10 Common Household Items from the ’80s and ’90s That No Longer Exist

Things that were used around the house in the 1980s and 1990s were very important to people who went through those years. Many of these things have become obsolete as newer technologies have taken their place. This includes bulky electronics and goods that are no longer being made. Here, we will show you things that used to be necessary in every home but are now thought to be out of date. Some were changed for better ones, but others just couldn’t keep up with how quickly things were changing.

1. VCRs (Video Cassette Recorders)

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Many people had VCRs, which they used to record TV shows and play VHS movies. With the rise of DVDs and streaming services, VCRs quickly lost their use and were taken off the market. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a VCR that still works, and VHS tapes are seen as anachronistic.

2. Rotary Phones

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People all over the world used to make calls on rotary phones all the time. When touch-tone and smartphones came out, rotary phones were no longer useful. As technology got better, they became less useful because they were slow to dial and didn’t have many features.

3. Fax Machines

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People needed fax machines in their homes and businesses to send papers over the phone. However, the spread of email and digital file sharing made faxes almost useless. The once-reliable fax machine isn’t used often anymore because there are better communication methods.

4. Polaroid Cameras

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People loved Polaroid cameras because they could print pictures right away after taking them. With the rise of digital cameras and smartphones, quick photos have lost some of their appeal. Even though they were popular for a short time in the early 2000s, Polaroid cameras are not as common in homes today.

5. Answering Machines

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When someone wasn’t home, answering machines were the most common way to get voicemail. When cell phones and messages came out, answering machines were no longer needed. Most people now use their cell phones to check their texts, so this once-necessary device is no longer needed.

6. Walkman

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In the 1980s, the Walkman changed how people listened to music by letting them take their cassette tapes around. The Walkman quickly became useless after the CD player came out, followed by the MP3 player and the smartphone. These well-known gadgets are now memories for people who remember the cassette era.

7. Disposable Cameras

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People liked disposable cameras because they let them keep memories without buying a more expensive camera. Disposable cameras are almost extinct now that digital cameras and smartphones can take good shots. People used to choose them for holidays and special events all the time, but these days you don’t see them very often.

8. Pages/Beepers

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Pagers, also known as beepers, were once an important way to stay in touch, especially in the service and medical fields. Pages were taken out when cell phones got cheaper and more useful. These days, smartphones, which can do a lot more, have replaced these devices.

9. CRT Televisions

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Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs were big and heavy and took up much space in living rooms. CRTs were out of date when flat-screen, high-definition TVs came out. CRT TVs are no longer used in homes because flat-panel TVs are so sleek, thin, and light.

10. LaserDiscs

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Before DVDs, there were LaserDiscs, which were big discs used to store movies.  In terms of quality, LaserDiscs were better than VHS tapes, but their size and price stopped them from becoming popular.  With the rise of DVDs, LaserDiscs quickly went out of style, but a small group of fans still have them.

• Tags:
• Bulky
• Electronics
• Household
• Outdated