in Misc

The most memorable gadgets from the ’90s

Remember those huge mobile phones which didn’t even have polyphonic ringtones? Or those bulky laptops? Remember how many nights have you spent playing Mario or Zelda on your Super Nintendo? This article is for the nostalgic kid that lives in you. Let`s make a list, do you have another suggestion? What other piece of technology you think it must be in this list?

Videocassette recorder

The videocassette recorder (or VCR, more commonly known in the UK and Ireland as the video recorder or video machine), is a type of video tape recorder that uses removable videotape cassettes containing magnetic tape to record audio and video from a television broadcast so it can be played back later.

Sega Mega Drive

The Mega Driveis a fourth-generation video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988 and Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990. The console was released in North America in 1989 under the name Sega Genesis, as Sega was unable to secure legal rights to the Mega Drive name in that region. The Mega Drive was Sega’s fifth home console and the successor to the Sega Master System, with which it is electronically compatible.

The Pager

A pager (sometimes called a page, beeper, bleep or bleeper) is a simple personal telecommunications device for short messages. A one-way numeric pager can only receive a message consisting of a few digits, typically a phone number that the user is then expected to call. Alphanumeric pagers are available, as well as two-way pagers that have the ability to send and receive email, numeric pages, and SMS messages.

Motorola StarTAC

The Motorola StarTAC is a clamshell mobile phone manufactured by Motorola. It was released on 3 January 1996, being the first ever clamshell/flip mobile phone.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System(SNES)

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (also known as the Super NES, SNES or Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia (Oceania), and South America between 1990 and 1993.

Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, often known as N64, is Nintendo’s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil. It is Nintendo’s last home console to use ROM Cartridges to store games.

Sony PlayStation

Ditching cartridges in favour of CD-Roms, the PlayStation clocking up sales of over 100 million, it marked the rise of the ‘kidult’ – a generation of cash-rich twenty-somethings who never grew out of gaming.

“Revolutionary” laptops

As technology improved during the 1990s, the usefulness and popularity of laptops increased. Correspondingly prices went down. Several developments specific to laptops were quickly implemented, improving usability and performance.

Game Boy

The Game Boy is Nintendo’s second handheld system following the Game & Watch series introduced in 1980, and it combined features from both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game & Watch. It was originally bundled with the puzzle game Tetris. Despite many other, technologically superior handheld consoles introduced during its lifetime, the Game Boy was a tremendous success. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color combined have sold 118.69 million units worldwide. Upon its release in the United States, it sold its entire shipment of one million units within weeks.

Sony Trinitron

Remember those big flat screen TV`s? I mean…reaaaally big.

Tamagotchi

The Tamagotchi is a handheld digital pet created in Japan by Akihiro Yokoi of WiZ Co. Ltd., and Aki Maita of Bandai Co. Ltd. It was first sold by Bandai in 1996 in Japan. Over 70,000,000 Tamagotchis have been sold world-wide as of 2008. Most Tamagotchis are housed in a small egg-shaped computer with an interface usually consisting of three buttons, although the number of buttons may vary for different variations.

Personal Digital Assistants

Personal Digital Assistants were hugely popular computers in the 1990s and a precursor to smart phones. The Newton and Palm Pilot applied touch screen technology for user interaction, while the Psion had a classic clamshell design with keyboard.

Digital Camera

Launched in 1994 and costing around 800$, the QuickTake was the first consumer digital camera that worked with a home computer. It had a fixed focus, no zoom and no way to preview photos on the camera. Manufacture ceased in 1997.

Bogdan

Bogdan is the founder of Top Design Magazine. You can find him in Bucharest-Romania so next time you want to drink a beer there and talk about web and stuff, give him a message.