[dpark]

> where we previously used computers and dumbphones that lasted for years and years.

Those are some seriously rose-colored glasses you're wearing. Computers have always been replaced rapidly. For tax purposes, they depreciate to zero in 3 years, reflecting their short lifespan. From what I've seen, most people have replaced their PCs every 3 or so years and phones (including dumb phones) every 2-3 years. It's only the last few years that this cycle has slowed for PCs, as speeds have begun stagnating.

With that said, I do think it's crappy that Apple is abandoning the 1st gen iPad so rapidly, especially since they apparently don't have a meaningful story for out-of-date devices with respect to apps. There seems to be no way to provide a separate version of an app for an older OS. Instead, the user is prompted to update the app, at which point they are told that the app needs the new OS, and then it's removed. (I had this happen to my phone when iOS 5 arrived and I delayed upgrading.)