Things that have become obsolete in our lifetime

[JakeBrake]

Remember these?

I was fascinated by the table top juke remotes, but I was too cheap (LBYM ?) to put any money in them.

 

[JakeBrake]

Automobile ash trays.
Transistor Radios
Sony Walkman
Atari games
Betamax VCR
AMC Pacer

I recently paid a premium price on Ebay for an ashtray for my '95 GMC pick up. The '95 GMC was ahead of its time in that it had 3 12V outlets in the ashtray and when the original ashtray broke, it was a real inconvenience.

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

Celestial Navigation

With all the GPS jamming devices available today, this one is poised for a comeback.

 

[omni550]

Fondue.

"Melting Pot" is a national U.S. chain of fondue restaurants, with over 145 locations in 37 states. They seem popular around here, with 3 stores in this metro area.

So don't write-off fondue just yet. LOL

omni

 

[Original Wally]

The ability to tell non-politically correct jokes in public

Or in some forums

 

[Original Wally]

Automobile ash trays.

How about ash trays in the home? My folks did not smoke, but we still had them on the coffee table for guests.

 

[Amethyst]

Agree. A "crossover" is an expensive station wagon.

Amethyst

I would beg to differ about the station wagon.... look at the Honda Venza and a few other whatever they are called now.... that is a station wagon if I ever saw one.... just raising it up a bit does not change what it is...

 

[Meadbh]

The Canadian penny coin is no longer being made. I celebrated its demise by sorting and rolling all the coins in my change jar. After retaining some toonies and quarters for parking machines, I took the remainder to the bank yesterday and deposited $82 to my checking account.

 

[bondi688]

Could that happen to Microsoft and the Window OS?
Microsoft Could Be Obsolete By 2017: Gartner Report | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance
"A report released by Gartner, the technology research and advisory firm, forecasts that by 2017 shipments of devices using Google’s Android operating system will dwarf shipments of Windows PCs and phones. Shipments of Apple iPhones and iPads will be almost at parity with devices powered by Microsoft.
“Microsoft could be completely irrelevant in three or four years if they can’t make headway in the smartphone or tablet market, where they’ve been struggling,” says The Daily Ticker's Henry Blodget."

 

[jollystomper]

Could that happen to Microsoft and the Window OS?
Microsoft Could Be Obsolete By 2017: Gartner Report | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance
"A report released by Gartner, the technology research and advisory firm, forecasts that by 2017 shipments of devices using Google’s Android operating system will dwarf shipments of Windows PCs and phones. Shipments of Apple iPhones and iPads will be almost at parity with devices powered by Microsoft.
“Microsoft could be completely irrelevant in three or four years if they can’t make headway in the smartphone or tablet market, where they’ve been struggling,” says The Daily Ticker's Henry Blodget."

I doubt it. What keeps an OS active is not so much the OS itself but the applications that depend on it. Folks are more likely to use smartphones and tablets as ajduncts to PCs for a while. Enough businesses depend on Windows applications that you won't see it disappear. In fact, the growth of smartphones and tablets may drive increased usage of Windows at the enterprise level.

There might be an analogy with what has happened to mainframes. When PCs started growing and networking increased, may predicted the mainframe would become obsolete. Instead, it drove the requirements for more mainframe processing since so many more requests were coming in. In addition, there were applications and security characteristics where the mainframe has an advantage over PCs. The result has been a growth in mainframe processing rather than a reduction.

Microsoft's growth days may be over, and its stock might be more like and "value" than a "growth" stock, but I don't see it or Windows being obsolete in 4 years, given the existing base and how quickly that base really changes. But if I was 100% sure in my predictions I'd be filthy rich and not a struggling peon.

 

[bondi688]

jollystomper
Yours is a well reasoned analysis. Actually when you read the article, it just said that smartphones and tablets are gaining market shares on Microsoft, but at worst, it said those shipments will equal to that for Microsoft and Window OS in 2017. That did not say Microsoft will be obsolete or the company will fail by that time. Typical headline in financial post and the breathless exaggerations.

 

[Tree-dweller]

I was thinking I no longer had need for an old "church-key" beer can opener, but then I had an urge for condensed milk for my coffee. Luckily I found one buried in the kitchen junk draw (next to the Ronson lighter).

 

[UserRequested]

I was thinking I no longer had need for an old "church-key" beer can opener, but then I had an urge for condensed milk for my coffee. Luckily I found one buried in the kitchen junk draw (next to the Ronson lighter).

Love Vietnamese style coffee with condensed milk.

You wudda thought all cans now come with a lift tab

 

[cantlogin]

I remember when men had manners enough to remove their hats indoors.
It used to be that little boys wore short pants and full length trousers were the normal attire for grown men.

 

[Milton]

I remember when men had manners enough to remove their hats indoors.

Sadly, it is now all too common for louts to wear those stupid baseball caps indoors: especially while eating in restaurants.

I used to think that this was exclusively an American habit, but unfortunately the disease has crossed the border and is slowly spreading northward.

 

[Keim]

Sadly, it is now all too common for louts to wear those stupid baseball caps indoors: especially while eating in restaurants.

I used to think that this was exclusively an American habit, but unfortunately the disease has crossed the border and is slowly spreading northward.

I teach public speaking in a college. I frequently have to explain that hats aren't to be worn by gentlemen while giving a speech. Also had to implement a dress code for speech day. Sweats and a stained shirt just don't lend credibility to your speech...

 

[arky]

.... implement a dress code for speech day. Sweats and a stained shirt just don't lend credibility to your speech...

Except for ER, of course

 

[Keim]

Except for ER, of course

Well... I do teach to dress appropriately for the occasion. Just cuz sweats are inappropriate for my class doesn't mean they are ALWAYS inappropriate.

 

[Milton]

Sweats and a stained shirt just don't lend credibility to your speech.

Speaking of which, I hope that you are able to cure your students of the habit of 'upspeak' (a.k.a. high rising terminal, rising inflection).

I find that really annoying? It certainly does not increase credibility? It sounds like the speaker has no confidence in what he or she is saying?

As my mother used to say, "don't ask me, tell me".

 

[tkopel]

Customer Service - not at all obsolete, but has definitely died in our modern culture!

 

[ziggy29]

Customer Service - not at all obsolete, but has definitely died in our modern culture!

We have become a society which is in the relentless pursuit of the lowest possible price, and in that respect we're getting what we've shown willing to pay for -- not much.

 

[Ronstar]

Sadly, it is now all too common for louts to wear those stupid baseball caps indoors: especially while eating in restaurants.

I used to think that this was exclusively an American habit, but unfortunately the disease has crossed the border and is slowly spreading northward.

Wow - I never thought of myself as a lout until now. I'm wearing a stupid baseball cap now while I'm watching tv from my couch.

 

[REWahoo]

Wow - I never thought of myself as a lout until now. I'm wearing a stupid baseball cap now while I'm watching tv from my couch.

At least you're wearing your spats, right? No, don't tell me!

 

[seraphim]

Drive in movies are not obsolete. Still a neat place to take your girl lol...

 

[seraphim]

How about film-based cameras? Though I would say that many of them still take better pictures than digital ones.

Film based cameras - and Polaroid films - still have place in commercial photography. For consumers? Not as much.