What did you like about old computers

[hak4fun]

I liked that they lasted longer. You get a computer today, and it either dies within a year 2, or its outdated. Which is good for me, I go to the recycling center and get decent parts to sell and use.

[TwOne]

The BIOS beep. The most recent PC I have that does that is from 2011.

CRT monitors. There is something special about them. Sure they are dangerous, heavy, and have a high pitched starting up noise (I have really sensitive ears). But I used a HP 17" 2001 CRT until the screen started spazzing and there was a burning smell. RIP CRT. My parents still have a CRT TV though, used as daily driver. It's a JVC from the late 90's.

 

Wavetable/FM synthesis soundcards. Sadly most modern sound cards don't have a FM (emulation) chip or even MIDI wavetable. I used to love to listen to various MIDI's with different wavetables.

[-TesseracT-]

Nothing tbh.

[asim1999]

Nothing tbh.

i understand, since u are using a high-end laptop. Well the classic feel of a desktop and the thrill of starting it up cant be mirrored by todays custom rigs. for example, i can get onto my desktop within 30 seconds ( including typing in long password)

[spaynton]

Nostalgia... That's about it. Every time I think about going back and booting up one my old machines I instantly regret it and remember why I was so excited to upgrade in the first place.

 

However, older peripherals do hold a special place in my heart and I am currently looking for deals on used good condition versions of ones I've replaced over the years thinking the next thing will be better. Nope. If it aint broke don't fix it.

[STRMfrmXMN]

I really liked the Windows XP login screen. Am I weird...?

[-ism]

I miss Windows XP sounds. And I miss the sound from turning on a CRT, hearing random noises from inside the computer thinking something is happening. HDD spinning and such. 

[ObeseWalrus]

our old TV is a CRT, still used daily with a freeview box and a DVD player. i like how makes a loud click when it starts up and the fact that the glass screen can give you a static shock 

well we use out current one ( 9-10 years old) with a Sky+HD box downstairs in the living room( its a big, fat one with a 43 inch matte screen)

The last one you're talking about is not a CRT, it is a RPTV.

[Speedbird]

The POST screen. EFI came along and ruined everything....

[a_higby]

playing with the desktop breaker tool thing when i was younger. I thought it was the best thing in existence.

[elecxonica]

Them keyboards. Also, I guess the fact they were designed for enthusiasts, as opposed to the typical consumers.

[Psykomantis00]

The sound writing to a flopp made. The spinup of older hdd's. I miss how easy it was to make changes to network/pc settings back in the day because there was no reason for the level of security we have today. 

[Swndlr]

lol my desktop with my gt610 made a cut lil beep when it turned on and that thing is only like 2 years old

[NeatSquidYT]

The massive monitors with a round screen, especially massive compared to what we have now. I just love the sound these things make when booting up and shutting down. It's kinda amazing how much space we got when flat monitors came out.

CRT's are awesome

[Albatross]

I really loved the way keyboards looked back then.

 

Always made me feel like I was apart of the Nostromos crew when using them. So clunky and cute.

[Tiby]

The fact that back then you needed some brains to work with computers. Even in games, since graphics was not exactly the selling point, most devs had to invest time in storytelling and creating a perfect atmosphere for the player. 

Now what do we have? Billions of dollars invested in games, most of which are directed to nice scenery and great actors but 0 storyline and at most 8 hours of gameplay, all of the sudden intended death of mouse and keyboard input because being smart is the new thingy and I don't even want to get in buggy software releases which clearly where tested by some automatic script which assumed that if it succeeded compilation it should sell by the thousands.

Meh, not saying that you did not have this in the past, but somehow they were forgotten fast.. Now they are becoming more streamline for some reason..

 

I'm far from not being an addict in promoting new technology, but if this implies "dumb-ing" down the interface, something is going in the wrong direction.

[shadowblitz3]

office assistants, math blaster

[_TechPuppet_]

FROGGER!!

[Guest]

I still have my 2001 iMac, but I never use it, so I miss the fan; something about it was really soothing

[Sushicat89]

I could actually read the loading screen's tip

[DarkEnergy]

Build Quality. Sound.

[novasae]

I could actually read the loading screen's tip

Wow, totally agree

[Owade73]

I miss the classic windows sign... 

[swagfag]

ALL THE WHACKY BEEPS!

[B@ttery]

Now day's i like that idea, that you have dial up to go to internet. And that if you wanted actual do something, the line has to be free. I mean that no body hasn't calling anybody at the same time. Also like very very much of Windows 98SE interface and Netscape browser. MSN Messenger is that cult statut's for me. Because that was the first communication level to communicate to my friend's with out trough phone.