Renting vs. Owning Devices

Comments debate the shift from buying to renting hardware and services, arguing that many purchases are effectively long-term rentals due to subscriptions or limited functionality, and suggesting rentals for occasional use.

📉 Falling 0.5x Hardware
3,234
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#9130
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
1
2008
16
2009
44
2010
47
2011
72
2012
75
2013
140
2014
111
2015
148
2016
172
2017
220
2018
191
2019
266
2020
240
2021
325
2022
306
2023
316
2024
266
2025
247
2026
31

Keywords

BMW CyberRentals CD TIL TV rent renting rental kagi cheaper rentals limited time buy service gave

Sample Comments

rawgabbit Jan 23, 2024 View on HN

Instead of buying, people are now renting?

spdustin Apr 26, 2016 View on HN

And what if my users rent it?

Waterluvian Jan 6, 2026 View on HN

People rent things they can’t afford to own.

marcosdumay Jan 7, 2019 View on HN

Maybe people can rent those just when they need.

the_clarence Sep 18, 2018 View on HN

Can’t you rent in these cases? It sounds like it would be cheaper.

account42 Jun 2, 2025 View on HN

In many cases you are not buying these devices, you are only renting them.

brandall10 Jun 15, 2022 View on HN

If that's the case, why not just rent?

chunkyguy Jul 29, 2022 View on HN

So it isn't really a purchase but rather rental

baq May 21, 2021 View on HN

Why not rent something occasionally then?

craftinator Nov 3, 2020 View on HN

TIL we don't buy devices, we rent them indefinitely.