The Everyday Minimalist | Living with less, but only the best

I am a huge fan of gadgets but not all technology is useful.

A lot of gadgets don’t mean your life will be better and less uncluttered.

But not having any gadgets at all, doesn’t mean your life will be better and less cluttered either

There’s a balance.

For me, you have to really do an analysis on what you have a problem with — paper clutter for example, and figure out how to make it more streamlined such as putting it all online by scanning it or just getting rid of it.

Or perhaps you want to read lots and lots of books, and have a HUGE library. An e-book reader will carry a whole library in such a small, slim device.

You can even combine things, like a camera, PDA and GPS into a cellphone, but I find that those devices are good for jack-of-all-trades functionality but they are the master of none.

I like having a real camera, not a telephone camera, for instance.

Here is the tech what I consider essential for myself:

Computer
Mouse
iGo charger
Cellphone + iGo Tip (not a full charger)
Classic 80GB iPod + iGo Tip (not a full charger)
iPod Touch (PDA) — uses same charging tip as Classic iPod
2 External hard drives — No cloud computing or online backups for this girl
USB key x 2 — work and personal
Camera + Battery charger
GPS + Car Charger+ iGo Tip (not a full charger)

Naturally, I have much more than what I am listing up there, but if I had to pare down, this would be it.

The extra stuff I have that isn’t listed up there:

Apple Macbook
Keyboard
Laptop Stand
Netbook
8 external hard drives (I’m mad, I know!)
1 extra USB key
Extra Camera Battery
iPod Shuffle

Now, what you choose in each category depends on how much you want to spend and what kind of functionality you want for your life.

HOW TO CHOOSE TECHNOLOGY

Figure out what you are getting frustrated with
Analyze what the source of the frustration is
Research all the solutions and their costs!!
Review all the solutions and their pros and cons
Choose one and proceed

I go through pretty much the same thought process every time I want to buy a new software, a new gadget or to replace something.

About everydayminimalist

I'm a 20-something year old girl who lived out of a single suitcase in 2007, and now I'm living with less, but only with the best. You don't have to get rid of everything to become a minimalist! Minimalism can help simplify and organize your life, career, & physical surroundings. You can read more about me as a minimalist. Or come and visit my other blog Fabulously Broke in the City where I got out of $60,000 of debt in 18 months, earning $65,000 gross/year.

Coloradorobyn

selective,
pass the old gear along to a newer DJ. your loved ones gave you the gear to support a growing, evolving art form. now you can take it to the next level, and much more portably.
your gifting or selling cheap will help another person start.

Keep a piece that resonates with you, and for those times where old school vinyl is the best way to go. I have my first film camera, a Nikon F from 1964. I keep it in working order, but rarely use it. it rests on a bookcase. wasteful? No, I use Nikon lenses digitally. I still shoot. It is a true piece of my past and is aesthetically pleasing.
I dont have rows upon rows of cameras and related advertising. just MY original camera.
Selective Elitist

I’m a DJ/musician by hobby (although I hope to aspire to more), so paring down technology is a little more complicated. For one, I was trained in the old school belief that the only way to truly DJ is to use real Technics turntables, a good quality mixer, real vinyl and a good PA system, and nothing else will do.

The subsequent clutter of incompatible audio gear, perpetually broken turntables, and records that collect dust becomes problematic. On one hand, I don’t want to keep gear that I’m not actively using. On the other hand, the sentimental value and street cred of owning said turntables make it difficult to switch to a USB DJ controller that could do the job just as well (while syncing with my entire iTunes collection!) without spending a ton of money and offending the loved ones who spent money to give me said gear.

So what’s a girl to do?
Baysyd1

Ihave a laptop, kindle fire ( sold my kindle when I upgraded), basic android smartphone. No TV or camera. I do have a USB key. I also have a nano for fitness and an older palm pixie I use as an iPod touch or to workout with. I’m thinking about dropping smartphone as I use the fire a lot.
MinimalistNic

My “essential technology” that I own is, a small TV with Sky, a cheap netbook, and a £10 Pay As You Go mobile phone for emergencies. I’m hoping in the near future that I can overcome my “TV addiction”, and get rid of my TV
- Guest
  
  You could try getting your movies and tv through services like netflix and watch them on your netbook. No ads, and you can choose what you want to watch, when you want to watch it.
http://eemusings.wordpress.com/ eemusings

I honestly think point and shoot cameras will die out.

I never use mine anymore. My iPhone takes just as good photos with less lag. For better quality, I use my dSLR.

We never use our DVD player anymore. Heck, down with physical discs!
Mitchell

I’d love to know why you have so many backup drives, and what sizes they are? I’m not sure your line of work, but certainly wouldn’t a 2TB external be way more than enough?

Or is it just a collection of smaller sized backup drives you’ve collected over the years?

Also, if you can pare your music collection down, a smartphone can eliminate at least a few of your items.

I have a android smartphone with a 32GB SD in it, in your case it would take the place of your iPod 80GB, iPod Touch, and perhaps iPod Shuffle, along with your cellphone.

Curious, why do you use both a macbook and a netbook?
Guest

Wow, sounds like too many items for a minimalist
- Ken
  
  I think being a minimalist is not about the minimal # of items total but the minimal # of items utilized all the time.
  - Mitchell
    
    not quite, its about having only what you need. If you need 1000 backup drives, you can still be minimalists, as long as they are definitely needs.

Essential Technology for a Minimalist

Here is the tech what I consider essential for myself:

The extra stuff I have that isn’t listed up there:

HOW TO CHOOSE TECHNOLOGY

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