What's the pont of buying a new gadget when an upgraded model will come out soon?

I feel that everytime I buy a hot new gadget, like a few months later, a newer and better one comes out. Like mp3 players, computers, digital cameras, palm pilots, cell phones, dvd players etc. How do you know which model to buy and when to buy them? What do you do if you saw a better model come out?What's the pont of buying a new gadget when an upgraded model will come out soon?
You have "new model syndrome". Sometimes the new model will be a ground-breaking update on what is currently available and people will already be saying they won't put anything out after that for a while.



But when a new model is due (or more so, when it is out), the previous generation drops in price dramatically.



So, if you get 1 new model every month or so %26amp; there's no sign of it stopping any time soon - just buy the -1 generation %26amp; be happy with it.



NOTE: if you are looking at PS2 %26amp; PS3 - I would love tos ay buy the PS3 - but it's going to be damned expensive, AFAIK.



Or you could just adopt a philosophy that you will keep the current version of product-x until it no longer works properly with any other technology - extend it's lifespan to the max.What's the pont of buying a new gadget when an upgraded model will come out soon?
I guess it's just to say, "I have it." Who knows, one day your old gadget may be rare. When I see new models of things, I analyze and compare prices and functions. If I don't need it...then I don't need it. I love my iPod even if it is outdated. It's all I need-to listen to music. :)