Show Us Yours: CNET readers’ old tech
CNET is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and we’ve asked our readers to submit photos of their old tech. Check out the gems that have been shared so far and marvel at how far technology has come.
Got some classic tech stashed away? We’d love to add your photos to this gallery. Please submit them here. Thank you!
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Josh Miller/CNET
Nikon F 35mm SLR — 1957
This is an original Nikon F. Introduced in 1957, this camera was the first 35mm SLR system to be widely adopted by professional photographers, especially photojournalists covering the Vietnam War and NASA astronauts.
During the Vietnam war, my dad used this camera in his F-4 Phantom to photograph combat. In peacetime, he used his camera to photograph my brothers and me as babies. As an adult, I used this same camera to photograph my children’s early stages. Now my children are 26 and 23, and I still have this camera, which still works.
— David T.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:David T.
Minolta Super A — 1957
Not only is my 1957 Minolta Super A 35mm film rangefinder camera beautiful, it takes beautiful pictures and requires no batteries. It’s a pleasure to shoot. I use it frequently!
— James B.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:James B.
Heathkit IG-72 Audio Generator — 1962
Still a go-to in my garage is this 1962 vacuum tube Heathkit Model IG-72 Audio Generator. If hand-crafted tech items appeal to you, a satisfying project is building your own loudspeaker. The classic book is How to Build Speaker Enclosures by Alexis Badmaieff and Don Davis. You’ll learn how to determine a driver’s resonant frequency using an audio generator and a multimeter. Then you choose from a variety of speaker enclosure types, each making use of basic physics to best couple your speaker to the air. Pictured is a ducted port phase inverter enclosure with a commercial mid-high frequency exponential horn enclosure. What fun!
— Leo L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Leo L.
Atari Super Pong — 1975
It was a Xmas gift in 1975 and last played around 1978. It had four Pong games: Singles, Doubles, Solo player and (my favorite) Catch.
— Jim K.
Published:Caption:Lee Koo
Hewlett-Packard Calculator model HP97 — 1975
The Hewlett-Packard Calculator model HP97 was made from 1975 to 1982. These early programmable calculators revolutionized science and engineering in the days before the PC. This model was the desktop printing version of the handheld HP-67 and used small magnetic cards to store programs. It reminds me of my college days and my first job where we used these to check our computer programs.
— Steven K.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Steven K.
Hewlett-Packard HP45 calculator — 1977
The November 1977 HP45 was the first powerful scientific calculator and the beginning of the digital revolution. As a physics and chemistry double major, I proudly wore this on the belt of my Levi’s for three years during college. They were $395 in 1977, but my sister was a nuclear missile engineer, and I got it for about $275, or $1,600 in today’s dollars.
It came in this nice box and, as you can see, a little spiral notebook with the table to physical constant switch every that physics student needs.
— Joe C.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Joe C.
Pioneer SX-1050 stereo receiver — 1977
My beautiful Pioneer SX-1050 Stereo Receiver was my first audio purchase, circa 1977. It’s still in working order and sounds wonderful.
— Janet M.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Janet M.
Kenwood KD-2000 turntable — 1978
It’s not really tech, but I still use my 1970s Kenwood KD-2000 turntable.
— Jeff R.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Jeff R.
Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4004 turntable — 1978
This Bang & Olufsen turntable is a technology work of art.
— Janet M.
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Hewlett-Packard HP-67 programmable calculator — 1978
Hewlett-Packard HP-67 programmable calculator from 1978. It still works, works in the dark and has solid keys and construction.
— Michael M.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Michael M.
Mego Corporation 2-XL Robot — 1978
2-XL – This blast from the past goes back to the ’70s. I know it’s older than 25 years, but this “Robot” was way ahead of its time. Running off of 8-track tapes (Google it), 2-XL would quiz you, tell you jokes, and tell you stories … way before Teddy Ruxpin (Google that, too). This toy would teach without me even knowing I was being taught. Since it still works, I bust it out every once in awhile.
— Joe Q.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Joe Q.
Microvision game console — 1979
Microvision handheld gaming system — This is older the 25 years, but before the Game Boy, there was Microvision. The first handheld gaming system that had various cartridges to play the different games. This device hypnotized my day away, which repeated itself when the Game Boy came out and then the Sega Game Gear.
— Joe Q.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Joe Q.
Osborne 1 computer — 1981
My Osborne portable computer still powers up!
— Jeff R.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Jeff R.
Timex Sinclair 1000 Personal Computer — 1981
Timex Sinclair 1000 with memory expansion. Manuals and power supply too!
— Marty T.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Marty T.
Panasonic RL-H1400 HHC (Hand Held Computer) — 1982
This Panasonic HHC Hand Held Computer is original and in working order with an attachable printer (not pictured).
— John B.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:John B.
Sears SR 1000 TV
My dad gave me this 9-inch screen black & white TV when I went away to college in 1968.
— Sally W.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Sally W.
Olympus OM-4 SLR — 1983
I loved my Olympus OM-4 because it was so compact — the photo shows it next to my current Nikon D850. I also had an OM-1, which survived a plane crash into a lake in 1978, and an OM-2, which my daughter accidentally left in a taxi in Cairo a few years later. Of course, we expect, and get, more from our cameras these days, but I do miss the compactness.
— Robert R.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Robert R.
Sony Walkman WM-F10 — 1984
Sony Walkman WM-F10 cassette player with FM radio. Ingenious and beautiful design with great sound quality. I believe this was the most compact walkman available at the time. A real splurge for my parents when I was in high school.
— Jason L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Jason L.
Texas Instruments TI-74 — 1986
The Texas Instruments TI-74 Basicalc programmable calculator is from around 1985. I love computer technology and the amazing ways it has progressed so quickly.
— Jose C.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Jose C.
V-Tech Socrates Educational Video System — 1988
I found this Socrates educational video system in my mom’s garage. It’s probably more than 25 years old.
— Kimberly C.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Kimberly C.
Atari 1040 STE — 1989
My old (1990) Atari 1040STe with 4 meg of RAM (more than enough then), with the SC1224 color monitor, the Universal Item Selector III from Gribnif and two Suzy B’s Software CDs — a honey of a deal. Still works!
— Michael B.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Michael B.
Motorola bag phone — 1990
This Motorola “bag” phone from the early 1990s was sometimes referred to as a “brick”, and it weighed almost as much. But as a pediatrician on call, I could attend soccer games and other activities away from a good old landline.
— Lynn S.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Lynn S.
Gateway 2000 386/33C desktop computer — 1991
This is my 1991 Gateway 2000 386/33C computer (the “C” means this innovative Intel CPU had an on-board cache). The 33MHz clock speed was premium stuff.
Over the years, my cherished Gateway has been upgraded to an Intel 486, and then all the way to a Pentium 66. It now contains three 40 MB IDE hard disc drives and it sports an operating system that was eventually upgraded all the way to Windows 9.
I also added a high-performance graphics card, with a full 4MB of VRAM. I swapped out the original 5-inch floppy drive for a 3-inch floppy, and added a CD-ROM, which itself was upgraded twice. On the bottom right is a newfangled Zip drive.
— Robert G.
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Original Shark Fin antenna — 1992
Here’s the original Shark Fin antenna for cars, and a few neoprene cell phone cases for the Motorola StarTac and other Moto and Nokia phones.
— Kevin L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Kevin L.
Nakamichi DR-1 tape deck – 1992
Music on the Nakamichi DR-1 tape deck sounds way better on tape than on vinyl.
— Janet M.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Janet M.
Apple Newton MessagePad — 1993
Here’s my Apple Newton MessagePad with a VHS video, a handbook, a connection kit and a Windows User’s Guide.
— Ramiro A.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Ramiro A.
Sega Genesis — 1993
I had FIFA soccer for the 1993 Sega Genesis.
— Mark G.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mark G.
Apple PowerBook 520c with 1.44MB floppy disks — 1994
The 520c was my first color Apple laptop and my laptop with discs!
— Kuba P.
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Hewlett-Packard Omnibook 600C — 1994
HP Omnibook 600C – this little laptop cost $4,000 when it was new, and that was with only one of the 171MB PCMCIA HDDs. The mouse jumped out of the side when you pressed the button. When you closed it, it remembered exactly where you were — and was right there again when you turned it on. Full-size keyboard and a 486 processor. Still runs: One of those HDDs is Windows 95, another is Windows 98. And it ran…
— Colin S.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Colin S.
Microsoft Office Professional 4.3 — 1994
Microsoft Office Professional 4.3, if I remember correctly. All 14 3.5-inch floppy disks to install it.
— Colin S.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Colin S.
Canon BJ-30 Bubble Jet printer — 1995
Canon BJ-30 inkjet printer — for when you just had to print something out on the go! Which is why you needed the custom parallel printer cable in multicolor.
— Colin S.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Colin S.
Casio QV-10 digital camera — 1995
My first digital camera back in 1998 with a whopping 4MB (or was it 8MB?) of storage. Flippable for selfies!
— Doranne L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Doranne L.
T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition Windows CE — 1996
Eleven years before the iPhone came the 1996 Pocket PC Phone Edition.
— Mark G.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mark G.
Canon IXUS APS Limited Edition camera — 1996
Remember when we thought APS film would be the end-all and be-all for film? Neither do I.
— Doranne L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Doranne L.
Casio Cassiopeia E-105 Palm-Size PC — 1997
The Cassiopeia ran 1997 Windows CE.
— Mark G.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mark G.
Apple MessagePad 2100 — 1997
I had several Newtons over the years, and this was my final model. It was a wonderful glimpse into the future at the time.
— Mark G.
Editors’ note: Notice the message on the screen. Thank you, Mark, for the birthday wish!
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mark G.
Canon IXUS Z70 (1998), Nikon N60 (1998), Kenwood DPC-X802 (1999), BlackBerry Q10 (2013),
I have fond memories of this Nikon N60, BlackBerry Q10, Kenwood CD player DPC-X802 and Canon IXUS Z70. I used them in my travels across Saudi Arabia, Europe and the USA. They provided many fond memories and entertainment over the past 25 years.
— Fedor R.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Fedor R.
The Aerius Radiation Free Feature Phone on Microsoft Platform — 1998
This phone antenna by Aerius is designed to direct the SAR away from the user and prevent cancer. The technology extends the range and battery life. Unfortunately, the antenna is 7MM high and smartphones are too thin.
— Kevin L.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Kevin L.
AOL CD — 1999
It’s not a gadget, but who can forget these AOL CDs?!
— Tammy C.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Tammy C.
Fujitsu Point 1600 — 1999
It was the first tablet I used when working in a mobile setting. It had Windows 98 with USB, a floppy drive, serial ports, handwriting recognition and PCMCIA slots for networking. What more could a techie want?
— Ted F.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Ted F.
Qualcomm QCP-1960 — 1999
This phone was great! The reception was incredible. I never worried about bad reception or dropped calls. I had an unlimited minutes plan, so I would connect it to my laptop as a modem.
— Paul P.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Paul P.
HP Jornada 680 handheld PC — 1999
It was a pocket computer/PDA running Windows CE. I love playing Solitaire on this dinosaur!
— Sally W.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Sally W.
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional — 2000
It’s not special… I just don’t throw stuff away until it’s really old. Like me.
— Debbie T.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Debbie T.
Polaroid I-Zone — 2000
The original “cool kids” Polaroid creator would zip out tiny Polaroids that were stickers with funky borders. Totally rad!
— Mallory B.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mallory B.
Original Microsoft Xbox — 2001
I loved the original Xbox, and it still works great.
— Derrel B.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Derrel B.
Microsoft original ‘Big Duke’ Xbox controller 2001
This controller was massive.
— Mark G.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Mark G.
Apple iPod (1st gen) — 2001 and iPod (4th gen) 2005
The original 5GB Apple iPod from 2001 is on the left next to a later 30GB (4th generation) model with a color display from 2005. I don’t use them anymore, but I charge them yearly and both still work. Compared to my iPhone, these are reminders of where we’ve been.
— Steven K.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Steven K.
Samsung YP-T7Z 1GB MP3 player — 2005
The size blew my mind! I’m amazed that this thing still works great, and the battery still holds a charge.
— Paul P.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Paul P.
Palm Tungsten E2 — 2005
This is my old Palm Tungsten E2, better known as a Palm Pilot. It was special because it could do cool electronics stuff is all I can remember!
— John G.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:John G.
Apple iPod Nano (1GB) 1st generation — 2006
Look at that — it still charges and turns on!
– Leo K.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Leo K.
Hitachi DZGX5020A DVD camcorder — 2006
The Hitachi camcorder that used mini-DVD-R was neat in its day.
— Sally W.
Published:Caption:Lee KooPhoto:Sally W.
Apple iPhone 1st generation — 2007
The OG iPhone changed the world.
— Derrel B.
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HP Pre3 for AT&T — 2011
HP’s Pre3 for AT&T was never officially released.
— Jared B.
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