Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Just for fun - what products or services have become obsolete from your perspective in the past 5-10 years (no need to list the abacus or buggywhip)? The answers won't be universal of course, and hopefully members will refrain from listing products or services they anticipate becoming obsolete - what no longer has a place in your life NOW? In no particular order...
And there are other products and services we can all probably see going away within the next 10 years (like wallets)...
- landline phone - haven't had one for years, and never will again.
- road atlas - between GPS and online maps, why would anyone carry around a paper map or road atlas anymore? GPS is hands free, trying to read a map at 60 mph is downright dangerous, and you can't pull over and look in many places (the Dan Ryan for example).
- newspapers & magazines - I know this one sparks (heated) debate, but we haven't taken a newspaper in almost 10 years and almost as long for magazines. It may take generations, but I don't see how they can survive in physical form for long. Physical books may take longer to disappear, if ever.
- popcorn (that doesn't come prepackaged for the microwave) - we finally threw away our popcorn maker in the last wave of decluttering, we coulnd't remember the last time we use it vs microwave popcorn.
- hand held calculator - we have a few around, but I can't imagine every buying another. I use my phone more often than not, or the iPad or PC when in hand.
- wrist watch - again, many of us carry our phones most of the time (and more will as time passes IMO). It gives more accurate time than most wrist watches. These days, a wrist watch is really just jewelry IMO. I've let the batteries go dead on all my watches (I need to sell the valuable ones on eBay...).
- phone books - found one in my driveway yesterday, like everyone else in the neighborhood (and that's what prompted this post). I just throw them away as soon as we get them nowadays, and I wish I could stop them (what a waste of resources), but we never know who is going to distribute them or when. With the internet and smartphones, I can find phone numbers all over the world - why do I need a paper copy of phone numbers that covers just the city and surrounding area I live in?
- travel agents - nothing against the profession, but I'd rather see everything that's available instead of having someone narrow the choices for me, so online is the only way we've traveled (domestic & foreign) for at least 10 years. I'd rather not pay a markup for a travel agent either (it's there no matter what people try to claim).
And there are other products and services we can all probably see going away within the next 10 years (like wallets)...