Bahh…
Back in my day, we just took our shoes and socks off and let the blood oozing from the soles of our abraded feet provide the sliding action. 
strangely enough, I used a rotary phone today, in the home of an 80-something year old client. I almost didn’t recognize it, I was looking in the clutter for the usual cordless phone.
I was reading this the other day, seeing the comments about dot-matrix printers, and something about the idea of them being obsolete was nagging at me. While they certainly aren’t used in the mainstream for consumer use (which is what the OP may have been trying to concentrate on), I get this idea that they are still useful in certain specific applications.
I just feel like I still see forms and what-not printed on dot-matrix - those kinds of forms where there are multiple copies.
Also, any application that continually prints - even a small amount of printing that may be continuous. Those feeder holes on the side of the page, and being able to feed from a tall stack of paper would certainly have its advantages in some cases.
Remember how they were always prizes in Double Dare?
wind-wings and curbfeelers; 4 track tapes. I remember a lot of stuff mentioned upthread, too.
Oh! an “air-conditioner” that was this green thing that fastened on the side of the car. If I recall correctly, you put water in it and the wind blowing into it then blew “cool” air into the car. Heh, it was great for the person sitting next to it, but that’s about it. Mom got that pleasure 
The cordless phones with the antenna. See the movie The Sure Thing if not sure what I mean.
Rumors of the speaking clock’s demise are greatly exaggerated.
Enjoy,
Steven
On the military side, EADS has intoduced the C-295 rather recently, based upon the 1980’s design of the CN-235.
Also, the Q-400 turboprop is Bombardier’s best seller; there’s a significant chance that they will stretch it again to make it into a 100-seater, likely on the market by 2014 or so.
Propeller planes have STOL capability and are fuel efficient; I’ve heard some talk of them seriously making a comeback in the commercial industry as low cost begins to outweigh the benefits of speed, and in the case of the Q-series, that speed difference isn’t that much compared to other regional jets.
Actually, without the antenna, my HDTV can’t get a signal, since I’m too cheap for cable
Mostly I only get NBC clearly, but wow do I get NBC clearly. otherwise there are some other channels that get a weaker signal or that I don’t watch, and one channel that appears to just broadcast a weather map with weather updates.
Crosses off possible purchase of HD TV in the near future…
I have a $50 antenna and I get all the local channels. Most of them have 3 sub channels: 1 in HD, one in 480p(either an echo of the first or specialty programing), and a weather feed. It’s worth it.