Just because it’s not the new model doesn’t mean it’s not worth using. But how far back does your regular gadget usage stretch?
Product refreshes are a part of any gadget fan’s life; this week’s refresh of Apple’s iPod lines is proof enough of that. But while new features may entice, the existence of a new model doesn’t make the old unit suddenly stop working. I’ve got a first and second generation iPod Touch in my office, both of which work just fine. I’ll happily take a look at the fourth generation Touch, but on paper, there’s not enough there to convince me to buy because the old stuff is still humming along nicely.
This got me thinking about how old some of the tech I use on a regular basis actually is. I recently had a semi-successful tilt at the world Atari 2600 Ms Pac-Man record on a machine that’s nearly thirty years old, but that doesn’t really count in terms of modern equipment, because it works with itself and its own cartridges, and not much else. There’s a few program CDs sitting in a binder in my office that are more than a decade old and might run under Windows 7, but I haven’t haven’t actually tested that theory out.
Probably the oldest bit of tech I’ve got that still gets a regular workout is a four port USB 1 dock that I’ve had since from the very earliest days of USB. Sure, it’s not high speed in any particular way, but it serves nicely to run keyboards and mice connected up to my work machine, while a separate (and much newer) powered USB 2.0 hub does the heavy lifting.
So what’s the oldest still-in-use bit of tech you’ve got?
The Gremlin
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 4:07 PMMy Saturn is still hooked. I play it every now and then
Michael
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 4:25 PMProbably my old clock-radio I’ve had since I was a kid. Does the job perfectly, don’t need a reason to get a new one.
mick d
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 4:40 PMstill get the old NES out occasionally to play Mike Tyson Punch Out
Nico
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 4:53 PMI have a Sony Walkman from the mid 90′s which I use regularly. Stacks of weird underground bands still release demos on tape. My flatmate also has game consoles from about 1988 onwards hooked up and used regularly.
Sunny Kalsi
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:00 PMMy Sennheiser HD570s are 10 years old. Only thing older could be my Sega Master System 2, but I haven’t hooked it up in forever. My oldskool Citizen watch might be older still, and I regularly use that.
Andrew
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:00 PMI use a Sony projector for my tv, it was made in 1982!
NacaYoda
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:07 PMAnyone else got an alalogue wall clock that runs off 240?
simon
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:10 PMdoes pen and paper count as tech?
Tim
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:14 PMUp until 2006 my bedroom tele was made up of a Commodore 1084S monitor (1990?) hooked up to a mid 80′s Betamax VCR for the tuner and a 1990 boombox for sound. Worked a treat.
The stereo and monitor have since died but the Beta was still going strong when I sold it for $100 last year.
Oldest gadget I use today is probably my scanner which shipped with Win 95 and System 7 drivers. Was quite an effort to get it working under Snow Leopard!
Jason Lee
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:44 PMI still play my Vectrex system believe it or not. Love ‘Fortress of Narzod’.
David
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 5:58 PMMy Shimano Flight Deck on my bike is coming up on 10 years old. Still gives me valuable stats during my ride (although I now also have a Garmin HRM as well).
Daniel Weaver-Koenigs
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 6:08 PMMy Nintendo Entertainment System is still hooked up to my 46″ LCD, the best way to play Super Mario Bros!
Sean
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 6:25 PMMy entire entertainment system feeds into a Technics SU-8022 Amp from 1979.
002
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 7:44 PM1990 IBM Model M keyboard.
In fact I’m using it to type this very comment.
MrTaco
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 7:48 PMMan, where do I start?
I’ve had my computer since about 2003 I think, it’s still running win98. The CD player on my bedside table (I don’t really use it much, since I don’t really listen to music) is a Sony D-50. My car’s a 94 Laser, although the one I’m driving at the moment is my Nonna’s 87 Meteor. Still got and use all my Nintendo machines, from Wii and DS right back to NES and Game Boy. Just recently got an 18 year old pinball machine that’s been getting nearly a daily workout too :P Everything I have is old. And I love it.
Robert Chawner
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 8:01 PMI’ll just let you see a picture of my desk.
And yes, those things are all still in use.
http://i51.tinypic.com/n2042e.jpg
Tim
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 8:22 AMWhoa, whoa, is that a first generation wireless keyboard and mouse?
Mark
Monday, September 6, 2010 at 2:19 PMWhoa, whoa, that sticky tape dispenser looks like the very first scotch “small office” dispenser that revolutionised the 1980′s!
Robert
Monday, September 6, 2010 at 11:53 PMI think it’s from the 1930′s.
Cast iron, very heavy. They can still be found on ebay. Just search about for “cast iron tape dispenser”, oddly enough.
That and the film slicer belonged to my grandfather.
Michael
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 8:31 PMStill using the same 2.1 speakers from 16 years ago. They are the only part of my computer that hasn’t been upgraded. And they don’t need to be!!!
Hayden
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 8:54 PMMy 1984 IBM Model M Keyboard… nuff said!
Rob
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 9:45 PMI still use the Commodore(!) branded colour TV that came bundled with my Amiga 500 back in 1988 as the kitchen TV. It’s been repaired a couple of times but it’s still going strong. I also have a JVC portable stereo from 1988 that still sounds great.
I also use a scientific calculator that I got in high school back in the late 70′s.
Robert Rogers
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 9:57 PMI use my dad’s 70′s Sansui 101 Amplifier as computer speakers, really good audio although theres only once aux imput, (and one phono)
Samuel
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 11:14 PMI have a popcorn maker that was endorsed by Maggie Tabberer that I use regularly, thats from 1987 I believe. Other than that I stole my Dads Citizen watch from 1984. The inbuilt date only goes up to 2006…
J Walks
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 12:32 AMOld Sanyo amp from the late 1970′s. DCA 411, love the look. Works fine, little reason for replacement.
nicholas Searle
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 5:43 AMI’ve a number of books on a shelf in my home. Still interesting after all these years.
Allen
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 8:12 AMMy iPod Nano 1st and 2nd Generations….
Willo
Monday, September 6, 2010 at 2:39 PMStill using my 2004 40Gb iPod (monochrome screen).