What's the latest gadget or tech that you regret buying? - eviltoast

I honestly regret buying my gaming laptop. I barely use it since I don’t have space in my room, so I need to attach it to the TV, every time I need to use, move my series X and unplug it… And I need a wired controller. Then, there’s always a pesky update, drivers, stuff… When I’m playing on my X I don’t have to worry about any of that, is more of a hassle to use (the laptop).

Ngl I basically bought it because I wanted to play Spiderman and other not available games on Xbox but even like that the regret is there.

  • Boozilla@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    35
    ·
    3 months ago

    I regret ever buying an Arlo home security camera system. Neat idea, poor execution. And fuck subscriptions. I took it all down. I don’t miss having creepy-looking cameras in my yard / house. Only put it up because of some very sketchy neighbors we had. And they have gone to prison, so, don’t need them any longer.

    Glad you mentioned the gaming laptop. I’ve been thinking about getting one but keep talking myself out of it.

    • PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      3 months ago

      Unrelated but my wife’s parents are also in this situation. Bought cameras because a sketchy neighbour. Fortunately though they’re now going to prison! Hooray!

        • PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          3 months ago

          I briefly had that thought and then remembered that a couple of weeks ago, my father in law had to explain to his wife what a “casting couch” was.

    • glitches_brew@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      Same, except I deeply regret getting Vivint home security. Took a year to finally get features I had paid for up front. Massive communication failure between support/billing/tech. Sleezy sales practices. Their hardware must be purchased through a third party credit company. Couldn’t transfer my hardware after I moved despite being promised I could. My cameras are sitting on my kitchen counter unplugged because the whole system is a mess. Never ever touch anything Vivint related.

  • mommykink@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    30
    ·
    3 months ago

    My PS5. Even at the time, I knew my gaming days were behind me but figured I’d still use it for media streaming, Blu-Ray playing, and playing my PS4 disks.

    Well, the Playstation Plex app is garbage, I barely watch blu-rays, and turns out I played more than enough of those games a decade ago.

      • mommykink@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        3 months ago

        Like I said, I’m just not a gamer anymore and was buying it more as a home media device that me and my partner could play Minecraft on every now and then. Turns out that Sony’s support for the media streaming I care about is trash, so my PS5 gets maybe an hour of on time a month

    • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      3 months ago

      I don’t play often, but when I do play, I lose an entire weekend. (I’m almost 50, BTW.)

      I really love their VR system; the resolution is amazing.

    • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Ngl if my country would’ve sold PS5 during the pandemic I would’ve bought one instead of the X. Having Spiderman and god of war in my current console would’ve most likely cancelled the plans of buying a laptop… Domino effect.

      • mommykink@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        Fair enough, grass is always greener I suppose. I personally wish I’d have gone with Xbox, which has a functional Plex and Shudder app. ATM, I’m watching most things on my TV by just running an HDMI from my laptop and trying to justify the purchase of a Shield Pro, which would make my PS5 entirely useless

  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    23
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    My Flipper Zero. I can force myself to use it and I actually do use the 125khz emulation. But thats it. I feel like I’m wasting it by not hacking with it.

    As a side note your gaming laptop wouldnt need to update all the time if it was left on to update. Gaming laptops IMO always suck and desktops are better.

    • PassingThrough@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      3 months ago

      Same, though in my case my sole use is the IR. Replaced so many random little remotes from random little light up things.

    • KazuyaDarklight@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      3 months ago

      Yeah, neat idea, but if “hacking” isn’t already something of a hobby, it’s going to just sit around. As mine has.

    • jet@hackertalks.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      My nephew wants a flipper0! so badly. When i looked into the hardware I found the stack5 cardputer to be more interesting, modular, and cheaper $30 vs $160. I figure $30 is about the right price point for a prank toy (thats all he wants it for) that will get forgotten in a few days, then I can use it myself once its abandoned.

    • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      The problem is the space. I can’t have it plug all the time and I don’t have a desktop

      Also I forgot to mention that it forgets my settings on Spiderman and how I settled it with the TV. So many small things that I don’t have to worry when I’m using the Xbox

      • Sanctus@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        3 months ago

        Its because you are unplugging it. Your Xbox only has to worry about displaying to that TV. Your laptop.has to manage when its plugged in or not, and then determine settings based on that. Its why a desktop is generally better for gaming that does not require travel, cause you set it up and leave it, much like your Xbox.

        • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          I only have space for 1 “Rig” and a pc cabinet is probably too heavy for my shelf hanging on the wall underneath my bed (my TV is literally on top of me, I sleep under it) also I have so many more games on Xbox 360, one, X… Makes sense why the X is the one always plugged).

          • Sanctus@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            3 months ago

            I’m just warning you because all the Xbox shit is getting integrated into PC. I dont think Xbox is gonna be here in standalone console form in 15-20 years. They’re already interchangeable right now.

    • pcr3@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Why couldn’t they add barcode scanning to the device? Cheap and useful.

      Or even a camera? I could use it daily in the IT world for pen testing and video/ picture proof.

      It would not add much cost…

      Even Wi-Fi is cheap as hell… Yet it doesn’t have it.

  • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    21
    ·
    3 months ago

    I got a handheld steam cleaner about a year ago, used it a handful of times, and now it takes up space in the cabinet. It did work fantastically on a spot I’d never been able to scrub out, but I wish I’d rented one instead. Fortunately it also got recalled recently (because it can burn people, which sounds like a skill issue but whatever), so I can still get a refund.

  • tobogganablaze@lemmus.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    Very happy with all my recent purchases.

    But I did attempt to upgrade my phone a while back. But once I got it, it felt too big and was uncomfortable to hold and put in my pocket. Also the migration assistant didn’t work and I had to setup everything manually. I stop halfway through and just kept using my old phone. Eventually my brother broke his phone so I just gave it to him.

    • thesohoriots@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      3 months ago

      Phone sizes are just goofy. It shouldn’t be straining against your pocket like it’s trying to escape when you’re sitting.

    • timo_timboo@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      Big phones suck so much. I’m using a Samsung S10e, because that’s the only model I have found that is small and actually pretty good, despite its age. What phone are you using?

  • CoffeeJunkie@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    3 months ago

    I also regret buying a suped-up laptop, big waste of money! But the latest regret is probably the Manscaped Lawn Mower 5.0 electric clippers. For your balls. Idk maybe I’ll have to read/work with it more, but it doesn’t seem to cut the hair so much as it tugs & pulls the hair. Which is every bit as delightful as it sounds.

    Honorary mention, the Fugoo Tough XL Speaker…amazing, booming sound quality in a small package. Expensive. Then that battery life eventually drops like a stone & it’s not good for much.

    • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      3 months ago

      Eyyy, I got burned by the Manscaped shit too. Grab yourself a Philips Norelco, mine was about $70 and it works great.

      • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        Do men really shave their balls that often? I did that shit like 3 times in my life so far, I don’t think I’m that hairy down there.

        And I’m far from being a teenager.

        • ramble81@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          3 months ago

          I fully shave my sack with a razor probably once a week. I’ll trim the tuft on top maybe once every 6 weeks.

        • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          edit-2
          3 months ago

          Amongst several other reasons, I get hot very easily, every little bit helps. Evaporative cooling (ie, sweating) doesn’t seem to work well if there’s a jungle containing the humidity. Full body, it grows back fast. And long enough to tangle and snag. Painfully.

  • ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    3 months ago

    A smart TV.

    It was one of the cheapest options for the size I wanted at my local Walmart. I never wanted a smart TV but couldn’t beat the price.

    The amount of issues I’ve had because it’s designed as more of a streaming platform than a TV is infuriating. The constant updates. Ads. The fact that there are no buttons on the TV so if you lose the remote you’re fucked.

    It’s honestly a pain in the ass I just want a normal TV dammit.

    • 1371113@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      They don’t make them any more. Buy good quality retail panels, the kind shops use in their displays. They’re expensive but that’s because they’re not counting on making money off ad revenue or your data.

      • Whitebrow@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        3 months ago

        +1 on this.

        Buy a good panel and don’t use the smart functionality, never even connect it to the internet. Just hook up a cheap Linux box or pc to it over hdmi and you’re good to go.

        • 1371113@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          3 months ago

          It’s very much worth it, eh. I have a contact through work I can order them from, 5 or 8 year warranties even if powered on 24x7. Nothing but inputs including usb, sometimes toslink but if you’re running a nuc or something just get one with toslink out for the hifi.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    3 months ago

    Bought a bass guitar, intending to take lessons. First teacher didn’t have availability, 2nd didn’t work out, the teacher was fine, the front desk people were assholes.

    Then I injured my feet and have been stuck in the house unable to do anything. :(

    Hope to re-start once I’m healed up.

    • LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      3 months ago

      Sounds like the perfect time to practice your bass! Even just following along with Youtube vids can get you a long ways. Hope you get back on your feet (heh) soon!

    • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      Good luck! As Beefcake the Mighty says, the bass is the most sensitive of instruments.

  • sfxrlz@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    3 months ago

    My switch. It’s been nice and all but my mail account got hacked and some people took all my gaming accounts. All of which I got back except for Minecraft(Microsoft) and Nintendo. And now it’s just a brick. Can’t do shit without the account, you even have to pass like 4 menus trying to get you to log in, when trying to play a game off of a cartridge. I haven’t even gotten an answer from their support except for their stupid automated system.

    • TwanHE@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      3 months ago

      A picofly is like $15, and sounds like you dont have to worry about getting banned anyways.

    • Unbecredible@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      3 months ago

      Do you know how your email account got hacked?

      I don’t understand how this happens to people.

      • sfxrlz@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        3 months ago

        So, a hosting provider which I used to rent vps‘ses at, got hacked and leaked data(Adress,name,payment method,phone numbers). A lot. And then from there… my email provider is old and cheap. No 2fa nessecary and the password was old and simple. Additionally while the gaming accounts were gone, my PayPal n banking have been untouched.

        But also … I also bought a new Chinese keyboard a few months ago and I can’t get rid of the small and probably unjust fear that there might be a keylogger in there. Would fit the timeline though.

  • Lad@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    3 months ago

    Smartwatch. Utter shit.

    On the opposite end of the spectrum, Steam Deck. That thing is amazing.

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      Huh I love my coros watch. But I mostly use it for sports tracking which it obviously does very well., the messages displayed are nice so I can avoid taking my phone out at dinner, and quickly decide if it’s a serious text/call or not

      I get well over a week battery with daily workouts in there

      What did you go for

    • Persen@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      With gadgetbridge, they could apparently be pretty great, but I haven’t tried it.

    • ritchie@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      It depends what you’re using it for. If you aren’t using it to track your sports activity, it is not that useful. Maybe the notifications are useful. I really enjoy tracking my steps and knowing if I should be more active. I use gadgetbridge, so that my data stays on my phone.

  • AA5B@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    Same. I bought it when WiFi 6 first came out and had it customized with the faster WiFi, and I loaded up on memory and Windows Pro so I could run VMs. But hyper-v couldn’t handle the networking so VMs never got the fast network, and was generally enough hassle that VMs never went anywhere. Then even new the battery only lasted an hour. So if I use it to game, I need to start with hours of updates, it’s not even portable: wired power, wired controller, wired headset. wtf?

    Who even has time for gaming? I game like once a month, plus use the laptop for TurboTax once a year. Why do I even have it? Why am I still suffering with Windows?

    Instead of that frustrating detour with Hyper-V, I should have spent the time building out my Raspberry Pi cluster and set up a server

  • ExtraMedicated@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    3 months ago

    VR headset. I mean, I don’t fully regret it yet, as I might someday find a VR game that I actually want to play, am able to play in the small space I have, and that doesn’t make me nauseous within 15 minutes.

    • orb360@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      I like elite dangerous, start wars squadrons, and other Sims I can remain seated for. Feels more immersive that way and doesn’t require space

    • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      I’m waiting for my AceXR handset to arrive. I bought a Quest 3 VR system specifically so i could do dryfire training and get feedback on my accuracy and times. My home range is 1.5 hours away–one way–and ammunition is expensive, so simulation training ends up being the most cost and time effective way to go.

      …Or I’ve just wasted enough money to buy an entry level Tisas 2011 pistol. One of those.

      I have more space available to me though; I can train on my screened-in porch, and even outside in the driveway if it’s not raining. That’s not quite the same as playing a game though.

      The VR games for PS5 are pretty neat too. Controls get kinda wonky on some of them.

  • everett@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    Color eink tablet. The technology is impressive, but really not ready yet. I’d stick with b&w eink, or if you really need color, just go with a conventional tablet.

    • ramble81@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      3 months ago

      I was curious how it would be for manga. I’m trying to find one that has a large enough reading surface so I don’t have to zoom in on panels.

      • everett@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        The current best color eink tech (Kaleido 3) has a handful of limitations, but the big one is how the screen is naturally darker than conventional eink devices you may be familiar with. High contrast and natural light readability are usually the best things about eink, but the darkness of Kaleido 3 screens, caused by the dual layers (one for black pixels, one for color), makes backlighting necessary in a lot more lighting situations, whereas you could probably read a conventional eink device by candlelight, just as you could with a book.

        All these devices have backlights because they need them, but by turning it on you lose most of the benefits of having eink in the first place. At that point it’s like using a standard tablet, except the color depth is only 4096, so imagine the worst tablet screen you’ve ever seen… and this just looks far worse.

  • sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    3 months ago

    I got a Lenovo Thinkpad detachable thinking it would have good Linux support. My hope was to make it my new general purpose laptop, like my old Surface was before it broke.

    But I bought it online, and didn’t realize how small the screen and keyboard would actually be. And the volume keys don’t work in Linux, so I can’t use it as a tablet.

  • Electric@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    3 months ago

    Bad idea to buy a gaming laptop when you already had a Series X. I upgraded from my Xbox One to a laptop instead since it was only about $300 more for a quality laptop. I know the “but a desktop is better!!!” line, but I do not have the space for a desktop + monitor.

    Also, why do you think you need a wired controller? I currently use a wired-only 3rd party Xbox controller because I hate batteries but in the past I could use my normal Xbox controller wirelessly just fine.

    • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Blame Sony for making Spiderman it’s exclusive plus not making ps5 available in 2020.

      I’m pretty sure you need a pairing thingy isn’t? Otherwise you could use a Xbox controller on a PS5 and I don’t feel like buying it for a laptop that I barely use.

      • wirelesswire@kbin.run
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        3 months ago

        You’ll need to check the specs of your laptop to be sure, but most laptops nowadays have a bluetooth receiver built in. All you need to do is pair your xbox controller to it (and it’s natively supported in Windows) and you’re good to go.

        • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          Of course it has Bluetooth, but I thought Xbox controllers were crypted or some shit like that

          • wirelesswire@kbin.run
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            3 months ago

            Not at all. You can buy a receiver to use Xbox’s proprietary wireless standard, which is marginally faster than bluetooth, but I use an Xbox Series X controller with my pc over bluetooth and it works just fine.

          • fishos@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            So pretty much all of your complaints are cus you assumed things that aren’t true and made no effort to fix your actual issues?

            Sounds less like the tech is the problem and like you have a Layer 8 issue.

            • Nobody@feddit.orgOP
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              What? Having a wireless controller doesn’t solve any of my problems