Topic: Keeping IT in the family

[Clive]

Unwanted gadgets are finding new homes with the older generation, rather than being sent directly to landfill sites.

A survey carried out by electrical retailer Currys found that grandparents are frequently becoming the recipients of 'hand-me-ups', with 70 per cent of respondents over the age of 55 having been given a second-hand technology product from a younger family member.

Forty-three per cent of respondents in the 18-24 age category said they had given an old mobile phone to another family member.

Anna Burleigh, marketing director for Currys said: "With new technologies developing quickly and consumers willing to upgrade products regularly we're seeing the emergence of a new technologically empowered older market as younger people pass products on.

"The last five years has seen huge growth in internet usage among older generations and now they are expanding into other technologies giving rise to a generation of gadget-loving grandparents," said Burleigh.

It also seems that the older generation are turning into gamers - consoles such as the Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo GameCube are being passed up the family by kids who have got the newer versions.

Sixty-year-old Joanna Amrspach took up gaming on a Nintendo Gameboy after her daughter bought a replacement Nintendo DS.

"When my daughter offered it to me I was a bit sceptical. I didn't really think it was for me but I couldn't have been more wrong. It keeps me sharp and it's better than daytime TV. I'm a big fan of Tetris and I can't wait for my daughter to finish with her DS so I can have that off her as well," said Mrs Amrspach.


http://www.currys.co.uk/

[Simon]

I do that all the time!  Most of my friends and relatives have received a 'hand-me-up' from me, most of which are still fully functional to this day!

[sam]

yep same here...

[Clive]

I get hand me up mobile phones but I prefer to stay with my 10 year old phone since I have now learned how make and receive calls with it.  I also get hand me up clothes which are far more useful! 

[mistybear]

I got Michael's old computer, until I saved up and got my own. I wish I could pass it on up to my mother, but she is too scared to use her new DVD player, so a computer is really out of the question.