Old dumbphone indestructible nokia phones. That was a thing.
I usually have a dumbphone at in case my smart one fails, but the dumbphones of today are just like cheap junk..
Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
871–880 of 1001 posts
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#872Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple has ditched so many cool things in the MacBook line. 1) MagSafe. I know they really want to go all in on USB-C, but the original MagSafe connector was awesome. Even the weaker 2.0 version was nice. There were two instances where that connector saved my laptop. 2) The laser-drilled power indicator. That was so cool. It looked like the light magically appeared through the aluminum. Now there's no indication whats…
While I also love MagSafe and its features, wouldn't having a more standard port is much better? iPhones are constantly bashed by a group of users because of not having USB-C connectors. Having four USB-C ports with identical capabilities on a MacBook pro is a more pragmatic and flexible solution to have, when compared to MagSafe. On the power level and power button issue, Apple changes its features to shape customer…
> Having four USB-C ports with identical capabilities on a MacBook pro is a more pragmatic and flexible solution to have, when compared to MagSafe.
Four ports costs extra. The base model, which is ostensibly also a "pro" computer, only has two ports. That's one for power and one for everything else. If all of the pro machines came with four ports, then complaints about the USB-C transition wouldn't be so great.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#873Since no one else mentioned it, Yahoo Pipes.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#874Manual typewriters. I have two that I use every week, and they're wonderful distraction free devices that don't require power.
Seems like the the best manual typewriters were made in the sixties.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#875Windows 2000 and Windows 7. Those were the most polished versions, IMO.
Even though Windows 10 is technically better, the unpredictable experience brought about by the update system is a step backwards.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#876Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple has ditched so many cool things in the MacBook line. 1) MagSafe. I know they really want to go all in on USB-C, but the original MagSafe connector was awesome. Even the weaker 2.0 version was nice. There were two instances where that connector saved my laptop. 2) The laser-drilled power indicator. That was so cool. It looked like the light magically appeared through the aluminum. Now there's no indication whats…
> I'm going to keep my 2012 MBP going as long as I can. But when it dies or is no longer supported, I'm pretty sure ThinkPad is where I'm headed. ThinkPads have garbage quality control. My last three: two T450s that had bad backlight bleed. Then a X1 Carbon 6th Gen that doesn't have backlight bleed, but LTE that just stops working randomly. (At least once a day, usually when waking up from sleep--so bad I've just dis…
Ugh, the touchpad. You’re right about that, and I’ve forgotten about it because my current work-issued ThinkPad spends almost 100% of its time on a dock.
Maybe the Surface is my next machine. Who knows what will be out there when I finally have to let this laptop go.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#877Flip phones, like the Startac.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#878Pebble - they created a series of smart watches that had: - long battery life (2-7 days depending on model) - e-ink colour screens, that were always on - an extensive app/watchface ecosystem - actual attractive watches I had a series of them and was all-in on the new models announced via kickstarter, when they suddenly disappeared and were bought by Fitbit. All forthcoming products were killed off. They've been prett…
Try FitBit Versa, apart from the always-on screen, it has everything you're looking for. The battery life averages 4-5 days depending on usage. I personally own it and it's the best purchase I have made. Drastically improved my life.
Fitbit bought Pebble just to kill it. I will never buy a fitbit.
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#879Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple has ditched so many cool things in the MacBook line. 1) MagSafe. I know they really want to go all in on USB-C, but the original MagSafe connector was awesome. Even the weaker 2.0 version was nice. There were two instances where that connector saved my laptop. 2) The laser-drilled power indicator. That was so cool. It looked like the light magically appeared through the aluminum. Now there's no indication whats…
> 2007 MacBook had the best laptop keyboard I'd ever used. You mean 2007 Macbook Pro right ? One of the best tactile responses I'd ever experienced on a keyboard. Thinkpad T520 was another I really enjoyed typing on.
In my case it was the white plastic MacBook (non pro).
Re: Ask HN: What discontinued company/product do you wish was still around?
#880Since no one else mentioned it, Yahoo Pipes.
Indeed!