I think having the latest technology is definitely a want! While they are nice to have and many of us feel we "need" them, people before us have survived for a long time without them. Granted having electronics seems to make life a lot easier, I don't understand the purpose of having several things that do the same thing. Ipods and Iphones do just about the same thing, why not just get the Iphone that does everything the ipod does plus being able to make phone calls. I usually get a new phone every two years, the only reason I get a new phone that often is because by that time the phone is glitching and being slow. I've never really thought about the effect electronics have on the environment. I do think recycling old electronics is very important, we all are guilty of having something we don't use just sitting around the house. Why not recycle it !
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012 … /index.htm