Devices want to be used

Buying new devices for a hobby or entertainment purposes is exciting. I enjoy researching, watching reviews, and digging into forums to determine if my purchase will be worth it. I imagine myself using my new toy. Often, this thought makes me happier than the actual experience of using it. In the past, I purchased musical instruments, consoles, handhelds, e-readers, and other electronic devices that way. The excitement wears off, the new thing becomes the familiar thing and the days when the device collects dust in the corner grow more numerous. I feel bad for not using it, because I made myself a promise. The moment I bought it, I promised myself that I would be using it - not explicitly, but through the act of buying alone. If I use it and the thing can fulfill its purpose, I also fulfill that promise. Not using it means that I don't actually need it. I don't want to admit that, of course, because my money has already been spent. This creates emotional resistance to the idea of…