# Old (lack of?) technologies that are just frickin' better than the new tech **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647 "2012-06-29T00:56:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/101 "2012-07-05T04:31:43Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one! The new ones call themselves ‘spill-proof,’ and all I can say is I spilled far more gasoline during the year or so I tried to use one, than during the entire rest of my life. > > I think you need 3 hands to use the damned thing: you’ve got to hold the can as you _forcefully_ pull the nozzle back towards yourself far enough that you can twist the safety part, and do all this pulling and twisting while keeping the end of the nozzle pointed into where the gas goes into your mower. > > It just can’t be done without getting gas all over the freakin’ place, AFAICT. > > Eventually my 1994-vintage plastic gas can will wear out, and when that day comes, I will shed bitter tears. i think they are more spill proof when you aren’t pouring. so a can won’t as easily tip and spill enough gas for a huge fire, like when you are transporting it. i agree the twist spouts are more difficult. there are some spouts that stay open pressing the spout onto a filler lip, like on a car. for a mower use a 1 gallon can to fill the mower, if you need to store more then fill this with a 3 or 5 gallon can. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/102 "2012-07-05T05:10:46Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > You know what? FUCK remote controls! Put the GOD DAMN buttons back on the front of my TV, DVD player, and cable box! > Every fucking time my kids lose the remote I’m screwed untill I find it, can’t even check the fucking score or watch the God damn news. > :mad: Grr, indeed! While we all love being able to turn up the volume without getting up, did they really have to do away with the controls on the actual device itself? Some brands are worse offenders than others. My TV still has channel and volume controls on it, and even a menu button (!), but my DVD player has on/off, play and stop. WTF is that? If I ever lose the remote, I may as well throw the whole player in the trash. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/103 "2012-07-05T05:44:13Z")
I don’t like digital distribution. With a few exceptions, I just can’t get used to the idea of paying for a download. Someday I may find myself no longer a consumer of music or video games. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/104 "2012-07-05T12:48:59Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > I’m not sure this really qualifies, but wtf is up with alarm clocks now? I can hardly find just a plain old retangular-shaped clock that fits nicely on my nightstand. It’s all this goofball “mini-stereo system” BS in all kinds of weird shapes and 50 buttons and stuff sticking out and 800 places to plug in your iBlah etc etc. Good grief. On/off, Sleep mode, AM/FM switch, a volume and tuner control. That’s ALL I want/need. Target and Walmart have such things. They’re usually hidden at the end of the aisle, but they’re there. Dirt cheap, too. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/105 "2012-07-05T13:40:59Z")
> [@oreally](#): > > I’m not sure this really qualifies, but wtf is up with alarm clocks now? I can hardly find just a plain old retangular-shaped clock that fits nicely on my nightstand. It’s all this goofball “mini-stereo system” BS in all kinds of weird shapes and 50 buttons and stuff sticking out and 800 places to plug in your iBlah etc etc. Good grief. On/off, Sleep mode, AM/FM switch, a volume and tuner control. That’s ALL I want/need. Sony has some of the best quality radios in a clock radio. i’ve got a nice slim one with no docks (though a stereo jack to plug in external audio device). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/106 "2012-07-05T13:44:03Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Grr, indeed! While we all love being able to turn up the volume without getting up, did they really have to do away with the controls on the actual device itself? Some brands are worse offenders than others. My TV still has channel and volume controls on it, and even a menu button (!), but my DVD player has on/off, play and stop. WTF is that? If I ever lose the remote, I may as well throw the whole player in the trash. universal remotes are plentiful. they come preprogrammed for hundreds of devices. cheap replacements. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/107 "2012-07-05T14:19:14Z")
Ya, but people lose those too, and yes they can be replaced, but that’s of little comfort when I’m trying to change from channel 2 to channel 6 right now. The point of my gripe was it’s asinine to remove controls entirely from the device. If the remote ever gets lost, it’s like, “Oh well, guess I can’t watch TV!” Highly annoying. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/108 "2012-07-05T14:53:09Z")
> [@NoiseBomb](#): > > I see the two as having different purposes. Mapquest, etc are good for finding the most direct way from point A to point B. I use them then I have a specific starting point and a specific destination. > > What paper maps are much better for are, say a vacation where you only want to know where a road generally goes and what else is vaguely in the area. The electronic maps are difficult to zoom in far enough to see the roads that you want to see, but still show enough area to see what else is there. Well put! My thoughts exactly, but I hadn’t before seen this expressed so clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647/109 "2012-07-05T19:08:15Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Ya, but people lose those too, and yes they can be replaced, but that’s of little comfort when I’m trying to change from channel 2 to channel 6 right now. The point of my gripe was it’s asinine to remove controls entirely from the device. If the remote ever gets lost, it’s like, “Oh well, guess I can’t watch TV!” Highly annoying. Sure you can watch TV. You just have to watch channel 2. Too bad for you that channel 2 sucks. Maybe what you need is a sofa with a retractable remote lanyard. Can’t lose the remote if you tie that bastard down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-lack-of-technologies-that-are-just-frickin-better-than-the-new-tech/626647.md?page=5)