The Price-Hollingsworth Company Inc.

Traditionally, when something breaks or becomes obsolete, you replace it with something of like kind and quality—same specs, same capabilities, same value. 

But with how fast technology changes, what does that really mean today? 

You can’t replace a 2018 device with the same model if it’s no longer made. Specs have changed. Interfaces are different. The replacement landscape is constantly shifting: 

• Ports disappear (RIP headphone jack 🎧) 
• New operating systems demand updated hardware 
• Subscriptions replace one-time licenses 
• AI is baked into everything 

So what do you do when “the same” doesn’t exist anymore? 

It’s not about replacing gigabytes with gigabytes. It’s about: 

✅ Functional equivalence
✅ Compatibility with current systems
✅ Value in today’s market—not yesterday’s prices 



Example: 
A $4,000 workstation from 2016 might now be matched by a $1,200 laptop.
Is it a downgrade—or a smarter, lighter replacement? 

Let’s rethink “like-kind and quality” for the real world: 

1. Define the function first 
   What did the item do, not just what specs it had? 
2. Zoom out to the system level 
   Will the replacement fit into your current tech ecosystem? 
3. Evaluate modern value 
   If something new does more for less, that’s not a downgrade. 

In tech-heavy environments, like-kind and quality can’t mean a carbon copy of the past. It has to mean a replacement that performs the same role in the present context. 

The key is flexibility with intent—matching function and value, not just part numbers. 

If your organization needs guidance navigating replacement standards in today’s tech market, reach out to us — we can help you make sound, future-facing decisions grounded in clarity and practicality.