
The world is accelerating fast and we — the consumers — are playing catch-up. New gadgets and software updates promise to make our lives better, so we follow the latest innovations with anticipation, hoping to find a way to integrate them into our daily routine.
But as the trends march onward, some people choose the opposite approach and reject them, opting for things they have already been using for years. So when a thread emerged on Reddit, asking everyone to share the “obsolete” piece of technology they refuse to relinquish, many had their say.
From vinyl records to physical maps, here’s the list of “relics” that still have their place in our hearts and homes.
Read More: “It Works 100% Of The Time”: 35 “Obsolete” Things These People Haven’t Given Up On
#1
I’m a school librarian – print books are nowhere near as obsolete as people seem to think. Kids still devour them!
Image credits: jayhof52
#2
Regular buttons in a car instead of touch screen everything.
Image credits: bahamapapa817
#3
I want my physical media. When all these companies start pulling licenses, selling them to new people, making it harder to access content, I want to be able to pull my Blu-ray, DVD, CD, or whatever other media it’s in off the shelf and watch it.
Image credits: fuzzypyrocat
#4
USB drives for data storage.
I have trust issues with cloud servers, and dislike the idea of personal data being stored on file servers that I do not own and control.
“The Cloud” is nearly impossible to avoid entirely; I just minimize my use of it in favor of local backups with planned resilience and redundancy.
Image credits: RichardBonham
#5
Paper maps are considered by many to be obsolete, but they are essential for hiking or just being in an area away from civilization where cell service can be unreliable to nonexistent.
Edit: I’ve had about 100 replies informing me that maps can be saved so they work offline. I am aware of this. However it doesn’t do much good when hiking on remote trails that aren’t marked in any online maps. It doesn’t help when you’ve unexpectedly driven into a large dead zone and didn’t know to save maps in advance. And it doesn’t help when leaving the phone behind for an overnight kayaking trip because of the risk of dropping the phone in the river. .
Image credits: deliveryer
#6
A notebook and pencil. I find writing down lists, making plans or doing financial analysis on paper so ‘clarifying’. The pencil must have an eraser on the end.
Image credits: Holiday_Newspaper_29
#7
Regular, non smart watches.
Image credits: scoobyboobiemoo
#8
Cast iron cookware. My $15 pan will outlast any nonstick pan you can buy. I can burn it, scrape it, and rust it out, and still recover it into new condition.
Image credits: jwr410
#9
Keys for opening my car door/starting the car.
I’m not down with the whole push-to-start/keyless entry thing.
Image credits: Quercus408
#10
Manual gearbox. Because it allows me to feel more involved in the driving process.
Image credits: ellenmachine
#11
I prefer to spend cash. It helps my brain process the spending. I’m still bad with money but I got tired of swiping and praying.
A lot of venues are cashless now – hate it.
Image credits: dballz12
#12
Books vs ebooks.
Image credits: stormyknight3
#13
Manual can openers. I hate the electric ones.
Image credits: dmriggs
#14
Hand held compass. Never runs out of battery and has saved my bacon many times.
Image credits: SixicusTheSixth
#15
Any non-smart device other than a smartphone. To hell with those devices collecting my data, serving me ads, and being a pain to maintain.
Image credits: Cyclone9232
#16
Magnifying lenses. Why use a digital camera when you can use a magnifying lens that doubles as a solar death ray?
Image credits: ThickerSalmon14
#17
Wired headphones.
Image credits: wildddin
#18
Are wallets and billfolds becoming obsolete? I have friends who make fun of me for not just using a phone case that holds everything.
Image credits: 24Wolves
#19
Records. I still love the sound of them better than anything I’ve heard.
Image credits: Robby777777
#20
CDs. I don’t pay for satellite radio so I just play them on repeat in my car.
Image credits: Freeiheit
#21
Wired mice on my PC. No need worrying about a battery dying and it’s not like I need to walk around the room far away from my keyboard carrying my mouse. Alas, they’re becoming less common. 😕
(Wireless headphones are useful though.).
Image credits: bodyknock
#22
My 20 year old TI-83 calculator. So many good features.
Image credits: Oilers1970
#23
Fountain pens. I take a lot of notes because I do a lot of research and writing. I mean hours at a time. Featuring details I have to learn as I go. Fountain pens are the only kind of writing instrument I can use that doesn’t tire out my hand. Or my brain. It gets out of my way and stays out of my way.
Image credits: Initial-Shop-8863
#24
I wear a wristwatch. Not only is it not a smartwatch, it’s not even quartz! It’s mechanical, full of gears and springs and stuff.
Image credits: dplafoll
#25
Typewriters because they’re just so beautiful.
Image credits: definitelynotadhd
#26
Ipod Classic. 160GB with a clicky wheel.
Image credits: King_Everything
#27
The Bialetti moka pot. Hard to beat, unless you have coffee shop grade espresso machine.
Image credits: gerdez
#28
Wired headset, keyboard, mouse. Not interested in charging or needing to change any batteries.
Image credits: Disastrous_Visit9319
#29
Oh man I am a total retro grouch. Vinyl records, old steel bicycles, safety razors, film cameras, the whole hipster gamut.
Image credits: behemoth2666
#30
Physical game cartridges.
Image credits: total-immortal
#31
My landline telephone. It always works. No need to worry about a getting a, signal or needing a charge. I even have one corded one so I never need electricity. I did just get upgraded to fiber from copper however, not VOIP though so I’m certainly hoping all the same benefits are there. AT&T is deprecating the copper in the area and said “switch or be cut off.” The technician made the switch and ran off before I got to really ask him anything!
Image credits: Gibbie42
#32
Analogue Mixer. I’ve had an all digital mixer (X-Air XR12) and it stressed me out. I play in a duo and it’s much easier for me to just reach to the fader half blind than trying to move a line on a touch screen.
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