30 Obsolete Technology Pics To Prove How Much The World Has Moved On And Changed (New Pics)
When things get tough and the world feels like it no longer makes any sense, you can find refuge in your rose-colored daydreams. It can be liberating to remember the good old days. One way that you can take a trip to past decades is by looking at vintage photos.
‘Retro Tech Dreams’ is a popular account on X (formerly Twitter) that shares images related to retro technology, the early internet, and vintage computing. Today, we’re featuring some of the account’s most intriguing posts to remind you what the world looked like (not) so long ago. Scroll down for a huge dose of nostalgia.
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Fun fact for younger folks - Microsoft used to brag about how each new version of Windows retained the same look and feel of previous versions so you didn't have to relearn how to use their OS. It was kind of true for a while but somewhere along the way they abandoned that approach.
Back in the days when an OS just ran the computer. No ads, no data harvesting, no network of everything. It had one job, and it did it wonderfully. Such simpler times.
I still use Windows 95 at one of my work computers. It is the only one which I can use to program Eproms for our clients and it runs the program for our SMT assembly machine. Yes, it is an old machine but it still works perfectly fine and is very easy to maintain.
Time magazine states that, based on research by psychologist Clay Routledge from the Human Flourishing Lab at Archbridge Institute, nostalgia has lots of upsides. It helps you feel more connected to other people, reduces prejudice, and increases your ability to offer emotional support.
What’s more, nostalgia can also make you happier, build self-esteem, help you find meaning in life, and allow you to focus on being true to yourself.
According to Time, some of the main ways to ‘tap into’ the benefits of nostalgia include activities like watching old movies, dining like you did as a kid, creating old-timey playlists, visiting your local library, starting a collection, and writing down your memories, which you can then share with your friends.
Regarding comfort food, which you tend to seek out whenever you feel isolated, eating dishes that you had when you were younger can increase your optimism, self-esteem, and feelings of meaning in life. Scents, in particular, are very powerful here.
Created back in mid-2022 (which from our current perspective feels like a whole different era), ‘Retro Tech Dreams’ has attracted a sizable following of nostalgia and retro tech fans from all around the world.
At the time of writing, the X account has 190.7k followers, up from the 82.6k fans it had in early 2023 when we last covered it.
We’re not going to lie, we sometimes wish that we had an actual time machine to go back to the past when things seemed simpler. Though, of course, there’s hardly a decade without global problems.
Generally, people tend to yearn for those periods of their lives when they felt freer, had fewer responsibilities, had more energy, and felt more positive.
Often, those positive periods of your life coincide with your childhood and early adulthood, which you later feel nostalgia for.
However, youth isn’t a necessity. You can have an amazing, fulfilling life to be envied by others (and yourself), no matter how old you are.
Furthermore, if someone had a rough childhood with lots of struggles, they likely won’t have rose-colored memories of those years.
Nostalgia-related content is incredibly popular online, and there are lots of talented creators and communities that are dedicated to it. Recently, Bored Panda spoke with one of the moderators from the sprawling “[Heck], I’m Old” online community that embraces old-timey nostalgia. They said that nostalgia revolves around memories of simpler and happier times.
I was using 3D Studio Max in the mid 90s. I got a pirated copy from a friend.
“With all that is going on in the world today, people really like to revisit old memories as a distraction. I see it as an emotional comfort kind of thing,” the nostalgia-focused online group’s moderator told us. From their perspective, it’s important to enjoy nostalgia without letting it dominate your life.
"Just don't get stuck in the nostalgia bubble. It can be a comfort in these trying times. But when getting stuck in the past negatively impacts the present, it also affects your future. Occasionally checking your rearview mirror while driving is good, but only looking back can quickly lead you to your peril," they said.
"Looking back at memories from your past can be good. It reminds us of who we are and where we came from. Recognize all the good things that contributed to who you are. Apply that experience in ways to better your now, and your future."
Which of the retro tech pics we’ve featured here did you enjoy the most? What did these images make you feel, dear Pandas? What do you miss the most from the past, whether that’s tech, toys, products, fashion, games, designs, or aesthetics?
We’d love to hear what you think, so if you have a spare moment, share your opinions in the comments below!
A pretty decent remaster/ re-release of this came out a couple of years ago.
Strange to see how Bungie is releasing now a new game under the same title.
I loved this game. Can't seem to find it anywhere now, though I was able to find Pharoh
I made two photos backdrops for my sister's 21st a few years ago from my old floppy discs.
Compact is nice but i would worry about bumping the record or nocking somethin on to it by accident and breaking it.
That device she's holding with her left hand is called a Spaceball. The CPU box has a Silicon Graphics look.
Great software company, in little old Oakhurst, CA (near Yosemite). Anyone remember Kings Quest or Leisure Suit Larry? Had my dream job right out of high school as a QA tech. I got to play video games for a living!
I knew a guy who had one of those. He mainly used it for figuring out the tip in restaurants.
Okay do we really need the Sims screenshots repeatedly in this thread..?
BRAUN, Dieter Rams: designer. The inspiration for all apple designs!
Um, where was the Oregon Trail or Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time??
I only got halfway because every second thing from there seemed to be Sims. Ripper game, though. If you're not aware and loved the old ones, EA has recently released the Sims 1&2 + all expansions on Steam + whatever their s****y equivalent is. Might be on Epic too. I was also hoping to see MS Pinball and Hover (though they might have been further down where I skipped 😆). EDIT: Oh, and that stupid paperclip! "I see you're writing a letter..."
I still have two of the original Apple Macintosh 128k computers with software. I haven't used them in years. I just have them for nostalgia, I guess.
I'm really missing posts remembering to the 8-bit era or the 16-bit era. My first experience similar to LAN partys was playing Populous on the Atari ST. Two players on two computers connected via a null modem cable.
If it's going to be a bunch of games, then Chuckie Egg and Jet Set Wîlly.
Um, where was the Oregon Trail or Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time??
I only got halfway because every second thing from there seemed to be Sims. Ripper game, though. If you're not aware and loved the old ones, EA has recently released the Sims 1&2 + all expansions on Steam + whatever their s****y equivalent is. Might be on Epic too. I was also hoping to see MS Pinball and Hover (though they might have been further down where I skipped 😆). EDIT: Oh, and that stupid paperclip! "I see you're writing a letter..."
I still have two of the original Apple Macintosh 128k computers with software. I haven't used them in years. I just have them for nostalgia, I guess.
I'm really missing posts remembering to the 8-bit era or the 16-bit era. My first experience similar to LAN partys was playing Populous on the Atari ST. Two players on two computers connected via a null modem cable.
If it's going to be a bunch of games, then Chuckie Egg and Jet Set Wîlly.
