The Logic Behind the Thrifty Techie Logo

The Thrifty-Techie.US logo’s background befits the frugality of the Thrifty Techie.  While the Thrifty Techie is not of Scottish descent, he was born a bargain hunter– hence the tartan backdrop.

One may wonder about the Springfield inspired silhouette.  That shadow figure represents the everyman, to whom this website is oriented. He is happy dancing to the beat of a different drummer.

The pose is a parody of Apple’s iconic ads for the i-Pod.  The MP3 player (particularly the i-Pod) marked a breakthru of digital media and handheld devices throughout society.  

Yet if you look closely at the Thrifty-Techie logo, the happy dancer is listening to music just by holding a CD. How can that be? 

The anachronistic image is intended as a surrealistic metaphor. Most tech sites cater to the digerati, who demand to know about the latest and greatest in technology.  But many people just wants to find what works for them, particularly when it’s “popularly priced”.   Kids today may consider compact disks as quaint as a Victrola. An older technology may have more value to a person than a new release which they do not understand, can not afford or requires repurchasing media in yet another format (e.g. from LPs to tapes to CDs to DRMed MP3s etc.)

While the Thrifty Techie is adept at finding a bargain, he knows that the lowest price is not always the best deal.   If people can be practically happy maximizing the utility of older technologies and minimizing their frustrations then that may be the best deal for them.

The Thrifty Techie title in the masthead is hued in a neon green in homage to "P1" phosphor, which was typical of monochromatic CRT monitors in the early days of computing.  Ironically, the everyman emanates a glowing green, but that may have something to do where that shadowy silhouette supposedly works. 

Why Thrifty-Techie?

We live in a time where technology can overwhelm us.  Perhaps 15% of the population are early adopters, who relish paying top dollar to get a shiny new techno toy which is supposedly the latest and greatest. The most devoted to this cult will camp out for days to be amongst the first in line to get a newly released gadget.  There are plenty of places where these gadget geeks can satisfy their techno lust.

Toward the other end of the technology spectrum, there are people could jocularly be referred to as  neo-Luddites who do not consider technology a priority and may be a hinderance to living well.  Yet  few people  actually live without gadgets. Their lack of understanding and interest in technology sometimes traps them into a modus operendi which is both expensive and inefficient.

While I appreciate the onslaught of new technology, I want to find solutions which give the most bang for the buck.  The Thrifty-Techie hopes to highlight technologies which could save a consumer significant cash while meeting their needs. 

However,  the most frugal choice may not be the thriftiest choice, especially in the technological arena. Gadgets which are supposed to enhance the quality of our lives are often underutilized or become a vexing source of frustration.  It may be a better match to pay a convenience tax for an easy to use gadget rather than being penny wise and pound foolish.  The Thrifty-Techie hopes to help match the non-techie to the best choice for them.

Although it is easy to relegate the meaning of thrifty to cost consciousness, it also encompasses "using resources carefully and not wastefully".  Thus, along with the reviews of thrifty products and services, and suggestions on how to more fully utilize devices and software, there may be some reflections  on the ethics associated with technology and the appropriate use of devices.

Sting composed the lyrics to the Police album “The Ghost in the Machine” (1981) to explore Arthur Koestler’s comparative psychological theory that man is becoming more machine-like, which interferes with our primordial sensibilities.  Although our society thrives on technology, we need to find ways to leverage these techno tools to enhance the quality of individuals, lest we find ourselves with "Too Much Information".

I have often wanted to help people choose the best technology for them.  Unfortunately, verbally communicating this wisdom can overwhelm the decision maker so written conveyance may be more effective.  The Thrifty-Techie aspires to prevent information overload so as to maximize the utility of our technology while minimizing the frustration associated with these gadgets.  Perhaps it can serve as an technology entrepot where ideas are exchanged.