18 Forgotten ’90s Tech Accessories That Are Obsolete
These 18 tech accessories from the 1990s were once common but have since become obsolete and largely forgotten.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
During the 1990s, personal tech devices grew rapidly, along with the accessories that supported them. Many of these tools were necessary at the time but are no longer used due to changes in design and connectivity. Some are remembered only by collectors or tech history enthusiasts.
1. Serial Port Mouse
MdeVicente on Wikimedia Commons
Before USB became standard, computer mice often connected through serial ports. They used round connectors and required manual configuration. Installation was not plug-and-play and often required driver disks. These were replaced by more user-friendly USB mice.
2. Zip Drives
Yuri Litvinenko / 30pin on Wikimedia Commons
Zip drives were external storage devices that used special high-capacity disks. They were popular for backing up files or transferring large documents. A single Zip disk could hold up to 100 MB, which was considered large at the time. They became obsolete once CDs, USB drives, and cloud storage arrived.
3. Floppy Disk Cleaners
Swtpc6800 on Wikimedia Commons
These were cleaning kits designed to keep floppy disk drives functioning properly. The kit usually included a special disk and cleaning fluid. Dirt on the drive’s read head could prevent disks from loading. As floppy disks disappeared, these accessories went with them.
4. PS/2 to Serial Adapters
S nova on Wikimedia Commons
Many 1990s computers needed adapters to connect older keyboards or mice to different port types. These small plug-in adapters were necessary when moving between systems. They helped bridge gaps between hardware generations. With USB now dominant, these adapters are no longer needed.
5. Parallel Port Cables
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
These bulky cables were used to connect printers, scanners, and some external drives. They had a wide, flat connector with many pins. Parallel ports were slow and not hot-swappable. USB replaced them due to speed and ease of use.
6. Infrared (IR) Dongles
Bartosz Senderek on Wikimedia Commons
Some laptops and devices used infrared for short-range file transfers. IR dongles allowed two machines to share data if both had the right port. Transfers were slow and required line-of-sight. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi made IR obsolete.
7. PS/2 Mouse Extenders
Gona.eu on Wikimedia Commons
Desk setups often required longer cables, and these extenders helped stretch mouse cords across larger desks. They were necessary in office environments or shared workstations. The cables were specific to PS/2 connectors. Today’s wireless or USB mice make them unnecessary.
8. CRT Monitor Glare Filters
Fronteira on Wikimedia Commons
These were plastic or glass panels attached to the front of bulky CRT monitors. They helped reduce glare and eye strain during long hours of use. Some also claimed to reduce radiation. Flat-screen monitors made them irrelevant.
9. Trackball Attachments for Mouse
Pbroks13 on Wikimedia Commons
These small clip-on devices turned basic mouse into trackball-like controllers. They offered more control or comfort for certain users. They were marketed toward gamers and designers. With better mouse designs now available, they are no longer made.
10. Laptop Cooling Pads (Fan-Based, AC-Powered)
Littletung on Wikimedia Commons
Older laptops ran hot and needed external cooling pads with built-in fans. These were powered by wall plugs and sat under the computer. They were loud, heavy, and not very efficient. Modern laptops are cooler and use more effective internal fans.
11. CD-ROM Lens
Guyik on Wikimedia Commons
This tool was a disc with small brushes used to clean the inside lens of a CD drive. It spun inside the drive to remove dust buildup. Skipping or unreadable discs often prompted use. As CD drives became rare, these tools disappeared.
12. Modem Line Splitters
Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons
To share a single phone line between voice calls and a dial-up modem, users needed line splitters. These allowed internet use and phone calls from the same wall jack. They were common in homes with one line. Broadband internet made them irrelevant.
13. Serial Cable Sync Kits for PDAs
Dsimic on Wikimedia Commons
Before Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, PDAs like the PalmPilot synced via serial cables. These kits included drivers and software to manage the connection. Data transfers were slow and limited. Wireless syncing ended the need for physical kits.
14. Sound Card Joystick Adapters
Mister rf on Wikimedia Commons
PCs used to connect joysticks through the sound card port. These adapters let users play games with analog controllers. Over time, USB controllers replaced them. Gaming input has since standardized.
15. Keyboard Dust Covers
Eriksson, Anders on Wikimedia Commons
Plastic or fabric covers were used to keep dust off desktop keyboards. They were common in offices or homes with rarely used computers. People would remove them only when typing. Modern designs are more sealed, and cleaning habits have changed.
16. Tape Drive Backups
Robert Jacek Tomczak on Wikimedia Commons
Businesses and advanced users backed up data on magnetic tape using large external drives. Tapes could store gigabytes of data and were seen as reliable. They required special software and hardware to access. Cheaper, faster options like hard drives and cloud storage replaced them.
17. RF Modulators
MH on Wikimedia Commons
These devices connected VCRs or game consoles to TVs without AV inputs. They converted signals so older TVs could receive them through the antenna jack. Most TVs today have HDMI or composite inputs, so RF modulators are no longer used. They’ve become part of retro gaming setups only.
18. Clip-On Webcam Covers
Donald Trung Quoc Don on Wikimedia Commons
Before built-in cameras, users bought clip-on webcams with covers for privacy. These accessories are attached to the top of CRT monitors. Early webcams had low resolution and poor sound. Built-in laptop cameras and better privacy tools replaced them.