# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/121 "2009-12-07T22:30:17Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It’s like a… cycle… or comething. Actually. it was more like a Citroen 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/122 "2009-12-07T22:35:08Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It’s like a… cycle… or comething. And I’m sure not something he would want to do with any great frequency. ---
**Author:** ![dogeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@dogeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogeman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/123 "2009-12-07T23:04:10Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > My 2000 Geo Metro had a little one. > [@Balthisar](#): > > Was it an actual carb, or just a throttle-body with an injector? According to Wiki, the Suzuki G engines that the Metro had: > [@](#): > > From 1989 to 2001 the engine received updates in the form of throttle body injection and hydraulic lifters. They stopped using carburetors in 1988. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/124 "2009-12-08T03:00:29Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Manual transmissions in cars? They’re not exactly obsolete, but with the exception of fancy pants sports cars, automatic transmissions get better gas mileage than manual gearboxes. . Cite? It’s actually the opposite, although it’s true that modern automatics are pretty damn close. (Note that also many cars with manual trans have an extra gear, too) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/125 "2009-12-08T03:09:41Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Typewriters Equally as “obsolete” in 1999 as today. Printers weren’t as inexpensive as today, but all but the smallest professional offices had laser printers, and ink jet printers were relatively affordable ($150 or so for a basic model). Typewrites were, and are still on hand for completing forms, and they’re still popular among the more technophobic elderly. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/126 "2009-12-08T03:15:39Z")
125 posts and no one’s mentioned the [CueCat?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CueCat) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/127 "2009-12-08T04:35:43Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Heh … Hijack! > I have a copy of Win98 but I lost the activation code. It asks for the activation code AFTER you’ve wiped the hard drive and installed Win98, so if you don’t have the code, you don’t have an OS. So I can’t run Win 98. But I DO have a WinXP upgrade. But ya can’t load just the upgrade–you have to install it over Win98. So when I’m building a jalopy computer I go through the Win98 install and then reboot when it starts asking for the code. It reboots into WinXP upgrade and, clever program that it is, it says, "Oh Goodie We get to upgrade! Heeeeyyyyy, there’s something wrong with your Win98. Either insert the original Win98 disk or hang yourself as a pirate. It sniffs the 98 disk and says, “Ok, you’re legit, proceed with installing XP…” It’s an imperfect system, but it gets the machine moving again. In my experience one doesn’t need to install Windows 98 first, you just install the Windows XP upgrade first, and the installer will ask almost right away for the OS to upgrade, the installer allows you to remove the XP disk to insert the Windows 98 installer disk to “sniff” if you have a valid disk. Once confirmed, one ejects the Windows 98 installer and re inserts the XP upgrade disk to continue. After I got a full version of XP pro I never had to do that trick again. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/128 "2009-12-08T05:41:06Z")
> [@](#): > > but video arcades aren’t nearly what they used to be either. Yes…most video arcades are now those games where you try to win tickets for some crappy prize. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/129 "2009-12-08T05:49:13Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Or a car with breaker points. And I’m unsure about these… but I don’t imagine that even cheap cars like Hyundais have distributors any more. Distributor =! breaker points. The last set of breaker points inside a distributor here in the US was 1974. In 1975 federal regs allowed only one major service in the first 50,000 miles and it was history for points that only last about 12K. From 1975 on it is all electronics. Distributors are going away as coil on plug systems become more popular, but there are still a few distributors out there. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/130 "2009-12-08T06:17:28Z")
> [@jbaker](#): > > Standalone PDAs, such as the PalmPilot. There are still plenty of PDAs, but now they’re all smartphones. What about the iPod Touch? I would have bought an iPhone, but I didn’t want AT&T service. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/131 "2009-12-08T10:20:04Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I don’t think shortwave radio was EVER ‘alive and well.’ I would qualify shortwave radio as a niche market. It’s the same type of people as the ones that listen to records, There are better, faster, and cheaper options, but they still use the old ways for a sense of nostalgia, or because they enjoy it for other reasons. Yeah, if you leave town often enough, shortwave can be a lifesaver. For a good chunk of the world, shortwave radio is the only source of reliable news. I spent two years in a Cameroonian village, and I listened to BBC Network Africa every morning- without that I would have had to rely on months-old copies of Newsweek, unreliable National radio stations, or Internet that I could get to once a month. And it’s not all just fun and games- two Februarys ago I learned through the BBC that Cameroon was rioting, and that I needed to stay secure and make sure my friends farther out in the bush could get within cell-phone range. I have many fond memories of sitting in my yard, fiddling with the antenna, picking up strange and distant broadcasts. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/132 "2009-12-08T11:55:27Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Fax machines except for old people. They’re still very popular here in Australia- when I worked full-time in electronics retail we’d sell at least three a week (from a fairly small store) and fax ribbons were one of our staple items. Nearly every business I’ve worked for had (and regularly used) a fax machine, too. As for the OP: My nomination is hand-held TVs. You used to be able to get palm-sized portable TVs that you could take camping (or to boring functions/parties where you didn’t know anyone) and still be able to watch your favourite TV shows/sporting matches. I haven’t seen one in a “brick-and-mortar” store here for many, many years and whilst I know that you can watch TV over the internet on your phone now, it’s not quite the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/133 "2009-12-08T12:36:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Going, or gone is hydraulic power steering. My new Hyundai has electric power steering (no pump) and therefore better mileage. My Jetta has electric steering as well. And although it feels smoother than hydraulic, I much prefer hydraulic and will avoid electric in the future. My principal objection is the lack of feedback you get through the wheel with electric. If hydraulic power steering goes the way of the Dodo, I’m not going to be happy. > [@Zsofia](#): > > Fax machines except for old people. We use the fax machine at work literally dozens of times everyday. I can’t think of many of our vendors who do not use their fax machines regularly. Actually, I am in the process of updating our current machine. The fax, at least in my world, is well and alive and not about to be antiquated anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/134 "2009-12-08T14:14:17Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > In my experience one doesn’t need to install Windows 98 first, you just install the Windows XP upgrade first, and the installer will ask almost right away for the OS to upgrade, the installer allows you to remove the XP disk to insert the Windows 98 installer disk to “sniff” if you have a valid disk. Once confirmed, one ejects the Windows 98 installer and re inserts the XP upgrade disk to continue. Hm. I’ll have to try it that way next time. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/135 "2009-12-08T15:12:17Z")
CD changers in cars. ---
**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 8, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/136 "2009-12-08T15:21:56Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Distributor =! breaker points. > … > Distributors are going away as coil on plug systems become more popular, but there are still a few distributors out there. Didn’t mean to imply they were the same. My last set of breaker points was my 1968 Beetle. My last distributor was (I think) my 1995 Civic. Maybe the 2001 Ranger had a distributor (old platform). ---
**Author:** ![Livardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/43a26b/32.png) [@Livardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Livardo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/137 "2009-12-08T15:24:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > CD changers in cars. Great catch! I still have two CD changers snuck away in some corner of my apt but I guess they’ll never see the day of light again. I was wondering if I could rig them to do do something useful like convert them to be CD-ROM jukeboxes. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/138 "2009-12-08T15:57:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cite? It’s actually the opposite, although it’s true that modern automatics are pretty damn close. (Note that also many cars with manual trans have an extra gear, too) [AMTs or CVTs will save 6-7% on your fuel bill](http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/tech_transmission.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/139 "2009-12-08T16:00:41Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > My understanding is that the major niche for pagers is hookers and drug dealers. Hookers and drug dealers also prefer cash, as do strippers, rather than debit/credit cards. Or so I’m told. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912/140 "2009-12-08T19:22:41Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > 125 posts and no one’s mentioned the [CueCat?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CueCat) Hell, that thing was obsolete (for its intended use) practically when it came out. It’s found much use to this day, though, as a consumer-level barcode scanner-- nearly every collector’s database I use recommends using a CueCat to scan in your collection (DVD, laserdiscs, video games, etc.). Cheapest barcode scanner on the market, pretty much. Its uselessness kind of reminds me of a computer peripheral from ~1992 or so, a pyramid-shaped device that picked up news data through radiowaves and displayed them on your computer. Can’t remember its name… It seemed utterly pointless at the time, as even then if a computer user had the means to use it, they could just as easily hit a fledgling news site on the WWW. For years, I kept seeing the peripheral in online closeout/junk catalogues, and thought about getting one for kicks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-technologies-that-were-available-in-1999-are-obsolete-see-my-criteria-in-2009/519912.md?page=8)