# What technologies that were available in 1999 are obsolete (see my criteria) in 2009? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912 "2009-12-03T23:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/41 "2009-12-04T06:15:09Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I don’t know why he needs a VHS player, but I don’t use mine to view current movies anyway. They’re for taping shows I want to show to other people in different locations, like in a school classroom. Right, and for this they are still needed. I use mine all the time to tape shows. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/42 "2009-12-04T09:15:59Z")
Pagers are still used, my company issues them to workers. I’m still using an analog TV, although our last CRT monitor was back in like 2004. Thanks to windows XP, I still have to use a 3.5" drive and floppies. 5 1/4" drives are gone, I think, although they may have died before 1999. Joysticks are making a comeback. They disappeared for a while in the early 2000’s, replaced by joypads and flightsticks, but thanks to competitive SF and the resurgence old arcade games, they’re making a comeback. Arcades are another one coming back from the dead. The last one in my area closed around 1999, but now they’re popping up all over the place, although now they’re all quasi-gambling halls. Another one making a comeback is the one piece, no moving parts, cell phone, thanks to the iPhone. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/43 "2009-12-04T09:43:46Z")
The company I work for sends and receives dozens of faxes per day. There are USB/PS2 adaptors for keyboards and mice. I had a drawer full of them until recently. This region of the UK still has analogue TV, until 2103 anyway. Same with radio. I was injured at work and the doctor took polaroids of my injuries to send in the ambulance with me to a specialising hospital. They emailed the X-rays though 🙂 When I commented on the old tech the doctor agreed but said it was simple and reliable, a picture in your hand was to be preferred to one that could disappear into the aether. Not sure why that doesn’t apply to the X-ray images though. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/44 "2009-12-04T12:40:44Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > This region of the UK still has analogue TV, until 2103 anyway. Now _that’s_ future-proofing! 🙂 I assume you meant 2013? (Or are they switching it off this evening just after 9?) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/45 "2009-12-04T13:28:59Z")
Among other photography related dinosaurs – slide projectors. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/46 "2009-12-04T13:46:48Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > OK, then just consumer-grade tape drives. > **CalMeacham** : What is the selection of new VHS tapes (new means movies from the past year) compared to DVDs at Wal-Mart? Not much. The final major film released on VHS was A History of Violence. Now, things only come out on DVD and Blu-ray. [http://hothardware.com/News/The-End-of-an-Era-Last-VHS-Tape-Shipped/](http://hothardware.com/News/The-End-of-an-Era-Last-VHS-Tape-Shipped/) ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/47 "2009-12-04T14:08:01Z")
Non-portable video games on cartridge are gone; the last console to use them was the Nintendo 64. The Game Boy portables still use them though. Others (whether mainstream or niche) use either disc media or flash memory cards (which could qualify as cartridges, I suppose, but I’m referring specifically to mass produced (E)PROM-based solid state media) Dot matrix printers are still used by a lot of companies that need to be able to print things that require identical copies. (Invoices, packing lists, etc.) We still have three in our company. Fax machines are still very much in use by many businesses. We have numerous instances where we need to be able to send our clients certain things (parts breakdowns mainly) that can’t be E-Mailed due to the proprietary nature of the lookup software we are required to use. We also regularly get faxed requests for quotes, orders, etc. We support E-Mail of course, and get plenty of such requests that way too, but not all of our clients do, and not everything we can furnish in E-Mail. Dedicated PDAs are obsolete now that their convergence with modern cell phones is complete. HP produced the last ones that I’ve seen about two years ago in the form of a couple of business-oriented iPAQ 110 and 210 models, but I don’t think they went over well as they were pricey and by that point didn’t do anything anything much better than cell phones of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/48 "2009-12-04T14:08:09Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Now _that’s_ future-proofing! 🙂 > > I assume you meant 2013? (Or are they switching it off this evening just after 9?) I think that’s 2013 in metric. ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/49 "2009-12-04T14:25:39Z")
(maybe not quite yet, but soon, very soon) Incandescent Lighting. Physical Money (when even the salvation army kettle has a slide reader, you know this is almost gone.) I can’t actually remember the last time I used cash for anything. Compact Discs Film (Photo, video, whatever- its almost all digital now) ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/50 "2009-12-04T14:27:11Z")
> [@Atomicktom](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but your location may play a role in your choice. It’s my understanding the analog tv has been discontinued in the US (didn’t the entire US switch to digital earlier this year? Or am I thinking of some other widescale platform change?) (I’m from Michigan; currently merely working long term in Mexico.) The USA switched _wireless broadcast_ to digital earilier this year. The mandate didn’t apply to cable and satellite systems, though. Common satellite is all digital, but all cable systems still maintain analogue channels. They do push for their customers to adopt digital, though. Unfortunately this requires an external box or something called a CableCard, which isn’t available for home built PC’s. So, I’m stuck with analogue and DirecTV (controllable by my PC). Here in Mexico, as far as I can tell, the only digital signals are from Sky. All of the cable systems and broadcast TV seem to be analogue only. It’s curious that HDTV’s are sold as “high definition” when the only thing capable of supplying HD is a blue ray player. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/51 "2009-12-04T14:36:54Z")
Wow, so many people still using fax machines? Dudes, it’s 2009. I’ll second the slide projectors. I’ll still see them in schools, but in business/government, Powerpoint has completely replaced them. I’ll add one more: typewriters. Now, many will argue they were obsolete by 1999 anyway, but I recall many of my offices having at least one typewriter to use to (clumsily) fill out official forms or type envelopes. Today? Everything is done via Adobe PDF or some other technology. People who use typewriters are like people who listen to Vinyl LPs-- it’s a cultural choice, not required. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/52 "2009-12-04T16:04:18Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Thanks to windows XP, I still have to use a 3.5" drive and floppies. What? Why? My laptop and all the desktops at work have Windows XP and none of them have a floppy disc drive. > [@davekhps](#): > > Wow, so many people still using fax machines? Dudes, it’s 2009. :rolleyes: Yes, and like was already stated, it’s easier/more secure to fax a contract that needs to be signed so that there is a hard copy of it/receipt. > [@Pan1](#): > > Physical Money (when even the salvation army kettle has a slide reader, you know this is almost gone.) I can’t actually remember the last time I used cash for anything. No way. Not for a \*long \*time at least. ---
**Author:** ![Livardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/43a26b/32.png) [@Livardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Livardo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/53 "2009-12-04T16:24:51Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > What? Why? My laptop and all the desktops at work have Windows XP and none of them have a floppy disc drive. I think he’s referring to the fact that XP still makes you provide some drivers necessary to complete the installation via a floppy disk. This was a huge pet peeve of mine back when I bought my first SATA hdd. I had to borrow someone’s floppy (albeit a USB) drive to install the drivers. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/54 "2009-12-04T16:32:58Z")
1-800-CALL-ATT 10-10-321 10-10-220 Collect phone calls… (niche market, prisons mostly) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/55 "2009-12-04T17:03:03Z")
In my law office, I have some low income clients who don’t have email or a scanner. They need to run to a copy store to fax me things. Also, as mentioned, if you need confirmation of transmission, good to fax it and generate a fax confirmation page. I’m not sure about the timing, but the PDA stylus seems to be obsolete as well as the special PDA alphabet. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/56 "2009-12-04T17:08:44Z")
> [@pan1](#): > > Physical Money (when even the salvation army kettle has a slide reader, you know this is almost gone.) I can’t actually remember the last time I used cash for anything. I use cash for 90% of all my purchases. There is something I just like about having a wad of bills in my pocket. And every so often when I pay with cash, I have the merchant’s eyes light up and they round down or drop their price a bit. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/57 "2009-12-04T17:16:59Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > 1-800-CALL-ATT Just dial down the middle! ---
**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/58 "2009-12-04T17:17:15Z")
> [@Livardo](#): > > …what else? Typewriters? On their way, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/59 "2009-12-04T17:19:39Z")
Ha! You are all a bunch of retro-amateurs. Working in my small office would be like a museum to some of you. Every day I use the following: ledger books, carbon paper, typewriter, fax, a dial-up modem, 3.5" floppy drive, microfiche, rubber stamps, rolodex, cassette recorder and I even have an addressogragh. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/60 "2009-12-04T17:20:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I use cash for 90% of all my purchases. There is something I just like about having a wad of bills in my pocket. And every so often when I pay with cash,\*\* I have the merchant’s eyes light up and they round down or drop their price a bit.\*\* Where do you shop? At open air markets in Haiti? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912.md?page=4)