# Your Fave Dead-end or Obsolete Technology? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924 "2003-09-21T05:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [September 29, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/121 "2003-09-29T21:26:57Z")
I just installed an **MO drive** in my home computer. I’d like to get an **Elcaset** deck; supposedly Elcaset tapes are still sold in Finland. Although they’re not really obsolete, I dig late 1970s-era **CB radios** , especially the … ahem, export models of questionable legality. Along the same lines, I’d like to go to some trendy bar, and start chatting on a 1980s era **brick analog cell phone**. As soon as I’m employed again, I’m buying a **nixie clock**. **Streetcars** and **interurban trains**. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/122 "2003-09-30T00:22:03Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* \*\*Second on [Nixie Tubes](http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/count.html). That has to be one of the coolest things ever! Im building one!!! Thanks Ranchoth,I now have a project for my electronics lab here at work. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/123 "2003-09-30T02:35:29Z")
…by the by, a couple of people mentioned “Curta calculators,” so I thought I’d post a link to [an online “flash” Curta simulator](http://www.vcalc.net/curta_simulator_en.htm). It weighs in at a whopping 28k. Now, if I could only figure out how one _uses_ a Curta, I’d be a happy man… ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/124 "2003-09-30T12:24:38Z")
Anybody ever see a PHILIPS DIGITAL COMPACT CASSETTE? (DCC)? It was a digitally-encoded cassette tape…it cameout in the earthy 1990’s-because Philips was convinced that CD’s could never be made skip-free. Philipslost a TON of money on this format…I recall seeing them trying to sell the machines for half price (when it became obvious that the format was a flop). Anyway, somewhere in Hollan, a warehous is fullof them… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/125 "2003-09-30T14:06:16Z")
[Bob & Ray] Well grandpa’ was offered half share of the Ford Motor Co. for $500. But he knew that the automobile was nothing more than a plaything of the rich, so he turned 'em down. [/Bob & Ray] ---
**Author:** ![stevephillips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stevephillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevephillips)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/126 "2003-09-30T15:28:52Z")
Two cylinder John Deere tractors. I love the sound of their engines. I’ve owned a couple, both of which I still regret ever selling. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/127 "2003-09-30T22:43:39Z")
Ranchoth - I’ve figured out basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication using that emulator link you provided. It’s not that difficult and it’s actually rather cool. Here’s a copy of the [Curta Manual](http://www.vcalc.net/cu-man2.htm) that ought to help you out. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/128 "2003-10-01T02:16:59Z")
Hey…I can imagine a Babbage-type computer (steam-driven clockwork…a difference engine or analytical machine) with banks of these Curtas at its core. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/129 "2003-10-02T21:38:29Z")
Film. I’m just impressed that it’s even possible to to chemically make color film, especially color negatives, which are bizarre if you think about it. Alas, the art may be lost as the world goes to digital. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924/130 "2003-10-03T04:32:47Z")
Stratified charge engines. The one successful example I can think of is the original Honda Civic with the CVCC (Controled Vortex Combustion Chamber) motor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fave-dead-end-or-obsolete-technology/202924.md?page=6)