14 Gadgets from the Past That Were Way Too Complicated
Here's a humorous look back at retro tech that made us feel more confused than connected.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Before sleek smartphones and plug-and-play devices, many gadgets came with thick manuals. These old-school contraptions were designed with good intentions but often felt like solving a puzzle just to use them. Here are 14 complicated tech relics that had us scratching our heads — and sometimes just giving up.
1. The VCR
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Setting the time on one was a feat worthy of a trophy. Recording a show involved navigating buttons, flashing clocks, and a lot of hope.
2. Slide Projectors
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These bulky machines jammed more often than they worked. You had to manually load tiny film slides into carousels with surgical precision.
3. Cassette Tape Decks with Auto-Reverse
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
They promised convenience but delivered complexity. Figuring out if it was on side A or B, or if it was recording over your favorite mixtape, took effort.
4. Rotary Phones
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A single misdial meant starting all over again. The finger workout alone was reason enough to limit calls. And heaven forbid you had to dial a number with multiple nines.
5. Digital Watches with Multi-Functions
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Setting the alarm, calendar, or even just the correct time was like diffusing a bomb. You had to press a specific combination of buttons in the right order.
6. Camcorders with Shoulder Mounts
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They were massive, required tapes, and drained batteries faster than you could say “home video.” Adjusting focus manually was a nightmare.
7. Universal Remote Controls (First Gen)
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Instead of solving the “too many remotes” issue, they just added another one with more buttons. Programming it required code, patience, and prayers.
8. Early GPS Devices
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Before the advent of phone navigation, these standalone units were glitchy and difficult to update. You needed to hook them up to a computer to download new maps — good luck with that.
9. PDA (Personal Digital Assistants)
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Supposedly smart, these clunky organizers needed a stylus and regular syncing with a computer. Calendars, notes, and to-do lists came with a learning curve.
10. Corded Electric Can Openers
Holly Cheng on Wikimedia Commons
They took up counter space, made weird noises, and often mangled the can instead of opening it. You needed to align the can just right to work.
11. Slide Rule Calculators
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Before electronic calculators, these were the math nerd’s tool of choice and confusion. You basically needed to already know the answer to use one.
12. Early Digital Cameras
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Menus were clunky, buttons unintuitive, and storage extremely limited. Transferring photos required special cables and software. Many users just went back to film out of sheer annoyance.
13. MiniDisc Players
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This was a cool concept, but its execution was confusing. You needed special discs, syncing software, and a lot of patience. Despite great sound, most people gave up before finishing their first playlist.
14. Car Phones (Original Models)
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Hardwired into vehicles, these weren’t exactly “mobile.” They required antennas, clunky handsets, and often an entire setup to install.