Features - QOTW: What's the oldest gadget you still use?

[aidanjt]

My scientific calculator from my GCSE days. Only had to replace the batteries twice in the last 2 decades.

[Raz316]

Philips MC500, originally bought in 2002 I think.


It's cheap, it's kind of nasty looking but it sounds good* and doubles up as a USB soundcard so I've had it plugged in to my PC for 11 years!

*By good I mean it sounds right to me (like when you get THE pair of headphones), I know there is better quality sound out there, but it's just not right. I spent around £100 on some logitech speakers a few years back and while they sound great, I don't like them, actually I hate them. I hate everything expect my MC500.

[g8ina]

Theres an old Quad 33/303 setup in the dining room downstairs

Wahhhhhhhhh I want !

I have a Technics amp from 1977 that still churns out a lovely sound.

Yeah but did you own it from 1977 ?

[g8ina]

I just realised, I still use a wooden bookshelf I made in woodwork class in the late 60's.

That old enough for you ?

[bobfoc]

Where to start:

Sony MDR D77 Eggos Headphones
Sony MDR 888SP Earphones
Sony EJ1000 Discman
Panasonic SJ-MJ7 Minidisc Player

For some strange reason..... they're still really bloody good even compared to what I have today.

[rabbid]

Pff, all these whippersnappers with their 'old' iPhones and 'ancient' Playstations. Give over.

I have a Technics amp from 1977 that still churns out a lovely sound.

ummm, an amp? whats that??!!

[graw136]

My Canon EOS (1st Gen I think), with the grek and black color scheme. Still takes great pictures!

[Sohaib.27]

A nokia 6300, Packard bell speakers, Bosch WFF2000 washing machine (I'm 19 but its been in the family since 2001!), Panasonic cordless phone since 2003/2004 I think!

[rox0r]

Yeah but did you own it from 1977 ?

Yes.

[crossy]

The most worrying thing about this thread is that most people claiming to have "old" gadgets are talking about things from the late 90s or early 00s..thats not old! (and I am only 27).

Me? I still use my old Olympus OM-4 camera every now and again (it does take some really nice film shots) but not something I use every day.

I just got put in my place by my sister who reminds me that she "regularly" uses our dad's Nikon F SLR - late sixties era and it's built like a bl**dy tank, but slots together like a blinkin' sniper rifle.

Is it just me, or were things built better in the "old days"?

[Raz316]

The most worrying thing about this thread is that most people claiming to have "old" gadgets are talking about things from the late 90s or early 00s..thats not old! (and I am only 27).

Truth be told, up until I started my first full time job (late 2001), I didn't really own anything I would call a gadget (and barely owned anything at all!), I hope when this thread starts again in 10 or so years, I'll still be here and still be able to say I am using my stereo!

[Blademrk]

I agree with the minidisk.

I would have said my Sega Game Gear (but it's just decided to kick the bucket, plug the power in and the screen flickers and dies.)

I've also still got a Gameboy Pocket around somewhere, and my old speccy 48k is boxed up in the attic.

[bobharvey]

My slide rule

[crossy]

Possibly slightly off topic - any retro d00dz with Commodore Vic-20's out there? I'd love to be able to get my old '20 to show the kids what I was using when I was their age, but it's the usual problem of a dicky modulator.

Unfortunately I've not got the electronic skills to fix it, and our local tv repair shop closed long, long ago.

[Unique]

Possibly slightly off topic - any retro d00dz with Commodore Vic-20's out there? I'd love to be able to get my old '20 to show the kids what I was using when I was their age, but it's the usual problem of a dicky modulator.

Unfortunately I've not got the electronic skills to fix it, and our local tv repair shop closed long, long ago.

what about an emulator? i think you can get one of those £15 joystick things with built in games. you could show them the real hardware but run the game on a pc or something

[Noxvayl]

what about an emulator? i think you can get one of those £15 joystick things with built in games. you could show them the real hardware but run the game on a pc or something

To kids an emulator on a PC is just another PC game, they won't understand any of the nostalgia without using the old hardware as well. I used emulators when I was a kid and still don't have an appreciation for any console created before the Sega mega drive I had.