Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Outdated Piece Of Technology They Actually Prefer

People Explain Which Outdated Piece Of Technology They Actually Prefer
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Make us preferred on Google

I have a friend who still buys CDs regularly (hey, so do I, from time to time). Physical media is still highly prized, particularly among collectors. Anyway, this friend has an old Walkman. He uses it all the time. He says he prefers the more intimate feel of selecting a CD and playing it. He says it makes him feel more in tune (hehe) with the music. I get it and can absolutely appreciate it!

After Redditor t_ste5k asked the online community, "What outdated piece of technology do you actually prefer?" people took us on a stroll down memory lane. As the saying goes, If it ain't broke, don't fix it!


"Literally..."

Literally any household appliance. Those things are so durable and last a lot longer. Everything made these days is cheaply made so you have to keep buying them.

jackiechan4

"I love drawing..."

Paper and pencils. I love drawing and I love writing, technology just doesn't compare imo, sometimes I still write letters to my friends because I think it's lovely to get something in the post that ain't bills etc.

DrMantisTobogan96

"I don't really find most..."

Watches. If you could consider them outdated, a good watch is timeless really.

I don't really find most of the features on a smartwatch useful, the novelty has worn off. I just want to look at my wrist and know what time it is. Actually if you think about it my smart watch will be considered outdated in 2 years while any of my regular watches will be the same. Biggest draw back with the smart watch is you have to deal with charging it at least once a week. My watch with an automatic movement never needs to be charged, never needs a battery and will continue to work as long as I take care of it. Real watches are much more fashionable too, smart watches were fashionable for about 15 minutes.

Dodkavick

"I don't even consider myself..."

Wired headphones. I've never heard a wireless pair of headphones sound good. Yes, I've used the Quiet Comfort 35 from Bose, it's bass boosted too much and lacks detail.

I don't consider myself a huge audiophile, but even just some HD600's or HD650's on a proper DAC amp (even schiit magni modi, but that's not what I use) sound miles better than the best wireless headphones I've ever heard.

Also, wired earbuds sound better if you spend your money wisely. A pair of Mee P2's for $100 sound better than the $250 apple airpod pros.

Wires can be annoying but they can carry more current to properly drive good drivers for better sound quality. Why would anyone spend lots of money to have crap audio quality?

IndubitablyRaven

"You can play them in your car..."

Music on CD.

CDs typically don't contain unskippable ads. They're easy to collect and store. They're less delicate than vinyl records. You can skip and repeat tracks. Some come with interesting artwork and lyrics booklets. You can play them in your car (most still have a CD player). You actually own the physical media. They're far less pretentious than vinyl and usually much cheaper. Musicians and labels still put out lots of music on CD, too. To me, CD's are at least a million times better than vinyl or streaming.

mike_hellstrom

"Many of today's films..."

Practical effects from '80s, '90s, and early '00s films. Many of today's films rely so heavily on CGI that it just doesn't feel right or look as fun. I miss the organic feel that a lot of older films had to them.

Cipher1414

"The quality..."

Physical copies of any form of media vs. streaming. The quality is way better, a higher share of the sale value goes to the artist, and I love owning a copy I can hold. I find it way more exciting to buy a record / DVD / book once a month or so and build a library of said media, than paying for access to a service every month and having to enjoy media on that service's terms.

ObiWansTinderAccount

"Don't have to deal with..."

As far as classroom technology goes, overhead projectors. It's a mirror and a lightbulb. Don't have to deal with weird software glitches or figuring out all the weird new digital projector technology. Plus you can write with a physical marker on a flat surface. Bring back overheads!!

SourEmerald

"I will admit..."

Reading to gain knowledge and find answers as opposed to Googling everything. I will admit Google is amazing and I can find everything I need, however I find retention levels of these searches vs reading and manually researching are far lower for me.

Ghost_Brain

"No idea why..."

Rotary telephone in the home.

No idea why, but it makes you sit and talk instead of doing 1000 other things at the same time.

Sir_Chancealot0001

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

SONY PlayStation showcases its fun scenes in home consumption at AWE2026 in Shanghai, China.
CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Gamers Are Furiously Sounding Off After PlayStation Announces End To Physical Discs

Physical media fans just got hit with a game-over screen.

Sony announced Wednesday that it will discontinue physical PlayStation game discs starting in January 2028, a move that has already sparked backlash from gamers who aren't exactly thrilled about handing over the last remnants of ownership to digital storefronts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Michael Che and Colin Jost
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Michael Che Just Wished Colin Jost Happy Birthday With A Hilariously Brutal Post—And 'SNL' Fans Are Cackling

Perhaps no two celebrities are better at trolling each other than SNL's Michael Che and Colin Jost.

And for Jost's recent birthday, Che decided it was the perfect time to show his friend who's actually the best troll out there.

Keep ReadingShow less
Danny Glover
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images/Getty Images

Fans Rally Around Danny Glover After He Reveals That He's Living With Alzheimer's Disease In Poignant New Interviews

In an appearance filmed for the TODAY show that aired on Tuesday, actor and activist Danny Glover revealed he, like over 7 million other Americans, is living with Alzheimer's disease. The progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease causes memory loss and cognitive decline.

The veteran actor has 200 film and TV credits to his name going back almost 50 years. His theatre credits extend even further. Glover has also received several prestigious awards for his decades of humanitarian work and political activism, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2022.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Marsha Blackburn from elevator video
NewsChannel 5

MAGA Senator Tries To Dodge Reporter's Questions Only To Get Thwarted By Elevator In Super Cringey Viral Video

Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn was called out after attempting to dodge questions from journalist Ben Hall of NewsChannel 5, the CBS affiliate in Nashville, only to be thwarted by an uncooperative elevator.

Blackburn is the frontrunner in the Republican primary for Tennessee governor; early voting is less than three weeks away and Blackburn has kept a very low profile. That was true even after she just spoken to the Greater Nashville Technology Council for an event members of different media outlets had been invited to attend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of JD Vance; Joe Biden
@atrupar/X; Scott Olson/Getty Images

JD Vance Just Tried To Make A Pitiful Joke About Biden To U.S. Troops—And It Fell Awkwardly Flat

Vice President JD Vance had people groaning after a joke he made about former President Joe Biden falling on the stairs was met with silence from those who attended an event meant to honor "American military excellence."

Vance was speaking to troops at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, at one of many different events designed to honor the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

Keep ReadingShow less