[JamesP81]

The technology changes so fast, and companies only hire people who are current in the latest

I've never had that problem. Most guys who go into computers do it because they like them start with. I'm naturally going to have fairly recent hardware sitting in my home anyway, so I've never had a problem falling behind.

[Etoo]

[I'm naturally going to have fairly recent hardware sitting in my home anyway, so I've never had a problem falling behind.]

 

For me, as a developer/programmer, the issue is not hardware.   Fast PC's are cheap.

 

It's not unusual for a developer to be heavily involved in a project for a year or more.  60+ hours per week on that project, using the language(s) and technology specific to that project.

 

Repeat this over several years / projects within the same company, all using the same core technologies.

 

Meanwhile, other companies are adopting the latest greatest - currently C# and .net

 

Your company goes out of business... now you get to play catchup - and meet the job reqs for companies wanting multiple years of OTJ, hands-on experience in the latest greatest.  Fast hardware doesn't fix that.

 

I have decent OOP / OOD skills, formed in Delphi and C++, which make the transition to Java or C# easier.

 

Others aren't so lucky.

 

And then there's the issue of unknowingly Empowering predators and pirates to perpetrate the systematic shennanigans we've seen at Enron; and currently watching unfold in via the sub-prime fiasco.  ehem.   I certainly wouldn't want my kids to be any part of that. 

 

There are more honorable professions.

 

If I had it to do over again, I'd have followed in the footsteps of the big guy on the right in this photo; a giant with a giant heart:

 

RIP, Uncle Tony.  I guess heaven needs heroes too.

[speekinout]

If you’re counting on hardware you have at home, you are still limiting your future. You very likely don’t have a geographically diverse network with diverse workstations. You’re doing low level work, maybe quite well, but as the work force becomes more computer savvy, few will need lower level skills. Haven’t you noticed that more people in all fields can do their own simple programming tasks? And that companies prefer to buy commercial software packages that are supported by the manufacturer direct to the end user?
You may want to be one of those who works for the manufacturer, but those are the jobs easiest to offshore.

Keep the job as long as you’re having fun, but you need to plan for a second career.