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2009-04-14 2:50 PM

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Expert
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White House, TN
Subject: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,515647,00.html

To summarize the article for discussion, here are the 10 technologies that are facing extinction:

1.   Landline telephones
2.   Floppy disks
3.   Wristwatches
4.   VHS and VCR's
5.   Beepers
6.   Film Cameras
7.   Typewriters
8.   The Walkman, Discman, Mini Disc players
9.   Dial-up Internet
10. DVD's

I read this article with a lot of interest.  I decided to use it as a litmus test of just how old and out-of-touch I really am.  Gladly, I only use three of the above...and one is open to interpretation:

Wristwatch (multiple ones...all the time...lost without it.)
DVD's (the article cites declining sales as a sign of declining tech when it could be more of a declining economy.)
Landline Telephone: does my wireless home phone with Vonage count?  Technically, it VoIP and not a true "land line.")

Still, 3 out of 10 and only one (wristwatch) that I'm REALLY married to.  That isn't too bad, is it?

How about you?  Which ones do you still use?



2009-04-14 2:54 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Elite
4564
200020005002525
Boise
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
That's an odd list. Half of those are already extinct. Personally I don't see the wristwatch ever going extinct. I have several of them.
2009-04-14 2:56 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Elite
3290
20001000100100252525
Oliver, BC, "Wine Capital of Canada"
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

I still use the following

1.   Landline telephones
2.   Floppy disks
3.   Wristwatches
4.   VHS and VCR's
6.   Film Cameras
8.   The Walkman, Discman, Mini Disc players
10. DVD's

2009-04-14 2:56 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Master
2571
20005002525
Tiger's Den
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I couldn't live without a watch. I'm a slave to it...

I could however live without a landline. In fact, now, when it rings, it annoys me because all the people I would want to talk to call me on my cell.

I am not ready to give up DVDs...

The other stuff? I could do without....
2009-04-14 2:58 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Champion
6962
500010005001001001001002525
Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
You'll take my Polar from my cold dead wrist!
2009-04-14 2:59 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

Hawkeye - 2009-04-14 3:50 PM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,515647,00.html

To summarize the article for discussion, here are the 10 technologies that are facing extinction:

1.   Landline telephones
2.   Floppy disks
3.   Wristwatches
4.   VHS and VCR's
5.   Beepers
6.   Film Cameras
7.   Typewriters
8.   The Walkman, Discman, Mini Disc players
9.   Dial-up Internet
10. DVD's

No landline phone - just a cell.

Who uses floppy discs anymore?

I still wear a wristwatch with actual hands, but it's more like a piece of jewelry than anything, and of course my sportswatch/HRM. I also like not having to dig out my cell to see the time.

I have a VCR/DVD combo unit as I still own VHS tapes that still work.

Never had a beeper.

Went digital with the camera after college when I actually bought one - I need a new one, though.

Haven't used a typewriter since playing with my mom's old one when I was 10.

No more discman.

No more dial-up.

I don't think DVDs are going anywhere, anytime soon. But when you have Netflix or whatever, buying them isn't necessary.



2009-04-14 3:00 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Pro
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Without house
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I wear a wristwatch all the time.  I really don't like to be bothered to pull my cell phone out to find out what time it is.
DVD-I do not have a blue ray player, and have no intention of getting one anytime soon.
landline-I have to have a phone line in my house for work (to be able to fax).  I have mine through my cable company, so like the OP, I'm not sure if it counts.

I do still have a VCR because I have some movies that I haven't re-purchased as DVD's.  Most of them are Disney movies.  It's not like I actually watch them all that often.
2009-04-14 3:01 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Expert
1231
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B'ham
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

We ditched our land-line in February and I don't miss it one bit. 

2009-04-14 3:01 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Extreme Veteran
542
50025
Pauls Valley, OK
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
still use

Wristwatches
DVD's
Landline telephone ( I need that for my dial up internet)
2009-04-14 3:07 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
The only thing I personally use on this list is DVDs.

I've never had a landline.
And every time I see a doctor with a "beeper" I wonder why these incredibly smart, technologically-advanced doctors of modern medicine still have 1980s technology on their belt. I mean, they could just not answer their cell phone/blackberry if they were in the middle of something, right?

If I were to guess, the wristwatch is listed becuase everyone has access too/is obsessively staring at their iPhones and Blackberrys these days. We always know what time it is becuase we just checked our email and it was on the display. Just a guess.
2009-04-14 3:09 PM
in reply to: #2084078

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Champion
6056
500010002525
Menomonee Falls, WI
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
Want one thing that will never go extinct? Top 10 Lists.



2009-04-14 3:10 PM
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2009-04-14 3:12 PM
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2009-04-14 3:13 PM
in reply to: #2084153

Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
AcesFull - 2009-04-14 3:10 PM

I wear a beeper for my job.  Every once in a while, someone will notice it and openly mock me.  I take no offense, I would do the same if I saw someone wearing a beeper anytime after, say, 2003.



What do you do where you can't be reached by cell phone/email?
Since you have to turn around and call the person back, wouldn't it be more effieicnt to have a cell phone?
Just curious.
2009-04-14 3:20 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Extreme Veteran
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100100100252525
Columbia, MO
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I agree that there are some on the list that are long ago dead.  The typewriter, VHS, floppy discs and beepers are definately obsolete. 

There are a few that are declining but will be around for a bit longer like DVDs, the landline telephone, and film cameras. 

I dont think that wristwatches will ever go out of style.  I will wear one until the day I die.  I hate pulling out my cell phone to see what time it is.

I also think that CDs are on their way out but were not included in the list


Josh
2009-04-14 3:21 PM
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2009-04-14 3:24 PM
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2009-04-14 3:27 PM
in reply to: #2084166

Champion
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the colony texas
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
lisac957 - 2009-04-14 3:13 PM
AcesFull - 2009-04-14 3:10 PM

I wear a beeper for my job.  Every once in a while, someone will notice it and openly mock me.  I take no offense, I would do the same if I saw someone wearing a beeper anytime after, say, 2003.



What do you do where you can't be reached by cell phone/email?
Since you have to turn around and call the person back, wouldn't it be more effieicnt to have a cell phone?
Just curious.

in addition to the long time fear of cell signals in hospitals,, I work in radiation areas,, lots of lead in the walls,, for some reason the pager still works when a phone doesn't.   Many times the doc's will call each other on their cells but some don't want to have their cell number out there and would rather just have a pager for the times they are on call
2009-04-14 3:37 PM
in reply to: #2084078

over a barrier
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I have a Garmin but don't use it for time, not even sure if the time is right to be honest. I've never wore a watch for time.

DVD's - I have some and watch them on the trainer but haven't rented or purchased on in years. Just use the on-demand feature.


That's it for me...
2009-04-14 3:42 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Master
1410
1000100100100100
White Plains NY
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
DVD and the BlueRay format I think are going to be the last physical form of media that you pop into a machine. Its all digital download from here!

I think Movie Theaters are going to go the way of the Dinosaur in the next 10 years.

Sooner than you think (this has actually already happened) movies will be released digitally for download and in theaters at the same time. Why go spend $$$ in a theater when you can just pay to download and watch it in the comfort of your own home?
2009-04-14 3:43 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I had a beeper once when I started working for this new company a few years back.  I despised it, it was so my boss could page me.

One time he beeped me, and for whatever reason, I didn't call back... ensuing conversation...

boss: "I paged you earlier today."
nl: "what?"
boss: "I paged you earlier today, and you did not call."
nl: "oh..."  (blank look)

(end of conversation)

he never paged me again.  my beeper was obsolete before beepers were obsolete. 


2009-04-14 3:45 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Champion
7347
5000200010010010025
SRQ, FL
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

I'd also add CDs to this list.  I just sold my 300 disk changer last week and have everything ripped to digital files.

Wristwatches will never go away.



Edited by TriRSquared 2009-04-14 3:45 PM
2009-04-14 3:48 PM
in reply to: #2084144

Champion
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50002000100050010010010010025
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

lisac957 - 2009-04-14 3:07 PM The only thing I personally use on this list is DVDs.

And every time I see a doctor with a "beeper" I wonder why these incredibly smart, technologically-advanced doctors of modern medicine still have 1980s technology on their belt. I mean, they could just not answer their cell phone/blackberry if they were in the middle of something, right?

So you if a phone was the only means of communication, and you didn't answer it, how does that help anything?  We get busy and need to prioritize what we're doing.  If I'm in a patient's room talking to them, I'm not answering my phone.  If a surgeon's in the OR, they're not answering their phone.  There are also pagers that don't belong to one person but are tied to a responsibility and get passed along to different people.  Emergency teams, OR teams, disaster teams, etc. carry such pagers.

What would you suggest as an alternative?

BTW, my phone is my pager because I have an answering service that is able to convert numeric pages to text messages.  Not everybody has that luxury.

2009-04-14 3:53 PM
in reply to: #2084256

Champion
8540
50002000100050025
the colony texas
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
I often wonder why they don't have a store that sells the music digitally (or maybe they do)   you could just plug in your mp3/ipod or whatever your music listening device is and download what you want at the mall. Instead of buying a cd then going home to put it on your computer to transfer over.   I don't travel with a laptop so I'd have to buy a cd then wait till I got back home to put it on my ipod.   And some artists don't have their music for sale in a digital format.

you wouldnt' need a lot of space since you don't have to have all the cd's ... just docking stations.   There is nothing worse to me to be traveling here some song that never gets played where I live and having to buy the cd, when I want to listen to it right now on my iPod.
2009-04-14 3:53 PM
in reply to: #2084078

Master
1795
1000500100100252525
Boynton Beach, FL
Subject: RE: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct
What about Cassette players? I am still suprised how many cars come with a cassette player.
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