Gadgets you should get rid of (or not)

And so we no longer need to accumulate products. If anything, we can cut down. The question is: Which can be replaced and which are fine, or even preferable, to keep? It is plain as day that paper maps and Rolodexes have given way to their digital counterparts. But what else can you get rid of? Here is a list of common consumer technologies and products and a somewhat opinionated judgment on whether to keep or pitch it.

Desktop computer

Lose it. You may have one now, but are you really going to replace that deskbound PC when it becomes out of date? Assuming you are not a hardcore gamer or a video editor, laptops have all the necessary computing power the average user needs. If you want to replicate that desktop experience, you can always connect your laptop to a larger display and keyboard.

Internet at home

Keep it. With the advent of devices like the MiFi, which converts a 3G mobile signal into a Wi-Fi cloud for multiple devices to share, you might be thinking about giving your Internet service provider the boot and using your cellphone as your Internet connection, even when at home. That would work—provided that you get a strong data signal where you live.

Cable TV

Depends. While you may and should hold on to a good broadband connection at home, it is debatable whether you need to pay for cable TV. Sports fans probably will want to keep it, as many leagues restrict online content, but casual viewers who mainly want some shows and movies to watch could get by with a good Internet connection.

USB thumb drive

Lose it. File sharing does not require hardware anymore. In almost any case you can think of, you can move files around digitally via the Internet. A USB drive is just something to misplace or break.

Digital music player

Lose it (probably). Do you have a smartphone? Then you have a music player. Why load yourself down with an extra gadget? Music is data, and many multifunction devices can handle it along with many other kinds of data (like video and e-mail). The one exception may be if you enjoy music while exercising.

Alarm clock

Keep it. Smartphones can be terrific alarm clocks. They can ramp up the volume gradually, display weather information and awaken you to your favourite song. And when on the road, they are still light-years ahead of the incomprehensible alarm clocks in hotel rooms.

But a recent daylight time glitch in iPhones that fouled up the clock could give some early risers pause. Furthermore, setting and resetting smartphone alarms may require a dive into one submenu too many; turning a little knob on the back of a clock and flipping a switch is still simplicity itself.

Books

Keep them (with one exception). Yes, e-readers are amazing, and yes, they will probably become a more dominant reading platform over time, but consider this about a book: It has a terrific, high-resolution display. It is pretty durable; you could get it a little wet and all would not be lost. It has tremendous battery life. It is often inexpensive enough that, if you misplaced it, you would not be too upset. You can even borrow them free at libraries.