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Buying Devices

Notes on buying devices, written after living with it rather than reading about it.

Who benefits from a robot vacuum: judge, act, review
Buying Devices

Who benefits from a robot vacuum: judge, act, review

Anyone who has spent time on who benefits from a robot vacuum has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is…

Sonia MarchettiSonia Marchetti·July 19, 2026·4 min read
Air purifier numbers: from judgement to finish
Buying Devices

Air purifier numbers: from judgement to finish

Most people do not fail at air purifier numbers from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…

Harriet LowellHarriet Lowell·July 13, 2026·4 min read
Choosing a smart speaker: the workable version
Buying Devices

Choosing a smart speaker: the workable version

There is plenty written about choosing a smart speaker and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done beside the…

Roland PikeRoland Pike·July 7, 2026·4 min read
Router budget tiers: the four usual traps
Buying Devices

Router budget tiers: the four usual traps

Anyone who has spent time on router budget tiers has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not another…

Malcolm ReidMalcolm Reid·July 1, 2026·4 min read
Memory card classes: how to do it concretely
Buying Devices

Memory card classes: how to do it concretely

Most people do not fail at memory card classes from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…

Sonia MarchettiSonia Marchetti·June 25, 2026·4 min read
Privacy of home cameras: rhythm decides it
Buying Devices

Privacy of home cameras: rhythm decides it

If you have already tried privacy of home cameras and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…

Harriet LowellHarriet Lowell·June 19, 2026·4 min read
Projector or television: what to do first
Buying Devices

Projector or television: what to do first

Most people want projector or television to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…

Roland PikeRoland Pike·June 13, 2026·4 min read
What smartwatch features earn use: putting effort where it counts
Buying Devices

What smartwatch features earn use: putting effort where it counts

Let us set the limits of what smartwatch features earn use first: it reliably improves files found in three seconds, and it does not deliver…

Malcolm ReidMalcolm Reid·June 7, 2026·4 min read
Accessory priorities: start with the conclusion
Buying Devices

Accessory priorities: start with the conclusion

Separate two things in accessory priorities: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action instead…

Sonia MarchettiSonia Marchetti·June 1, 2026·4 min read
Warranty and sales channels: from judgement to finish
Buying Devices

Warranty and sales channels: from judgement to finish

If you have already tried warranty and sales channels and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…

Harriet LowellHarriet Lowell·May 26, 2026·4 min read
Buying for a three-year life: from judgement to finish
Buying Devices

Buying for a three-year life: from judgement to finish

Separate two things in buying for a three-year life: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…

Roland PikeRoland Pike·May 20, 2026·4 min read
Choosing a phone in three questions: the complete picture
Buying Devices

Choosing a phone in three questions: the complete picture

If you only read one paragraph, read this: choosing a phone in three questions depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the…

Malcolm ReidMalcolm Reid·May 14, 2026·4 min read
Three laptop use cases: from judgement to finish
Buying Devices

Three laptop use cases: from judgement to finish

Let us set the limits of three laptop use cases first: it reliably improves backups that survive a power cut, and it does not deliver overnight.…

Sonia MarchettiSonia Marchetti·May 8, 2026·4 min read
Can a tablet replace a laptop: the four usual traps
Buying Devices

Can a tablet replace a laptop: the four usual traps

Most people do not fail at can a tablet replace a laptop from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the…

Harriet LowellHarriet Lowell·May 2, 2026·4 min read
Three headphone form factors: what to do first
Buying Devices

Three headphone form factors: what to do first

Separate two things in three headphone form factors: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…

Roland PikeRoland Pike·April 26, 2026·4 min read
Decoding monitor specs: judge, act, review
Buying Devices

Decoding monitor specs: judge, act, review

Most people do not fail at decoding monitor specs from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…

Malcolm ReidMalcolm Reid·April 20, 2026·4 min read
Keyboard feel explained: putting effort where it counts
Buying Devices

Keyboard feel explained: putting effort where it counts

Put keyboard feel explained back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…

Sonia MarchettiSonia Marchetti·April 14, 2026·4 min read
Finding your mouse size: how to do it concretely
Buying Devices

Finding your mouse size: how to do it concretely

There is plenty written about finding your mouse size and little you can act on. This piece stays concrete: every action can be done on the commute,…

Harriet LowellHarriet Lowell·April 8, 2026·4 min read
Charging protocols compared: the complete picture
Buying Devices

Charging protocols compared: the complete picture

Put charging protocols compared back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months…

Roland PikeRoland Pike·April 2, 2026·4 min read
Power bank capacity in practice: rhythm decides it
Buying Devices

Power bank capacity in practice: rhythm decides it

Put power bank capacity in practice back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good…

Malcolm ReidMalcolm Reid·March 27, 2026·4 min read