In a recession, tech gadgets become a luxury

Matthew Baron is one of those gizmo guys, the kind who covets all toys new and shiny.But the Brooklyn, New York, attorney, like so many other American consumers who are watching their bank account balances, is reassessing his gadget habit. "If I'm going to buy something, I want it to count. I want it to last," said Baron, who incidentally goes by "OMG! Ponies!" when he posts comments on Gizmodo, a popular tech and gadget blog. So, even though he'd like to upgrade his 4½ -year-old HDTV, this cowboy's holding back the reins. And while the latest iPhone was a "must have" for Baron, he said he's "waiting to pull the trigger" on that camera he's been circling. "I just can't go out and spend $400 right now." Ignoring what you want. Recycling the old. Fixing what can be saved. Is this the new American way when it comes to tech toys and electronics -- an industry in which new gadgets can become outdated within months? Many consumers are hoping to make products last longer, which is keeping businesses that repair and refurbish computers and other gadgets and electronics as busy as ever.