15 Gadgets from the Early Internet Era That Make No Sense Today
Here's a journey through 15 early internet-era gadgets that once defined our digital lives but now seem utterly baffling.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
The dawn of the internet era brought with it a slew of gadgets that were once at the forefront of technological innovation. However, as technology rapidly advanced, many of these gadgets became obsolete, leaving behind a trail of digital relics. This listicle delves into 15 such gadgets, exploring their significance during their heyday and why they no longer fit into our modern tech landscape.
1. Dial-Up Modems
Frunze103 on Wikimedia Commons
Do you still remember the screeching sound of connecting to the internet? Dial-up modems were our gateway to the World Wide Web, albeit at painfully slow speeds. Today, with high-speed broadband and fiber optics, the idea of waiting minutes to load a single webpage is unfathomable.
2. Floppy Disks
Jacek Halicki on Wikimedia Commons
Once the primary means of data storage and transfer, floppy disks held a mere 1.44 MB of data. In today’s world of terabyte hard drives and cloud storage, these flimsy disks are a quaint reminder of our digital infancy.
3. CRT Monitors
Ceedrun on Wikimedia Commons
Cathode-ray tube monitors were once the standard for computer displays. They occupied significant desk space and emitted a warm glow. Modern flat-screen monitors have rendered these heavyweights obsolete, offering better resolution and a sleeker design.
4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
Steve Elliott on Wikimedia Commons
Before smartphones, PDAs were the go-to for digital organization, offering calendars, contacts, and note-taking. With the advent of multifunctional smartphones, PDAs have become a relic of a more straightforward digital time.
5. Iomega Zip Drives
Yuri Litvinenko / 30pin on Wikimedia Commons
Promising higher storage capacity than floppy disks, Zip drives were a popular choice for backing up data. However, their proprietary format and the rise of USB flash drives led to their swift decline.
6. Dot Matrix Printers
Corvair on Wikimedia Commons
Known for their distinctive noise and perforated paper, dot matrix printers were once office staples. Modern inkjet and laser printers have since taken over, offering quieter operation and higher print quality.
7. Audio Cassette Tapes
Inpriva on Wikimedia Commons
Once the primary medium for music lovers, cassette tapes required manual rewinding and were prone to tangling. Digital music players and streaming services have since revolutionized how we consume music.
8. VHS Tapes
Jacek Halicki on Wikimedia Commons
VHS tapes brought movies into our homes, but their bulky nature and susceptibility to wear made them less than ideal. DVDs and digital streaming have since provided more convenient alternatives.
9. Fax Machines
Pittigrilli on Wikimedia Commons
Once essential for business communication, fax machines transmitted documents over phone lines. Email and digital signatures have largely rendered faxing unnecessary in the modern office.
10. Pagers
cubos Internet GmbH on Wikimedia Commons
Before mobile phones became ubiquitous, pagers were a primary means of receiving messages on the go. Their limited functionality couldn’t compete with the versatility of modern smartphones.
11. Rolodex
Jorfer on Wikimedia Commons
The Rolodex was the go-to for managing contacts in the pre-digital age. Today, digital contact lists and CRM systems have made physical Rolodexes a thing of the past.
12. Handheld Organizers
Yuri Litvinenko / 30pin on Wikimedia Commons
These devices helped users manage schedules and contacts before smartphones consolidated these functions. The multifunctionality of modern devices has rendered standalone organizers obsolete.
13. Overhead Projectors
Dennis Sylvester Hurd on Wikimedia Commons
Once a classroom staple, overhead projectors displayed transparencies for group viewing. Digital projectors and interactive whiteboards have since taken their place, offering more dynamic presentation capabilities.
14. The Brick-Sized MP3 Player
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
Before iPods took over, devices like the Creative Nomad were how you carried your music — if you had the pocket space. It was chunky and glitchy, and it needed software that felt like it came from a lab, not a living room. But for some reason, we still thought it was futuristic at the time.
15. SideWinder Controller
MOS6502 on Wikimedia Commons
The Microsoft SideWinder tried to reinvent the gamepad but ended up confusing everyone. The design was clunky, the buttons were oddly placed, and setting it up was a mini IT project. It was less “plug and play” and more “plug and pray.”