Major damage occurs mostly when your house gets a direct hit. Computers become obsolete too fast. Yes, but some parts do not become obsolete fast enough. The 1.44 floppy disk drive has hung around too long. CD ROM drives are still too slow for anything really useful except loading programs.
Modems are way too slow, and the NET, forget it.
Don't buy a skimpy or outdated printer to save a few dollars. Hard drives can often be re-used as a backup device with a removal tray. System boards can live longer if you pump enough RAM into them. Make a distinction between mature and emerging technologies. If you spend a lot of money on emerging technologies, you will see the most rapid depreciation.