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Ask HN: What's the best tool you used to use that doesn't exist anymore?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the best tool you used to use that doesn't exist anymore?

#142

Post by frik »

* IBM ThinkPad T41p/60.

Lenovo T410/X210 where still somewhat fine. But these newer ultrabooks nowadays have less powerful specs than 5 year old notebooks. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon isn't bad, but a far cry given it's ultrabook less powerful specs than an 5 year old high end notebook. And these shitty keyboard nowadays, give me back the old keyboard layout like grouped F1-F12 key, better placed Home/PgUp/PgDn/End keys, etc. And an 9 cell battery that stand out on the back side - I want back my 15 hour battery life.

Please please produce the retro Thinkpad, as shown on the Lenovo blog - I want to buy one with high end specs, if it is available in 4:3 even better: http://blog.lenovo.com/en/blog/retro-thinkpad-time-machine/

* HP EliteBook 2560p.

Those newer EliteBook 820 have cheap plastic and a very crappy hinge with such a small angle. And the very thick edge around the display looks like the designer has gone completely mad. And the specs are lower than a 5 year old notebook. Bring back the older quality in a smaller form factor, or just offer the older device with up-to-date high end hardware.

* Microsoft IntelliMouse and Comfort Mouse 6000

Very good computer mice. (yes I am aware the later had a hardware bug with the middle mouse click but who cares). Their newer keyboard and mouses are all wireless and all with crappy design - designer gone mad. Very sad story. It get's harder and harder to find a suitable good traditional standard quality mouse and keyboard these days, that were so common 15 years ago (and cheap as well). Not everyone needs a gaming device (expensive and last only like 2 years) nor would like to use ultra cheaply made crap for small hands only. The normal products aren't available anymore as it seems.

I hope it doesn't sound too negative, sadly some devices aren't available in a quality we used to have available in mainstream. On the other side, a lot of other things I haven't mentioned got a lot better than what was available some years ago - but it isn't the topic in this discussion.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best tool you used to use that doesn't exist anymore?

#144

Post by govg »

hoof_marks wrote: post #101

Windows XP and its search feature- Win7 above does not have it. Yahoo Geocities- simply miss it. and also Yahoo in general. My current yahoo mail is chock a block with spam mails. plus their ads. Xerox Ventura desktop publishing software- that was cool when book publishing was required. Motorola T90/91 basic mobile phone. superb and handiest phone used. Current Moto is smart but not unbeatable. Most importantly old B…

> BSNL Tariffs

They have the unlimited thing now right, where you can make calls at night and they're free?

> Tap water

Are you talking about India or the US?

Re: Ask HN: What's the best tool you used to use that doesn't exist anymore?

#147

Post by homero »

rosstex wrote: post #124

Lazarus Form Recovery. I suppose it still "exists" in that you can download it from the Chrome store, but all traces of its development have been wiped and it'll eventually die away.

I use it on Firefox and I hope it doesn't break

Re: Ask HN: What's the best tool you used to use that doesn't exist anymore?

#148

Post by mikestew »

hyperpallium wrote: post #36
jasim wrote: post #14

The xBase family of languages/development environments. They are still around - Harbour (open-source multi-platform Clipper implementation) and Ashton-Tate dBase which changed many hands and is now dBase LLC. They were one of the fastest environments to build business software in till the early 90s. Then Client/Server and Windows happened. Visual Basic and Delphi occupied the niche with support for SQL based database…

I've heard the love for foxpro before. I thought microsoft bought it and killed it?

If Microsoft killed it, it was a slow death. Microsoft bought it in '92 and released the last version in 2005.
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