Nostalgia for 1980s Technology

ljk — 5/23/2006 12:40:13 AM (archived)

HowStuffWorks | Science & Technology

May 22, 2006

'80s TECH REVISITED

If you lived through the 1980s, then you know it was an amazing decade. It
seemed like every month some cool new technology came onto the market. Many of
the most popular consumer products today made their mark in the 1980s.

So much of what has become integral to our lives today -- cell phones, PCs, even
iPods -- is rooted in technology that was introduced during the 1980s. Look at
the technologies behind these devices in '80s Tech Revisited.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/80s-tech.htm?cid=s13

'80s Memories...

What are your favorite '80s tech gadgets? Do you still have them?
Take a picture, upload it here and share your story!

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/80s-tech-reader-opinions-index.htm

Marshall Brain on The History Channel

Turn down your Walkman, put away that joystick, and get ready for a totally
awesome blast from the `80s past. HowStuffWorks' Founder, Marshall Brain, is
helping to kick off The History Channel's(R) Great Inventions Week with "Modern
Marvels(R): '80s Tech" this Wednesday, May 24th at 10 p.m. EDT.

How Some Great '80s Technologies Work:

PCs - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ref/pc.htm?cid=s13
Floppy Disk Drives - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/floppy-disk-
drive.htm?cid=s13
RAM - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ref/ram.htm?cid=s13
CDs - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/cd.htm?cid=s13
Computer Mouse - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ref/mouse.htm?cid=s13
Cable Television - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/cable-tv.htm?
cid=s13
Fax Machines - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/fax-machine.htm?cid=s13
Camcorders - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/camcorder.htm?cid=s13
Cordless Telephone - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/cordless-
telephone.htm?cid=s13
Video Game Systems - http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ref/video-game.htm?
cid=s13

The whole thread (114 posts)

History and Timeline of PHOTO-Etched circuts? - carl - 1/12/2006 9:18:50 PM
- HEY WHO RESURRECTED THIS? - Lindy - 2/23/2008 10:27:42 PM
  - The word "foxjet" is better than a sticky. - alcaray - 10/27/2008 5:15:15 PM
  - 2 noobs... - Nick Hoffman - 10/1/2008 3:22:03 AM
  - Well, - RNE - 9/30/2008 8:32:47 PM
- Why I like the Habitablezone - dtb - 1/16/2006 3:49:23 AM
  - HZ was constructed in part to stave off the development of Alzheimer's in the elderly Boom. - Mary Anne - 5/19/2006 4:55:43 PM
    - The HABITABLE ZONE GAME!!!!!!! - carl - 5/30/2006 7:43:58 PM
  - HZ, what the HECK did I start Here? - carl - 1/17/2006 6:32:43 PM
    - The poking of the Geezer memory. - RNE - 1/18/2006 2:25:22 PM
    - re: Windows 2095-VR - Bill gates - 1/17/2006 11:28:59 PM
      - USB Compliant? - carl - 1/19/2006 5:52:23 PM
        
        Just be sure your computer has at least 64 terrabytes of memory... - Larry J - 1/20/2006 1:37:32 AM
        
        but even with that power - tony - 1/20/2006 5:45:29 AM
        
        And... - Larry J - 1/20/2006 2:17:30 PM
- Cell phones and no cable TV - LJK - 1/13/2006 4:46:26 PM
  - I remember watching the White Sox on a black and white tv...With a big "cable box" tuned to channel 44... - Scott Evil - 1/18/2006 8:42:29 AM
    - re: I remember watching the White Sox on a black and white tv...With a big "cable box" tuned to channel 44... - REB - 5/30/2006 7:44:50 PM
    - Jack Brickhouse, calling the Cubs games, on WGN (Channel 9) (n/t) - Fox - 5/21/2006 4:24:13 AM
  - Stop, you're killing me! - Robert - 1/14/2006 2:47:53 AM
    - " I worked on hard drives as big as washing machines" - Lindy - 1/16/2006 4:25:11 AM
      - Now if only... - Fox - 1/16/2006 5:13:23 AM
        
        Imagine what the equivalent of an mini I-pod would have looked like 25 years ago - R.L. - 1/19/2006 6:26:04 AM
        
        It was called a Juke Box ;8^/ (n/t) - RNE - 1/19/2006 5:30:55 PM
        
        Clothed for the Winter - LJK - 1/16/2006 5:18:43 PM
    - You're not the only fogey in these parts - Fox - 1/15/2006 6:40:55 PM
      - Roof-mounted antennas - Mary Anne - 5/19/2006 5:04:20 PM
        
        re: Roof-mounted antennas - Fox - 5/21/2006 3:38:58 AM
      - " still have my first portable "transistor radio" -- Silvertone, circa 1961' - Lindy - 5/19/2006 2:12:47 AM
        
        Scorpio, actually - Fox - 5/21/2006 3:27:06 AM
        
        Sagittarius here. - Lindy - 5/21/2006 3:58:01 AM
      - It shar is pleasant sittin har in the sun recollecken 'bout the good ole days, ain't it? - Robert - 1/15/2006 10:09:55 PM
        
        Holy Shit! "Those were the days.............." - Lindy - 1/16/2006 4:49:22 AM
        
        Heinlein and the future - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2006 11:17:03 PM
        
        re: Heinlein and the future - Fox - 1/16/2006 4:42:01 AM
        
        Tricorders - ljk - 5/23/2006 6:30:02 PM
        
        My calculator - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2006 11:22:43 PM
        
        re: My calculator - Elisee Reclus - 5/18/2006 12:53:48 AM
        
        "the great HP28 fiasco " - Daniel - 5/21/2006 5:51:21 AM
        
        re: "the great HP28 fiasco " - ER - 5/23/2006 3:30:52 AM
        
        re: My calculator - Robert - 1/16/2006 12:44:44 AM
        
        Ever ask an old calculator how to divide a number by zero? - LJK - 1/16/2006 5:16:33 PM
        
        re: Ever ask an old calculator to divide by zero? - Fox - 5/21/2006 3:34:36 AM
        
        Calculators - Tom Brosz - 1/16/2006 6:55:49 PM
      - First real computer - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2006 7:37:00 PM
        
        re: First real computer - LJK - 1/16/2006 5:40:00 PM
        
        That $13,400 in 1985... - Larry J - 1/16/2006 4:03:18 PM
        
        My guess: ACAD 2.0 - Fox - 1/16/2006 5:40:42 AM
        
        Bingo! - Tom Brosz - 1/17/2006 7:29:39 AM
        
        Geeks Rule! - Robert - 1/15/2006 9:22:13 PM
        
        The bad news... - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2006 11:07:54 PM
        
        re: The bad news... - Larry J - 1/16/2006 4:13:47 PM
        
        Good news as well as bad - Robert - 1/16/2006 6:39:00 PM
        
        Being a geek isn't so god-like anymore - dtb - 1/16/2006 3:37:28 AM
        
        "at least a wash." - Robert - 1/15/2006 11:55:31 PM
        
        re: individualizing CAD - Fox - 1/16/2006 4:58:12 AM
        
        re: individualizing CAD - SDG - 1/17/2006 3:59:23 PM
        
        AutoCAD - Tom Brosz - 1/16/2006 4:29:46 AM
    - re: Stop, you're killing me! - SDG - 1/14/2006 4:34:06 AM
  - Before solid-state, TVs and radios "wore out" over time. - alcaray - 1/13/2006 4:57:22 PM
    - PEP BOYS tube testers and Sat Morns,,,, - carl - 1/13/2006 5:12:08 PM
      - re: PEP BOYS tube testers and Sat Morns,,,, - LJK - 1/13/2006 5:34:10 PM
    - re: Before solid-state, TVs and radios "wore out" over time. - LJK - 1/13/2006 5:04:25 PM
      - That $100 calculator - Robert - 1/14/2006 2:23:13 AM
        
        Nixie tubes! Nixie tubes! (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 1/15/2006 7:39:18 PM
        
        Oh yes, Nixie tubes - Robert - 1/15/2006 8:54:23 PM
        
        Had both the baby blue and mustard/khaki... - SDAI-Tech1 - 1/14/2006 8:13:31 PM
        
        Yeah, that's the one - Robert - 1/15/2006 9:34:56 PM
        
        re: Yeah, that's the one - SDAI-Tech1 - 1/15/2006 11:11:37 PM
  - Time shifting and ONE PHONE in HOUSE!!!!!! - carl - 1/13/2006 4:55:25 PM
    - Try party lines! - Larry J - 1/13/2006 6:03:12 PM
      - Tin Toys from JAPAN - carl - 1/13/2006 6:32:04 PM
        
        Reel to reels, cassettes & 8-tracks - Larry J - 1/14/2006 12:51:44 AM
        
        MAD Man MUNTZ and 4-tracks!!!! - carl - 1/17/2006 7:17:44 PM
        
        Oooh! Oooh! I know! Ask me! - Robert - 1/14/2006 2:15:50 AM
        
        The title of Bill Lear's autobiography was "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" - Larry J - 1/14/2006 8:56:26 PM
        
        re: The title of Bill Lear's autobiography was "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" - Robert - 1/15/2006 10:26:20 PM
        
        Yes, Bill Lear of "Learjet" fame was also famous for inventing the 8-track. - Tom Brosz - 1/14/2006 7:48:30 PM
        
        Ah, Foxjet, aeronautical vaporware! - Larry J - 1/17/2006 12:31:21 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Tom Brosz - 1/20/2006 1:09:28 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - mia - 7/31/2007 6:24:22 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - mia - 7/31/2007 6:24:14 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - mia - 7/31/2007 6:24:07 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - mia - 7/31/2007 6:23:58 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russ - 5/17/2006 3:58:17 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Jim - 3/6/2006 9:32:49 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Herman Lueckenotte - 6/3/2006 5:52:44 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russ - 5/17/2006 3:54:41 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Tom Brosz - 5/17/2006 7:36:23 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russell Emanis - 5/17/2006 2:31:12 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Ernest - 5/24/2006 9:33:54 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russ - 5/24/2006 9:40:37 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Ernest - 5/25/2006 3:56:54 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Tom Brosz - 5/19/2006 3:01:27 AM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russ - 5/19/2006 4:01:38 AM
        
        Is that you Tom? - Lindy - 5/19/2006 3:20:12 AM
        
        Nah. No idea who that is. - Tom Brosz - 5/19/2006 11:47:56 PM
        
        re: Nah. No idea who that is. - Lindy - 5/20/2006 4:09:56 AM
        
        Plaid suit - Tom Brosz - 5/20/2006 4:58:41 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Jim - 5/17/2006 2:45:28 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Russ - 5/18/2006 4:46:45 AM
        
        Foxjet Development - Barry Marshall - 6/1/2006 10:33:46 PM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Rick Thoennes - 10/27/2008 11:48:24 AM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Rick Thoennes - 10/27/2008 11:48:09 AM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Roger Houtsma - 2/23/2008 3:44:10 PM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - jo ann opacic - 7/21/2007 5:07:47 PM
        
        Hi Joanne - Lindy - 7/22/2007 2:52:53 AM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Larry Gray - 11/11/2006 3:31:21 PM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - elliot borin - 10/4/2006 1:05:40 AM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Herman Lueckenotte - 6/3/2006 6:21:10 PM
        
        re: Foxjet Development - Barry Marshall - 6/3/2006 7:56:19 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - Jim - 5/29/2006 9:47:49 PM
        
        re: Foxjet - RKJ - 9/30/2008 5:26:19 AM
        
        Nostalgia for 1980s Technology - ljk - 5/23/2006 12:40:13 AM

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The whole thread (114 posts)