# What Old Technologies (Or Things) Will You NEVER Give Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103 "2009-08-02T23:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CutterJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@CutterJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CutterJohn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/61 "2009-08-04T03:31:11Z")
My little notebooks. Look, PDAs and smartphones are wonderful bits of technology, and have many great uses, but among them are NOT quickly and easily taking down notes, directions, lists, etc… Nor being able to write said items down, tear off a piece, and handing it to another person. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/62 "2009-08-04T04:47:54Z")
\*\*\*Books. There’s something really exciting about opening a new book for the first time that can’t be equalled by an online version. \*\*\*Paper organizers. I have a Blackberry but I still have my “Month At A Glance” calendar at work. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/63 "2009-08-04T06:34:14Z")
Guns Bow & arrows Pocket knife Cheerios Fig Newtons 1957 Cessna - 172 Crank car windows Standard transmissions Wood fires in the woods to make ‘Smores’. Rope swing over the creek Cheese grader ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/64 "2009-08-04T18:07:08Z")
My black Pentel .5mm HB graphite mechanical pencil. Still my favorite way to write. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/65 "2009-08-04T18:26:56Z")
I like [these](http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/kitchen-knives-3claveles/explorer-can-opener.asp) can openers. They’re small, they can be used as screwdrivers, they can open cans of any shape, and in general they kick the crap out of the ones with gears. I understand using electric can openers in high-volume operations, but for me, “Explorers” are the way to go. The name isn’t for the model, it’s for the style: the first link I got happens to be for the brand I seek whenever buying anything they may make. You’ll remove my Tres Claveles scissors and tweezers from my cold, dead hands - but only once I’ve rotten away. I specialize in getting wooden toys and cloth dolls for the kids in my purchasing range. The only “interactive” toy I’ve ever bought for someone else was a dancing, singing Dora for my mother; two, actually, since her sister saw it, loved it and snatched it so I had to find a replacement. The Nephews love it, too (that one and his [Nenuco](http://www.todojuguetes.com/index.php?m=1443) are the only ones the Nephew likes). I like my levels the old fashioned way, with water inside. I have a keyring that’s a level about one inch long, I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they see it. An identical one is Middlebro’s main keyring, he’s a construction foreman so it gets lots of mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/66 "2009-08-04T18:56:28Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > I hope I’ll never have to give up CDs… plus, I like looking through the liner notes. I have to laugh at this, 'cause I like that too, but I am seeing a lot of CDs now that say “for full lyrics go to… [www.artistswebsite.com](http://www.artistswebsite.com)” Or even more insulting is they put tiny and I mean tiny to the point where if I try to read the lyrics with 2.50 reading glasses they are STILL small lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/67 "2009-08-04T18:57:05Z")
I’ll probably be sticking to cassette tapes for awhile. I have a ton leftover from when I was a kid and haven’t gotten around to converting them yet. But I also still like recording stuff off the radio, mainly local and indie music shows on the college station here. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/68 "2009-08-04T19:02:47Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I like my VCR. I have 20 year old tapes that still work as good as the day I bought them. I can get good ones from the thrift store for a dollar. VCRs are very cheap and sometimes free; I’ve gotten one from someone on this board and two from Freecycle. > > I’ve gone through three DVD players and my little girl’s DVDs are useless after a few months. A tiny scratch is all it takes. True. Tapes are surprisingly resilient (tape munching players notwithstanding). With VHS, if the quality wasn’t very good or if the tape had some rough spots in it, the picture might have been a little snowy or scrambled, but most of the time you could still see what was going on. With DVD, if there’s anything wrong with the disc, it’ll just skip around or freeze up completely. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/69 "2009-08-05T00:22:49Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I still pay my bills by handwriting out checks and sending them in in the mail. I just feel more in control of my money than if it gets automatically sent out to various companies. Before coming to these boards the very idea of paying bills by writing checks and sending them to the people you owe money was so far out that it would never have crossed my mind. Even though I’ve accepted that is the way you do it on your side of the pond, every time I see a discussion that touches the subject a small part of me screams _Why?!_ I guess that’s what happen when you grow up with a [giro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giro) system. Anyhow, I don’t see myself giving up paper books and newspapers any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/70 "2009-08-05T16:21:47Z")
Toothbrush – I’ve used a couple of electric ones, including a pricey Braun model, but they just don’t clean as well (particularly WRT brushing the tongue) or as quickly as an old-fashioned manual when used properly. Cellophane tape for taping notes, newspaper clippings, etc. – Post-It Notes aren’t adhesive enough to be trustworthy for all surfaces. Tape won’t let you down. Old-fashioned, non-electronic picture frames – digital picture refreshers are a huge energy hog, when you consider that tens of millions of them have been sold. How many minutes per week do you actually look at it, and is it really worth it to have that transformer plug in the wall 24/7? _Think_, people… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/71 "2009-08-05T16:30:29Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Cold hard cash. You and me both, **Bees**. My gf uses her debit card for everything. I don’t even have one. There is something reassuring in having a wad of dead presidents in my pocket. It is also surprising how often people I do business with offer an unadvertised cash discount;). The other day I bought a trailer load of mulch for a landscaping project. When the guy saw me pull out cash, he rounded-down $5. Of course, it went right into his pocket and was tax free income for him… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/72 "2009-08-05T17:25:27Z")
You can have my VCR when you pry it from my cold dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/73 "2009-08-05T18:16:58Z")
I’ll never give up on driving (or, I should say, _owning_) a manual transmission vehicle. There are times when I have to drive an automatic, and it just feels… odd. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/74 "2009-08-05T18:23:27Z")
> [@emcee2k](#): > > To this day, I don’t see any real benefits to an LCD monitor. There aren’t any… Well, besides size, cost, weight, energy use, positioning flexibility, etc… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/75 "2009-08-05T18:57:09Z")
> [@vandal](#): > > I’ll never give up on driving (or, I should say, _owning_) a manual transmission vehicle. There are times when I have to drive an automatic, and it just feels… odd. I’ve owned many cars since turning 16 thirty some years ago, all standard transmissions, until just a few months ago. I broke down and bought a new automatic, mostly so that my gf and son can drive it. I’m still not sure what to do with my left foot.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/76 "2009-08-05T19:25:23Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Guns > Bow & arrows > Pocket knife > **Cheerios** > Fig Newtons > 1957 Cessna - 172 > Crank car windows > Standard transmissions > Wood fires in the woods to make ‘Smores’. > Rope swing over the creek > Cheese grader Bolding mine. Good God man it is time to move on up into the present they make banana-nut cheerios now. Food of the gods it is. > [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve owned many cars since turning 16 thirty some years ago, all standard transmissions, until just a few months ago. I broke down and bought a new automatic, mostly so that my gf and son can drive it. > > **I’m still not sure what to do with my left foot**.😃 Bolding mine. I tap to the song on the radio. As for me I refuse to watch movies or tv on the computer. I stare at a monitor all day at work and most days I play World of Warcraft. I like my tv at least four feet away from me and lounging on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/77 "2009-08-05T20:49:07Z")
> [@CutterJohn](#): > > My little notebooks. Look, PDAs and smartphones are wonderful bits of technology, and have many great uses, but among them are NOT quickly and easily taking down notes, directions, lists, etc.. Nor being able to write said items down, tear off a piece, and handing it to another person. This is so true, so many times I see a person working at a computer, and this comptuer has all sorts of programs for storing notes, yet all over the computer monitor are small yellow post-it notes with “things to do.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/78 "2009-08-05T20:50:44Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > [snip]As for me I refuse to watch movies or tv on the computer. I stare at a monitor all day at work and most days I play World of Warcraft. I like my tv at least four feet away from me and lounging on the couch. Well that’s hunky-dory for your TV but where are _you_ in this picture – perched on top of your stereo system? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/79 "2009-08-06T13:26:21Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > I tap to the song on the radio. As do I. Until the time comes for the right foot to hit the brake, then the left automatically goes flailing for the non-existent clutch. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103/80 "2009-08-06T14:55:42Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > A wrist watch full stop. Most people I know are using cell phones nowadays but I can’t stand it. This. I use my cellphone for a flashlight, internet access, mp3 player, camera, scanner, portable computer, gps, portable gaming system, and a bunch of stuff. But it’s in my bloody pocket. I don’t feel like digging around just to find the time. CRTs are great. I don’t know why anyone could hate on them. Better viewing from angles, solidly built, and more flexible. Quick, how many resolutions does your LCD have that don’t look like shit? Most= 1, and CRTs don’t care. They all look good as long as it’s the right aspect ratio. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-technologies-or-things-will-you-never-give-up/505103.md?page=5)