Antiquated Stuff
Found a list of 12 things that have become obsolete in the last decade.
1. Encyclopedias
I’d have to argue that these were even obsolete in the late 90’s with the move of putting encyclopedia information on CD’s. Microsoft’s Encarta is completely free now, but will stop production at the end of 2009.
2. CDs
I still love the sense of tearing through plastic to get to a disc. Then immediately put it in my computer to rip to my iPod. It’s way too easy anymore to buy music. Too many times I’ve been laying in bed thinking… man, I need a new CD. Touch! $9.99 charged.
3. Fax Machine
This has been dead for a while. There have only been a handful of times that I’ve had to actually use one. Mostly for work.
4. Landline Phone
I’ve not had a landline phone where in my residence since I moved out of my parents’ house. Surprised they still have one.
5. Film and Instant Cameras
I got my first digital camera in 2001. 1.2 megapixel Sony Cybershot. The only time I’ve used film since then is when Mrs. Shoo and I got Buddy, our dog, and took some pictures of him at the park. Later that year I bought a digital SLR.
6. Yellow Pages and Address Book
We received three yellow books this year. Hate to say it, but all three were thrown away. As for an address book, we have a ton of them around C/O Mrs. Shoo. But needless to say, when we did Xmas cards this year, I had an old spreadsheet of addresses from our wedding that we pulled from.
7. Catalogs
I miss the good ol’ K’s Merchandise catalog. That’s where my Xmas used to come from as a kid.
8. Wires
Not necessarily. I am in the constant progress of rewiring our house. As for the landline wires that were still around, I’m pulling those out.
9. Hand-written letters
All forms of mail letter writing have been assigned to Mrs. Shoo. I only send payments for bills.
10. Calling
I think Mrs. Shoo and I send and receive 100~200 text messages a month. Note: Google Calendar sends me reminder texts.
11. Classifieds
I still check the classifieds, but I am more than likely to look to the net first.
12. Dial Up Internet
My in-laws are the only people I know that still use dial up. Were making progress to getting them broadband within the next year.
Same for the Rolodex. I know a lot of offices still use them, but I stopped more than 10 years ago.
i say good riddance to most of these, but i’ve been buying more CDs lately. i like knowing i can rip it myself with the codec and quality level i prefer, and that i always have a permanent physical backup copy. my problem now is getting the back catalog of bands i’ve just discovered, before they go out of print.
I love physical media but I’ve got a whole book shelf of CD’s. I am running out of storage!!
I will say that I prefer AmazonMp3 over itunes because Amazon puts downloads in the mp3 format while iTunes is in AAC.
We use our fax machine constantly. A lot of state e-mail systems are department-specific, and can’t receive e-mails from ‘outside’ sources. And did you really only mean 100-200 texts????? That’s wicked low.
Nattie, hate to rip on the state, but the state has always been 10~15 years behind on technology.
Nattie, 100~200 might be low, but we also converse through email and Twitter.
What you’ve mentioned for the most part is true but not necessarily is it for the majority of the population.
Curious, what will you do when Google starts charging for its services (email, calendar, etc)? That’s how ATM’s came into existence, they too were free, once. What happens when limitations on bandwidth are implemented? And how often do you listen to those CD’s or digital music; not as often I imagine? And watch out for cloud computing that’s coming up….where oh where is your data; everywhere but not here will be the answer.
Handwriting, I’m sorry to say is becoming too quickly passé with the new generation. Digital maybe cool but grammar and handwriting are a necessity; when people start using abbreviations like LOL, GR8, OMG with little images in business letters its time to packup and leave where cellphones don’t exist. What’s next Ebonics 101 for business!!
Google does charge for business use of Gmail and Calendar. I don’t think you’ll see them charge for basic service, but they’ll try to entice users to go for premium accounts.
And yes, when it’s in the cloud it’s everywhere. I also use the offline version of gmail to download my email locally. http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-in-labs-offline-gmail.html
You may already know, but there less emphasis on cursive writing in schools today. And it’s not ebonics… it’s text speak.
I still love buying CD’s (mostly because we hoard media).
I use manual film cameras (because I can and it makes me a photographer, in a world filled with people who THINK they are).
I send hand-written thank you’s, birthday cards, etc., because it’s special and people really appreciate them. Plus, Emily Post says so.
I still read the classifieds, especially the lost and found section. Did I lose my mind on in Washinton Park? Let’s find out….
We use the yellow pages at home when in desperate need of new restaurant ideas.
AND I love getting tangible catalogs in the mail. I can earmark the important stuff.