Back When Tablets... Were Large Slabs of Rock! (Someone Fetch Me a Chisel.)

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seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#1
Hey Everybody,

Still's thread about our modern-day gadgets got me thinking in the opposite direction. Are there any devices you miss from the days of yesteryear or might even have held on to and still use? (GASP)

I actually miss gadgets with real buttons--the feeling of actually depressing a raised surface... and hearing that gratifying "click" as a confirmation!! I was thrilled to find a new microwave that has 3 actual above-the-surface, honest-to goodness buttons... at the bottom of the touch-screen keypad, of course.

My favorite "old-fashioned" devices are a a good old pen and paper. Although I appreciate the fact that typing is faster and sometimes more convenient (hello, copy and paste!), one of my goals for this year is to pick out one person a month from my address book (an old-fashioned Rolodex with hand-written entries) to sit down and write a real letter to. I still collect pens in all colors and stationery, which is ever-increasingly hard to find. Maybe it's just me, but I find it a little depressing that our entire written language is melding into one identity--the Times New Roman font. I hope we never lose sight of how precious God's gift of individual handwriting is. There is something incredibly soothing to me about allowing words to flow from my heart to a blank piece of paper right in front of me, and all in my own personal "font" (handwriting).

I had a set of recipe cards handed down to me from my Mom, but I insisted she hand-write some of them so I'll have them as an heirloom someday when God calls her home.

I also find that when I am reading or studying (especially the Bible), typing just doesn't cut it. I'm the type of learner who needs cues from as many sources as possible in order to remember key points, so I often draw diagrams or work things out on paper in order to help me process information.

Unfortunately, I just can't convey my little stick-figure masterpieces onto a blank screen. :) And, it's becoming so rare that anyone writes anything... that now when friends or loved ones actually write something down for me... It immediately goes into my box of treasures, as a beloved memento.

What kinds of methods, means, or machinery do you still use that might seem old-fashioned... but you still find it to be the best (or most effective) way?

(As another example... I know there are so many shortcuts nowadays but I still prefer doing some things the old-fashioned way, such as with sewing. There are all kinds of rolling devices made to help you cut out a pattern faster... but for me, I never find it as accurate or calming as using an actual pair of scissors. And, if I ever took up baking, I know I'd prefer to knead dough by hand rather than use a standing mixer... )

What about all of you?
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#2
I still do Bible study and theological reading with paper and highlighters.
Actually due to a dystopian novel I read on my Nook, I'm concerned about so much of our media books/music/shows being stored ''in the cloud'' for download/streaming. It makes it just that much easier for someone else to control everything. Banning books/music/speech is more difficult with millions of content floating around. It's easier to ban something if all it takes is a keystroke.
 
B

BananaPie

Guest
#3
Well, the Brother word processor was quite convenient w.r.t. you'd be able to print your paper without carrying a bulky printer. I'd keep a rim of paper, a case of 10 diskettes, spare ribbon cartridges and a couple "eraser ribbon" cartridges in the trunk of the car.

Those were they days... ...long before the internet existed. :D
 
B

BananaPie

Guest
#4
I still use a solar scientific calculator for all math levels above arithmetic. I never got into the TI-89 nor any graphing calculators.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#5
I love colorful/beautiful pens and stationary as well, Kim. :) I think it means so much more to someone to receive thoughtful correspondence from someone via snailmail, at least it does to me. Remembering special occasions online is just...okay.

I also agree with you about handwriting. I went to a baby shower a couple of months ago and one of the activities the hostess did was to pass out birthday/special event cards for the new little one, asking attendees to write special messages for birthdays 1-18, graduations, etc., according to whatever card they received. As we were writing, we expressed concerns that since it appears that cursive writing may very well disappear from curriculums across the country, we wondered whether the little one would even be able to read them. The baby's mommy indicated that she would see to it that he or she would be able to read them even if she had to be the teacher. :)

I do have to say that my handwriting has suffered tremendously in the years that most of my work has been done online. It saddens me, especially when I review beautiful old documents/correspondence from days gone by. It has definitely become a lost art. :(

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S

ServantStrike

Guest
#6
I hear you on real buttons. Things I miss:

5. Massively overbuilt clicky keyboards - if I could snag one in a split key I'd be on it in a heartbeat.

4. Jog wheels - so happy that the laserdisc player a buddy got me for xmas a few years ago has one on both the player and the remote

3. Laserdiscs - because they were so awesome. I never owned a LD player as a kid because I was a kid and they were $$$$

2. Arcade cabinets - back in the day, arcades used to be fun places.

1. MIDI!!!!

[video=youtube;lX1YVx2ix58]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX1YVx2ix58[/video]
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#7
i "upgraded" to a slider-style cell phone last year. with not even a text-messaging plan. and if i'm busy, i don't answer the phone.

i like to draw with charcoal & pastel sticks. i still own several 35mm and 110 film cameras, but tbh haven't used them for lack of having film. when i got a digital camera i made darn sure to get one with full manual features, and i set my own f-stops, thank-you-very-much.

i don't own a single touch screen device.
i drive a car with a manual transmission and wouldn't dream of doing otherwise. i actually use my mirrors and turn signals, lol.
i go to the library to check out books and a video store to rent movies.
the only think i use a microwave for is to reheat the morning's coffee.
i don't put anything on any "clouds"
i pull weeds in our garden by hand and don't use any chemical fertilizer.
i'd rather wash dishes by hand, and still do about 20% of the time.

i've never bought a greeting card in my life. i still hand-draw Christmas & birthday cards for my family.

i play hand drums, all with animal skin heads. none of them will ever have a synthetic skin.

whenever possible & practical, i go barefoot.

i make origami, and whenever i want to tear paper, i crease & wet it; i don't use scissors.

& this is "book antiqua" font -- i was an engraver for years, & i despise 'new times roman' and 'arial' :D
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#8
As we were writing, we expressed concerns that since it appears that cursive writing may very well disappear from curriculums across the country, we wondered whether the little one would even be able to read them.
i never learned to write in cursive!
i can read it fine, but i was partly home-schooled and missed the grades where it was taught.
when i went to public school i had a teacher that required us to write in cursive, but i refused, and got docked 10% on every assignment.
i can write faster in manuscript than a lot of people can in cursive anyhow, and i can make it just as sloppy too, lol!
 
B

BananaPie

Guest
#9
Cursive writing is a form of art that is declining with each generation. Cursive penmanship reminds me of how calligraphy eventually dried out form academics altogether.

Yet the worse part of it all is that machines have replaced syntax as well as penmanship; thus, generating an entire generation of "bad spellers." It's gotten so anemic that students don't even know how to differentiate between their, there, and
they're, for examples, because the word processor program either doesn't catch the error, or when it does, the student never gets to learn about it.

The spell checker makes the correction automatically. It's a generational problem. :)
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,940
4,581
113
#10
i go to the library to check out books and a video store to rent movies.
i've never bought a greeting card in my life. i still hand-draw Christmas & birthday cards for my family.

"book antiqua" font -- i was an engraver for years, & i despise 'new times roman' and 'arial' :D
Great post, Human! (And everyone else's posts are wonderful to read as well... Thank you so much for sharing! :))

While I do enjoy seeing the creativity with new fonts (my die-hard favorite is Comic Sans, though... but not very practical), I worry that people will forget what handwriting even is and won't realize God made humans to have their own individual, hand-created fonts.

I WISH I had the talent to draw cards, that would be awesome, as I often feel like I'm one of maybe 5 people left who keep Hallmark's paper-card division barely floating above water. Good cards are so hard to find that when I do find one, I buy several of the same one and keep track of who I give to and when so I hopefully won't duplicate. I also still love dressing up the envelopes with stickers--my inner 8-year-old girl coming out :).

And, I worry about the day when brick-and-mortar libraries and bookstores disappear altogether. I love browsing through a library or bookstore the way some people enjoy going to the bar. It's going to be a sad, sad day when such beloved places become extinct.
 

just_monicat

Senior Member
Jan 1, 2014
1,284
17
0
#11
before i start my list, i will add one device i don't miss and that is my old "sleep sounds" machine. it was huge and took up a lot of space on my night stand. now, i have two nifty "white noise" apps that work beautifully when it's too cold (or impractical) to sleep with fan noise. which leads me to my list:

+ i love going to sleep with the fan on. that whirring noise will always have a pavlovian response for me, i believe. and the second best noise to sleep to is rainy noises.

+ i have been a long time journal-er. i write my thoughts, my dreams, and especially my prayers. and i love the act of writing. like you, kim, i still have my favorite pens, and usually they are the pentel extra fine in all the yummy colors of pink and purple, teal and green. i do love the extra fine gels too. and i love my giant sharpie collection too.

+ as mentioned earlier by BP, i am a fan of calligraphy -- probably because i love the act of pen and paper writing so much. from a very young age, i took great pride in having lovely penmanship, and was known to re-write my book reports and start letters over if i messed up or it looked sloppy to my eye. calligraphy was a natural direction for me, and i love - love - love the magic synergy of when sage wisdom is illustrated and elevated by the beautiful curves of graceful lettering. and how the chosen script can add a dimension to its message. i

+ i hate exercise machines. i really despise them. the only way i can stand any length of time on one is if someone is if someone is keeping me company or motivating me (i.e. snapping the whip) such as my trainer. i'd rather run in the pouring rain, the snow or even the mud.

+ video games - i think part of why i find video games so dismally unacceptable is because i am constantly thinking, "you know, i could ACTUALLY be out shooting/playing/doing" and it seems like a poor substitute for my time. i'd much rather have a real (if not more tame) experience.

+ electronic games - half of the fun for me is the banter, psuedo-psychological tactics, and smack talk. and electronic versions of games i enjoy just don't cut it. i'd rather play poker with my pals, or beat my pals in scrabble where i can see their faces when i transform "NIP" into "CONNIPTION". : )

+ electronic brewers - call me old fashioned, but every morning i like to make a pot of tea, in my actual china (or iron) teapot and let it brew. i love the simple beauty of that routine. every morning, i start my tea, carry it to my bedside table and drink my first cup in bed and commence with my morning routine.

oh, and if i choose to make coffee, no "pods" are required. i know some people swear by these things, but i cannot fathom why anyone needs coffee or tea simplified. i've yet to taste something from one of those machines that i can't make equally as well, or better using low tech means (and probably faster). at a fraction of the price.

+ i am reluctant to use my calculator or calculator apps. i have a very distinct memory of teaching my mom how to do basic math with fractions and being pretty horrified that she didn't know this stuff. as i recall, she was taking a postal exam and needed the info for the test. i asked her why she didn't know it, and she said that "you forget things you learn in school as an adult".

that answer became seared into my brain. so, when it comes to math required for a project or any day to day need, i will either do it in my head or pull out a scrap of paper and do it longhand. i have this mildly irrational fear that if i don't keep using it, i will eventually stop being capable of it. i'm also that way with spell check. i mostly disregard spell check, since it's guilty of so many red herrings (especially when you don't capitalize your words!) or treat it as a mild "red flag".

+ finally, i am a mostly gadget-free kind of girl. about ten years ago i learned that i can do more with my brain, an iron skillet plus a couple good saucepans, sharp knives and properly functioning oven than almost every gadget. i refuse to buy gadgets and will never be one of those girls with the overflowing drawer of utensils and crowded pantries bursting with "AS SEEN ON TV" labels.

instead, i would prefer a few really good tools, all close at hand and well maintained--good technique is my favorite "gadget".

however, i really do love my vacuum sealer. : )in the words of pascal, if i had more time i would've written a shorter letter. i can't believe how long this is!!!
 
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JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,551
2,171
113
#12
I miss old TV's... I remember the days when you could by a TV come home take it out of the box plug it in and you had channels to watch. Now days you need a PHD to program a new TV and I am so technology challenged I always call for help.

I love books and turning the pages. Only advantage of the electronic book readers I can see is when a book is over a thousand pages they can be a little heavy to hold.

I miss my dad's push button Rambler station-wagon - he would get so mad at me because I would get in the car and pretend to drive and push all the buttons.

I prefer my salad shooter over food processors.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#13
I agree about the bookstores too. Nothing has the feel/smell of a new book. :)
 

just_monicat

Senior Member
Jan 1, 2014
1,284
17
0
#14
I agree about the bookstores too. Nothing has the feel/smell of a new book. :)
...or a really old book. call me crazy, but i can get really worked up walking around the reference section of an old library.
 

jogoldie

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2014
1,616
48
48
#15
Im not ashamed to say...I just learned how to use a computer... there I said and I feel better for it....lol
But what I really miss is my record player...the scratchy sound was good...and I use to miss just jumpnig on my bycycle
And go no where...I miss that for the children nowadays.....we had nothing and thought we had everything....just meeting your friends
And exploring the woods...now with the games players and technology our children lost the beauty of the outdoors
But im fighting it for my grand babies..twice a week we pack up to the beach and spend 8hours exploring...no electronics..
 
S

ServantStrike

Guest
#16
...or a really old book. call me crazy, but i can get really worked up walking around the reference section of an old library.
Random fact of the day - mold spores in old books have actually been known to cause hallucinations in some people (but before everybody goes out book sniffing - some of them can be quite dangerous).




Personally I enjoy the yellowing that occurs in old paper. It feels more natural than the bleached white color you see with new production paper.
 
J

Jullianna

Guest
#17
Im not ashamed to say...I just learned how to use a computer... there I said and I feel better for it....lol
But what I really miss is my record player...the scratchy sound was good...and I use to miss just jumpnig on my bycycle
And go no where...I miss that for the children nowadays.....we had nothing and thought we had everything....just meeting your friends
And exploring the woods...now with the games players and technology our children lost the beauty of the outdoors
But im fighting it for my grand babies..twice a week we pack up to the beach and spend 8hours exploring...no electronics..
Love what you said about record players! I inherited a ton of old albums I could never part with from a relative and wondered how I would ever listen to them. It's cool to see how many companies have begun to make/sell them again!
 

just_monicat

Senior Member
Jan 1, 2014
1,284
17
0
#18
Random fact of the day - mold spores in old books have actually been known to cause hallucinations in some people (but before everybody goes out book sniffing - some of them can be quite dangerous).

Personally I enjoy the yellowing that occurs in old paper. It feels more natural than the bleached white color you see with new production paper.

i've always considered my hallucinatory tendencies part of my quirky charm. ; )

actually, i've read the same, plus more. i'm a teensy-weensy bit ocd about some things, and all the unpleasant things that books/paper attract was a mildly motivating factor for why i pared down my giant library of books and enjoy having a kindle and only one bookshelf.

you know, i just had an epiphany. there was a lady who was a librarian at my college (who was known for being a specialist with old/rare books) and had three or four cats.

i wonder if she even had a chance, between the old books and the cat litter.
 
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jogoldie

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2014
1,616
48
48
#19
I know right ....im the one who had the pennies taped on the arm so it wouldnt skip....wonder if they fixed it
 

rachelsedge

Senior Member
Oct 15, 2012
3,659
79
48
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#20
I do not want a Kindle/Nook. Real books will always be my favorite. I like turning physical pages and they never have to be charged. ;)

I miss handwritten things. In elementary/middle/high school we'd pass notes or have a "note"book. We'd think we were so sneaky but I'm sure the teachers always knew. Gel pens were the coolest.

I want to write letters back and forth with my future boyfriend, even if we live in a relatively close vicinity. When all I get in the mail anymore are bills and statements, a letter would make my day. Plus, there's just something about reading handwriting that someone took the time to send to you, not just from significant others, but from other friends and family too.

I know it's still "technology", but some of the old school video games were the best.