equipment,” Chainsaw Al promoted stock options, which meant that any profit for Sunbeam shareholders would also benefit him.  He was incentivized to do whatever it took to inflate Sunbeam’s stock, and that is precisely what he did, using fraudulent and illegal tactics that resulted in Sunbeam filing bankruptcy in 2001. Al left the corporate world with millions in his pockets despite paying off federal fines and penalties for his illegal practices. His fines were a small price to pay. Sunbeam was sold several times to larger entities, and Newell Brands now owns it. You can still find Sunbeam-branded products, including a crap version of the Mixmaster, which is now manufactured in China. No one aspires to have a new Mixmaster as the once legendary product has fallen far from grace.

The top 1% of income earners are those so isolated from the general population that the populace can become an object to achieve further gain rather than human beings with lives, families, and aspirations. 

I know of a university student who was given an internship at Amazon.  She was treated well in that temporary position, but she was appalled that workers were treated like machines.  For instance, lower-level workers were written up if they ever sat down.  Can you imagine?

Educated professionals can also be treated like commodities. For decades, we have been told that the secret to success was to become educated. Universities grew and prospered as US tuition reached stratospheric proportions.  Students studied complex STEM disciplines like engineering and computer science with the promise of a secure and financially stable life. Currently, many of these individuals can’t find jobs or have been laid off as they try to cope with massive student debt, excessive mortgages, and rising inflation.  

A particularly heinous practice in the US has been incentivizing shareholder profits in health care.  Let me first say this clearly: there is no justification to murder another person. However, I can understand the anger and rage placed on corporations that enrich themselves by acting as the unnecessary middleman in an industry that is supposed to help people and not cause harm.

We have been sold a bill of goods that says our health system is the best in the world; it is not.  Did you know that citizens in 48 other countries, including Costa Rica and Albania, have greater longevity than in the US?  Did you know that many citizens in countries with universal health care are happy with it and can’t imagine the healthcare shenanigans that happen in the US?  Did you know that medical debt is the number one reason for bankruptcy in the US?  Did you know all developed countries except the US have healthcare for all? It is accepted as a benefit of an enlightened society, just like free education, fire departments, and public libraries. No one says, “I don’t want my kids to learn how to read and write because it will turn our country into a socialist state!”

Many attempts have been made to establish universal health care in the US starting in the 1800s, including efforts from Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Harry Truman.  Are you aware that beyond profit interests, one reason for this not happening was racism?  Efforts for universal healthcare in the US started after the Civil War, but they were shot down by politicians, mainly from the South, as universal healthcare would have to include blacks.  White legislators noted, “Free assistance of any kind would breed dependence, and when that came to black infirmity (Ed note: sickness), hard labor is a better salve than white medicine.”  This should not be shocking as blacks have been excluded from many social reforms.  Large numbers of blacks were excluded from the 1935 Social Security Act, and structural discrimination limited black’s access to the GI Bill.

Private health insurance became a popular perk used by companies to entice workers during WWII when wages were frozen. This perk became a factor in amplifying the health insurance industry. 

Somehow, PR has made us believe that healthcare isn’t a right but a privilege.  To that end, 27 million US citizens are uninsured despite programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Health Care Act. This impacts all of us and our economy and is often the case due to governmental barriers at the state level.

Traditional Medicare is a government-run healthcare program that its users generally like.  Its administrative costs are 10 times less than private health insurance programs like Medicare Advantage. Traditional Medicare has a near-zero denial rate for accepted procedures. Lastly, its network of hospitals and doctors is vastly more expansive than any Medicare Advantage program.  Medicare Advantage subscribers often give up traditional Medicare and sign up with a private insurance company because they are promised trivial perks. Getting free stuff sounds terrific until you have a significant and expensive need and your Advantage program denies or delays approval.  

Regular private health insurance also practices these tactics.  A loved one of mine had a spinal fusion, and we were told that she would be in the hospital for 4-5 days due to the complexity of the procedure. After 24 hours, the insurance company was pushing for discharge, and despite my efforts, my loved one was discharged at 36 hours. My loved one wasn’t making sense, could barely stand, and was in terrific pain. We had to provide complete nursing care at home for many days.  Thankfully, I’m retired and have the knowledge and family support to take on that role.  How many others don’t have those resources?

Medicare Advantage programs are under government investigation for fraudulent billing practices and denial of claims. It has been proven that Medicare Advantage offers a lower quality of care while costing the government more than traditional Medicare.  So why are seniors always being pushed to go with an Advantage program?  Well, there is a reason that insurance companies spent over $117,000,00.00 in campaign contributions and lobbying efforts in 2024. We already have government health insurance in conventional Medicare, and it works quite well, but it doesn’t make a profit for shareholders and CEOs.

By using the Distance Rule, insurance clients become objects to be manipulated to increase profits for shareholders and employees of the company.  The recent tragedy of the murder of the CEO of United Health Care brought to the forefront the level of corruption in the industry.  Yes, that CEO was being investigated for insider trading.  Yes, he made 10 million dollars in his last year’s salary.  Yes, he illegally sold 15 million dollars of UHC stocks when he knew the stock was about to tank due to an FTC investigation.  That is horrible, but nothing compared to a 32% denial of claims by UHC.  That means almost one-third of requests from mammograms to life-saving surgeries were denied. Those denials were made by a computer program, not a medical expert, and that software is reported to be wrong 90% of the time! Consider the consequences and damage to our society by turning human beings into objects that can be manipulated to gain corporate profit. 

You may think insurance company denials are based on preventing evil doctors from performing unnecessary procedures, but that is not true. Some of the most significant legal investigations involving health care are due to insurance companies’ fraudulent billing of Medicare/Medicaid. Additionally, many doctors have stories of insurance companies denying payment even after getting pre-approved for a procedure. When insurance companies do pay, they can delay payment for months, causing hardship for practices with large overheads . Many rural and less endowed hospitals have been forced to close because of these and other practices, leaving entire communities without health care.

Insurance companies know that only about 0.2% of denials are ever appealed.  Clients may not know that they have that right to appeal or may not have the psychological energy to launch such a process during their health crisis.  Recently, our family had to face an insurance denial.  A loved one was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening condition that was so complicated that it required traveling to a university hospital. A very long, complex, and potentially dangerous operation needed to be performed, and the university hospital got pre-approval for the procedure from the insurance company.  The operation took over 7.5 hours and involved a team of the hospital’s top doctors, including department chairs. Yet, 6 months after the operation, we received a bill for thousands of dollars as the insurance company denied a PART of the operation. I’m a physician; how do you deny PART of a pre-approved operation for a life-threatening condition?  That makes little sense. I did appeal the decision and was rejected twice by the insurance company.  I eventually filed a complaint with my state’s insurance commission before the charges were reversed. If only 0.2% appeal an insurance denial, how many of those 0.2% also know you can file a complaint to a regulatory commission?  Likely, not many.  Bonus for the insurance company. 

In our modern society, individuals are becoming more isolated from each other. People work from home, friends connect via text messages, and groups isolate themselves due to their ever-widening economic status. All of this makes it easier to apply the Distance Rule.

I live in an affluent community. I see entire families dining at expensive restaurants on weekdays. It is a place where people walk down pristine walking paths sporting designer clothes.  A place where many belong to a gym because they rarely do productive physical exercise.  It is a wonderful place to live, and I’m very grateful that I am fortunate to have called my town my home.  However, a short drive in almost any direction can take me to a different place.  A place where poverty is evident.  Where grocery stores don’t exist. Where schools are places of violence.  A place where poverty drives crime, addiction, and fear.  I generally avoid those places, as most of my neighbors do.  We don’t have to think about the plight of those human beings; they are far away, making it easy to objectify them.  Objects that we can blame and then ignore. “That’s not my problem.  Look at how successful I am,” we say—ignoring the opportunities that we have had. That is how things work in our society.  If it doesn’t directly impact the individual, it is ignored.  However, as we continue to distance ourselves from others on all levels, the result is that we will also eventually suffer. 

I was raised in a working-class neighborhood but managed to attend one of the country’s best medical schools.  Everyone who works hard enough can do the same, right?  Wrong.  I had many advantages in my favor.  I lived in a stable home and never worried that we would be evicted.  There was always food on the table.  Both sides of my family are academically oriented.  My parents strongly emphasized the importance of education.  I didn’t have the advantages of some, but I had many more benefits than many.  This enabled me to use my only gift, my ability to think, to my advantage.  Would that be the case if I was always hungry or afraid to go to school because I could be shot?  I don’t think so.  

Yet, it is still easy for me to objectify others using the Distance Rule.  I have to actively put myself in the shoes of others. I have conservative friends and family, and I make an effort to understand their positions.  I have working-class friends whose reality differs from mine, and I try to put myself in their shoes. When I drive through a poor neighborhood, I try to comprehend those people’s obstacles.  When dealing with a persecuted minority, I imagine what their life must be like on a day-to-day basis.

Recently, I have had someone I know come out as trans.  She possesses the courage and resolve that few, including myself, have.  However, as a minority, she will suffer from the Distance Rule. In my professional life, I have worked with trans people.  They represent an extremely tiny percentage of the population.  Their wish is simple; they want to have freedom to live their life and to be left alone.  There is NO evidence that they want to convert others to their position or that they get off from entering a bathroom. They just don’t want to be persecuted.  Yet, look at how easy it has been to use the Distance Rule to objectify them and make them into an object of hate. Why do this? If you want to control a group, find another vulnerable group they can fear and hate and then promise to protect the majority group from that imaginary threat. A method as old as time.

We live in a society where the distance between different groups grows daily.  That distance may be measured in terms of physical distance, monetary distance, educational distance, belief distance, racial distance, sexual orientation distance, liberal vs conservative distance, and just about any other separation you can think of. Consider this quote from our Pledge of Allegiance, “One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  Think of the power and wisdom of that statement.  When we apply the Distance Rule, we negate this promise.  In the short term, it makes our lives easier.  In the short term, it allows others to manipulate us and makes some richer.  But what about the long term?  What about our country and its promise to treat all fairly? In a country that should be the greatest on earth, such separations make the rich richer and the poor poorer. This can only lead to eventual collapse and disaster. That is common sense. Did you know that the three wealthiest individuals in the US have more money than the lowest 50 percent of the population? Three individuals have more wealth than the combined worth of 167 million humans. Their distance from that population is unfathomable. 

Government and industry leaders have employed the Distance Rule to split populations so they could manipulate them and extract power and wealth from them.  Why do we buy such a ridiculous concept that hurts everyone except for a few at the top? 

If you accept even ten percent of the premise of this post, it is incumbent on you to move from passive acceptance of the status quo to active pursuit of a better way.  You need to reject the Distance Rule and embrace the Closeness Rule. You need to look at how we are all more similar than different. At the same time, it is imperative to accept those slight differences that we do have and not buy into the manipulation of others who use minor differences as weapons to separate us.  

Find common similarities between you and someone different from you.  Listen to their dreams and their life struggles. You don’t have to adopt their ideas; they don’t have to convert to yours.  It is OK to be different. At the same time, open your mind, as you may find that some of your beliefs may change as you understand who they are as human beings. In turn, they may do likewise. Focus on the humanity of others. Immanuel Kant developed the Categorical Imperative in the late 1700s. The Golden Rule is as old as time. We know what we need to do, but we are manipulated to do otherwise.

A talking point from this last election was, “Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?”  It was a powerful point and likely won the presidency.  However, it was a manipulation because the statement should have been, “Are you better off than you were 40 years ago.”  For most, the answer would have been “No.”  But that reason is not because of the immigrants, or blacks, or trans people, or whatever.  It is because wealth has steadily moved from the poor to the rich.  That is the reality that the 1% doesn’t want you to know. They effectively used the Distance Rule to deflect blame onto vulnerable groups that can’t defend themselves. Remember, we are always stronger when we work together.  We are weaker when we allow others to separate us into groups, as that weakness can be exploited to all our detriment. 

Peace,

Mike

best kitchen appliances, Uncategorized

Why Newer Appliances Constantly Break, And What To Do About it.

We have a holiday tradition at Kunaland; our appliances seem to break down, and this year was no exception.

When I moved into my home over 35 years ago, the previous owners left a fridge and a stove. After I bit, I updated both to fancy stainless steel versions and placed the original appliances in the basement.  They served us well there, especially the fridge, which was constantly plugged in and used as our grocery overflow center.  It stopped cooling a few months ago, and sat dormant.  My initial plan was to become more conservative and live with one fridge.  However, the sacrifice never got easier. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I contacted my appliance repair man, who gave me various tips as I replaced everything from the defrost timer to a startup capacitor, all to no avail.  My ancient fridge had reached its end of life.

One week before Thanksgiving, my 20-year-old dishwasher started to act up.  I originally had purchased a brand with a high-reliability rating, and that appliance had only been repaired once (for a door latch) all that time.  However, it was stopping mid-cycle and was not draining water.  The only way I could get it to re-initialize was to go into the basement, turn off its circuit breaker for 5 minutes, and then turn it back on.  This suggested that a logic board was failing, which was an expensive repair.  It was time to say goodbye to that unit, too. 

I had to replace two major appliances, but both had served me well.  That can’t be said of other newer and more expensive appliances I have had to replace in my 30+ years of living in my home.

I replaced the original stove and refrigerator with fancy and higher-end stainless steel units from Kenmore. In less than 10 years, both had multiple repairs and quickly reached their end of life. They were replaced by a Kenmore induction stove and a Samsung French door refrigerator.  The Kenmore lasted around ten years, but that was with multiple service calls.  Finally, its main logic board had to be replaced, but Sears was no longer stocking that board, and the unit had to be scrapped.  Worse was the Samsung fridge, which was a nightmare.  I fixed the unit multiple times and also had numerous repair calls.  Finally, the freezer door fell off (no, we don’t abuse our appliances), which was so costly that the repairman advised us to junk the fridge.  We replaced the Kenmore Induction stove with a GE Induction stove and the Samsung fridge with a Whirlpool French door refrigerator. So far, the GE stove has been OK, but the Whirlpool has required a number of service calls.  It also has a habit of freezing behind the crisper door, which it did on Thanksgiving.  This warms the fridge compartment to the point of food spoiling.  The only option is to remove everything from the fridge and freezer, unplug the unit, and let it defrost for 24 hours.  This is happening on a refrigerator that costs well over $2000.00.   

My parents bought a single-door Kenmore fridge in 1950. It was our primary fridge for over 20 years until someone gave us their old (late 50s) but larger two-door fridge. The Kenmore fridge went into the basement and continued operating until the mid-1970s when we moved and left it behind. The same applies to their old and inexpensive Crown brand stove. Neither appliance required any service during their very long lives.

Our appliance guy has encouraged us to keep our ancient washer and dryer, noting, “Most new appliances are junk. They require constant repair, and often parts are unavailable, forcing the consumer to buy a new machine.”  It does seem like he is right.  Appliances that were built to last for decades in the past barely make it to 10 years, and that is with constant repairs in the interim.  Yet, they are more expensive and tout endless, and often unnecessary, bells and whistles. 

My wife and kids love the in-door water and ice maker on our fridge, but I have been told that these additions are a major point of failure. The fancy gaskets and flaps used to lower fridge energy costs frequently malfunction (I fixed the ones on the Samsung fridge at least half a dozen times).  Computer logic boards are often placed in high-stress areas, like directly above a stove’s oven, causing them to fail. Unlike mechanical parts used for generations of appliances, logic boards are unique to a small set of models.  They are stocked in limited numbers, and after a short period, they become unavailable, making a fixable appliance obsolete. 

Mechanical parts have also undergone a crapifacation. The newer and more energy-efficient linear compressors on LG fridges are so failure-prone that LG is now facing a class action lawsuit. Whirlpool is facing a class action lawsuit for defective wiring of their fridges. Samsung is facing a lawsuit stating that their washers corrode faster than they should. Bosch just settled a lawsuit for electronic panels on their appliances that were failing prematurely. Electrolux/Frigidaire is being sued because their washing machines are prone to mold issues, resulting in excessive service calls. LG and Kenmore are being sued for refrigerators failing early. As I researched this post, I just discovered that last year, the owners of my fridge model received a settlement for defective refrigerator evaporators freezing up, which is precisely the problem that requires me to “defrost” my frost-free fridge.  Sadly, I’m past the deadline. I’m sure that there are more lawsuits out there. However, these listings make the point that major expensive appliances are failing at an abnormally high rate. 

Computer-controlled appliances give us features that we likely don’t need. For instance, my stove and dishwasher can be controlled via WiFi.  Has that made my life any better? No. My fridge has a panel that allows me to electronically control things like the size of my ice cubes and the fridge’s temperature.  Do I need to control the ice cube size? No.  Does my fancy electronic temperature display provide me any benefit that a more straightforward mechanical control didn’t? No.  My old washer and dryer have simple dials. Do I yearn for a spaceship-level computerized control panel?  No.  

Many of these new features are sold to consumers as advancements created to improve one’s life or energy usage. However, any benefit seems relatively marginal to me, and any energy saving is offset by repair costs as well as the cost of replacing these appliances earlier. Further, the environmental, material, and energy costs of manufacturing huge appliances would negate societal benefits.

Of course, I understand that some older appliance components, like toxic refrigerants, had to change. However, manufacturers have used energy and environmental mandates as an excuse to make shoddy products that are more expensive and fail faster, punishing both the consumer and the environment. The goal seems to be  planned obsolescence and shareholder profits, in my opinion.    

Here are some tips from appliance repairmen that may help with future appliance purchases:  

Avoid complicated fridges, especially those with indoor water/ice makers, as they consistently break.  At this time, Samsung and LG refrigerators should be avoided as they malfunction more often than other brands. Some repairmen advise getting the most basic fridge possible; you can still buy simple top freezer fridges with mechanical controls.  However, even these units likely use cheaper components, like Chinese-made compressors.

When I replaced our basement fridge, I went with a brand-name unit that was as basic as I could find it. This GE fridge has mechanical controls and no ice maker.

Regarding washers and dryers, there is a consensus that new top and front loaders wash clothes less effectively and break down faster than older machines. Front loaders are especially prone to mold issues. Don’t be fooled by the enormous drums on newer top loaders. Most new washers will only partially fill with water and take longer to complete a cycle.  Users note that they need to wash smaller loads despite the giant size of their washer’s drums. Additionally, top loaders that use impeller plates instead of a traditional agitator are prone to overloading and going out of balance.  Since they use cheap components, such actions can quickly destroy the washer’s suspension system.  Several repairmen cited LG top loaders as being of higher quality than typical home washers. Most repairmen noted that the costly Speed Queen brand was significantly better in terms of cleaning ability, durability, and reliability than consumer brands. Additionally, the commercial version (not the home version) of the Maytag washer is built to a higher standard than most, but not as high as Speed Queen.

Speed Queen washers may look basic, but they are built better and clean better than newer models. Expect to pay more for these qualities.

 

Dishwashers also fail quicker than they used to.  The one brand that was thought of more highly than the others was Bosch.

When our 20 year dishwasher died I replaced it with a Bosch purchased on a Black Friday sale.

Stoves should last a very long time, but they often fail due to logic boards placed directly above the hot oven.  Would you store your computer on a hot stove?  Of course not, but that is precisely what manufacturers do with their logic boards (the main computer board for the appliance).  Consumer Reports polled their subscribers, and they rated GE (now owned by the Chinese corporation Hairer), LG, and Frigidaire as more reliable.  While Samsung, Maytag, and Kitchenade were less reliable. 

GE stoves seemed to be more reliable than some other brands based on a CR survey. Basic is better as bells and whistles tend to break down.

Brands like Kenmore, Insignia, and Criterion are typically made by various third-party companies in Asia like Haier, Daewoo, and Midea. Kenmore used to be considered good quality when its appliances were made by the US companies Whirlpool and Frigidaire, but then it shifted its manufacturing to LG and Samsung, later to Hairer, and now to Daewoo. Repairmen have noted that each change has generally resulted in less reliable products. 

Chinese manufacturers like Haier, which makes appliances for US companies like Best Buy, are now introducing their own product lines into the US market.  It is still being determined if these products are better quality than those units that they make for US brands.  Additionally, repairmen have noted that some repair parts have been difficult to get for these products. That may improve over time.

Elite brands like GE’s Monogram, Viking, and Thermador are more complex and tend to break down more frequently per repairmen.  However, owners seem to like these fancy appliances. 

The best advice is to fix your old appliances when possible and, when necessary, purchase the most reliable new ones that you can afford.  The more bells and whistles you have on any appliance, the more things that can break.

Peace

Mike