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12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

livescience.com

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Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#5
post #4

I can't tell if this article is supposed to be mocking these technologies or justifying their use. I don't see why landlines are dying, mobile phones are way too expensive for general use. Hell, I don't think I know anyone who doesn't have a landline.

Serious?

Where I live (across the pond) cellphones are the cheaper alternative.

Landlines are all swapped for ip "landlines" or mobile phones not only for convenience but also for price.

Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#6
post #3

Fax machines are the big one. They were obsolete ten years ago and still cheerfully screwing up documents and wasting paper today. I'd argue that the printer and books pretty much qualify.

But then, fax machines are still the fastest and most usable way to transmit paper documents.

It's way easier to fax something, than to scan and send it, then having the others print it. I think that we haven't found a good replacement for the fax machine.

Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#7
I'd take a CRT television or computer monitor over any widescreen flat display. The one I have next to my some-what old LCD looks much better when playing video. It can render 640x480 games correctly without some horrible scaling artefacts.

I also wish there were still more pay phones in my local area.

Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#8
Actually, I can see why people want Dot Matrix Printers, http://theoatmeal.com/comics/printers sums it nicely.

Also, CRTs don't have only disadvantages, as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube#Advantages_and... explains.

The problem with faxes is that people continue to (wrongly) assume that you can't spoof them. Especially now that you can fax arbitrary PDF.

Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#9
Consumerism: Use something because it works (regardless of its age) and we'll mock you for not replacing it with something newer.

If you use these products and they work for you, awesome. You know who misses out on the benefits of you switching? Corporations.

So laugh at others for saving money while you spend half your paychecks on what's new and cool, just because it's new and cool. /rant

Re: 12 Obsolete Technologies Americans Still Use

#10
post #6
post #3

Fax machines are the big one. They were obsolete ten years ago and still cheerfully screwing up documents and wasting paper today. I'd argue that the printer and books pretty much qualify.

But then, fax machines are still the fastest and most usable way to transmit paper documents. It's way easier to fax something, than to scan and send it, then having the others print it. I think that we haven't found a good replacement for the fax machine.

i'm pretty much a convert to hellosign.com

most documents I deal with never make the transition to paper in the first place anymore.

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