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Answering Machine
We used to fight over who got to record the family message. And the blinking light indicating a new message - it's like the old time like on social media. -
VCR
We used the VCR to not just watch our favorite movies, but to record our favorite TV shows. -
Sony Walkman
Of course, I could only afford the knock-off version, but hey, I spent many an hour on the track jogging with my mix tapes. -
TI 99 Gaming console
This was our first exposure to programming. We used to program a number guessing game chock full of insults for wrong guesses. We also learned to play Parsec, Burger Time, Hunt the Wampus, and more. -
Word Processor
We had typing classes in junior high and high school. We would practice on these devices in large groups. -
Double Cassette player
Now we gain the ablility to "dub" tapes! Maybe we thought it edgy and illegal, I don't know. But, we could copy songs or entire albums to blank tapes. -
Cordless phones
To be cut from the long cords! It was a dream. Then, we got to a point where every major room had a cordless phone plus a dock. -
5 Disc C-D Player
Now, we could listen to our top 5 CDs in the car and shuffle songs. The biggest surprise we ever got was when we purchased a minivan with a 5 disc player under the passenger seat. -
CD walkman
Now, I am working as a sweeper at an elementary school and I can go to the library and check out all the books on CD! I would listen to book after book while cleaning classrooms. This is where I discovered The Cat Who Mysteries. -
5 Disc DVD player
Back in the day when you purchased extended warranties on $100 items. Our DVD player died and thanks to that warranty, we were able to upgrade to a 5 disc DVD player. We thought we were Rockfellers. -
iPod Nano
I went through a few iterations, but still have one that I use in my Bose sounddock. I recently bought an Bluetooth adapter for my sounddock. Now, I can stream Spotify. -
Flip phones
Texting might have been a nightmare, but finally we had a cell phone. It was freedom!