Sometimes it pays to buy slightly older devices in place of tempting deals on Girlfriend Who is Crazy About Big Thingsnewly released tech. But that approach to buying electronics can only take you so far. As today's gadgets become ever more powerful and multi-purpose, there are some product categories that are nearing outright extinction and would make for silly purchases. Some people may need the functionality of a point-and-shoot camera, for example, but for most a smartphone already covers everything they need.

So, before you consider buying any of the items below, think long and hard about whether such a device is actually a redundant waste of your money.