30 Outdated Products That Are Still Part Of People’s Daily Routines

In a world of AI assistants, Bluetooth everything, and streaming services for every mood, it’s easy to forget the gadgets and gizmos that came before. But someone on Reddit posed a nostalgic and thought-provoking question: “What’s a piece of outdated technology you still swear by?”

#1

Image source: Natharius, Nina Zeynep Güler

Books. Yes I use digital ones, mainly for travels, but there is something about paper books that is awsome.

#2

Image source: tdr37303, Sebastian Bednarek

Desktop PC. Some things I don’t want to do on a small screen.

#3

Image source: FREDICVSMAXIMVS, Jan Kopřiva

Knobs and buttons, especially in cars. Keep your d**n touch screens, I want tactile feedback.

#4

Image source: vanillablue_, Aditya Saxena

Pencil/pen and paper.

barredowl123:

Yep! I still keep a paper calendar in a little book that goes everywhere with me.

#5

My computer mouse. I have a laptop. The touch pad for the cursor is awkward for me to use. My mouse is more comfortable. I am good with touch screens, though.

Image source: goddess_of_fear

#6

Image source: pollifilla, EyeEm

A real, wall hung calendar. Keeps our family life organisation all in one place for all ages to see. Plus you’re forced to ‘go home and check the calendar’ when making appointments/getting invited places, which just gives a bit of much needed time to stop, think and assess how best to keep the balance of time commitments.

#7

My physical media:
Records
CDs
Games.

Image source: P00slinger

#8

Paper planners and notebooks. I love physically writing things down and it helps me remember things better.

Image source: masochist-

#9

Image source: MaxMcLarenTBSL, user16766420

Apparently, MicroSD cards are outdated as everything tries forcing me to upload to The Cloud. Sc**w that noise.

#10

Image source: Brianvondoom, Yunus Tuğ

Wired headphones.

Better for environment. No battery to go dead. Can last decades.

Sound better. No reliance on bluetooth bandwidth.

Cheaper for better quality. Usually use the phone’s own DAC instead of one being built in.

Plus the headphone jack is an open source multifunction port that can be used for loads of different functions.

We made a MASSIVE mistake by buying in to phones with no jack.

#11

Image source: Plastic-Ratio-199, Benoît Deschasaux

Old school pencil sharpener. Nothing beats a freshly sharpened #2 pencil.

#12

Image source: ggfchl, Alfred Kenneally

CD player and DVD player. If the internet/wifi/cellular goes down, you can’t watch your streaming services. However, actual DVDs will work. Pop one in and press play! No internet required for those!

#13

Image source: der3009, Curated Lifestyle

Apparently the use of USB Drives/flash drives??

I made a comment the other day about how I hate all the new laptops don’t have USB ports. And no one around me uses them or flash drives anymore. I use them all the time!!

#14

Image source: Ok_Spell_4165, aditya_sethia_97

Watch.

Not decorative, just a cheap Casio Illuminator.

rboymtj:

Yea, I’ve looked onto smart watches and they’re cool and all but I’m not giving up my gshock. I’m so used to not having to think about my watch that I don’t want to have to charge the thing every day.

#15

Image source: ImpressNice299, Sylwia Bartyzel

Map and compass when hiking. GPS is great, but relying on it is asking for trouble and you don’t learn the ground in the same way.

#16

Image source: Tiny-Benefit6329, Joanna Stołowicz

I still have my grandmother’s waffle iron. The taste and shape of the waffles on it are incredible, no new waffle iron can make them. Quality and experience prevail.

#17

Image source: sabrinacrivera, Andres Urena

My iPod Classic. Still works like a charm and has my entire music library from high school. Pure nostalgia in my pocket.

#18

Image source: assembly_faulty, Getty Images

My DVD player (well blue ray really).

crazylittlemermaid:

My friends made fun of me for holding onto my DVD player and collection of DVDs. Then I was without internet for a month after moving (thanks comcast) and they stopped laughing. The DVD player saved me from a month of absolute boredom and watching things on my tiny phone screen. I’ve mostly packed the DVDs away at this point, but I refuse to actually get rid of them.

#19

My treadle sewing machine. It’s like 100 years old and will probably outlast me and my siblings’ kids.

When the power is out I can still sew.

Image source: feverishdodo

#20

A printer that you plug into a laptop with a cable to print something.

I have never had a printer that you need to use an app or wifi for that works, there’s always an issue.

Image source: 100percentAPR

#21

I see a lot of people putting pen/pencil and paper.

My pick: typewriter

No electricity, looks neat and professional. You can type on note cards and envelopes without fiddling with a settings screen. Good way to disconnect if electronics distract you from working.

Biggest reason: it can be used where laptops can’t because of security or EMI while still much faster than handwriting.

Image source: Troncross

#22

Image source: Desperado_Dan_, Andrej Lišakov

My turntable, showing my age but still got lots of vinyl.

TheNJGM:

Right there with you. Still have a pair of my old Technics 1200mk2 with hundreds of vinyl. Never giving them up.

Far_Section3715:

If it makes you feel better, vinyl is back and big.

#23

My classic fountain pen.

Most_Art507:

I always use a fountain pen when I’m writing ” proper” letters, if I’m writing notes I use a pencil.

Image source: Ps11889

#24

Black rotary dial phone in the garage. Still working faithfully even during power outages.

Image source: bruiserscruiser

#25

Image source: depressionsquirrels, Li Zhang

My walkman!

Badabbacus:

Went to a museum and saw a CD walkman behind glass and thought to my self I must be antique now.

#26

Bicycle.

Dutch btw, so it’s a different ballgame for me. I see so many e-bikes, especially those fashionable fat-bikes, zip by. In such a hurry to get into an accident without a helmet. I’ll stick to leaving on time on my oldfashioned 8-gear citybike, so I may take my time to enjoy the scenery along the ride, and stay out of trouble.

Image source: Jutter70

#27

Plumb bob .. as a carpenter I see a lot of the younger guys using lasers on door frames and such. I still prefer my trusty plumb bob.

Image source: mrmikey106

#28

Image source: lithiumcitizen

Old cables. They come in handy so frequently!

jim914:

I’m the same way I have used so many old cables as donors when I need wire to fix a broken wire! The plug from an old charger is like having a bar of gold laying around its almost impossible to find stores that sell replacement plugs anymore and online ordering is a joke need to buy 50 just to get the one needed!

#29

80s-90s boombox. Get an aux cable and play your .flac files through that. Or just listen to the radio.

F**k your tiny, tinny phone speaker.

Image source: TopicalBuilder

#30

My old Crockpots. Those things cook.

Image source: papasnork1