This phrase: “… is dead! Move on.” It makes me shake my head. Whenever something does not get support from the manufacturer anymore, or is not sold anymore – or even worse: will soon be discontinued – it is called “dead”.
Okay, speaking of the “death” of things makes no sense in the first place, as things are effectively dead matter. So the only choice is to take “dead” as a metaphor.
“The 3DS does not get many games anymore. It’s pretty much dead.” Eh? No.
My 3DS consoles work just fine without new games getting released. And hopefully they will continue to work as long as the Game Boys (which are still alive).
I have other, much older things. For example VHS recorders with plenty of tapes. They still work. Why should we call amazing technology dead? The tricks used for storing analogue video on magnetic tape are brilliant. Why forget about older technology? It has so many connections to (the few good of) my childhood memories. One of my VHS recorders failed two years ago. Video heads worn. It has been used A LOT. Cannot be repaired because of missing spare parts. I felt sad when that happened, because it’s not getting any easier to find good recorders.
Guess the reaction of the people around me: “Who cares? VHS sucks and it’s long dead! Get some media player.” Thanks. I have a Raspberry Pi running Kodi, a BD-drive and a lot of HD video data. That does not replace the recorder.
Or my last MFM harddrive that failed some weeks ago. It had no practical use case anymore. My father always tells me to get rid of all my old computers that serve no other purpose than being "my little private museum". But seeing an old "laptop" with 386 CPU and 4MB of RAM with an ISA-based Soundblaster inserted (yes a "laptop" with an 16-Bit ISA-slot) booting Windows 3.1 makes me smile and brings back memories. No need for anybody telling me Windows 3.1 and all my old stuff is "dead".
View attachment 158173
Just because something is not available in stores and the majority is not interested in it anymore, does not make something “dead”. At least for me. For me a device is “alive” until it breaks beyond repair. Keeping your memories fresh with photos is widely accepted. Keeping machines for the same reason is enough for telling someone: "You're insane!" I hate photos – especially digital only ones. There is nothing to touch.
So… I will not allow anybody to tell me to “just move on” and leave behind whatever I cling to for some reason. There may be new and “better” things – but they don’t represent my memories. And sometimes newer things have disadvantages as well (DRM, less longevity, complex handling…). Sometimes old things are just good enough and newer things don't offer enough to replace.
In my opinion it’s sad how fast the majority moves on and forgets about almost anything that is not exactly brand new. Be it game consoles, books, movies or whatever. If it’s not new, it’s dead. If you cling to something dead, prepare to get ridiculed. Telling me “… is dead! Move on.” is like telling me a part of me is dead and I should just accept this without protest.
The only exemption is when – whoever that authority is – decides something “dead” may be revived under the positive term “retro”.
Edit: added picture of the Amstrad laptop powered by a starter battery because the internal battery is - in fact - dead!
Okay, speaking of the “death” of things makes no sense in the first place, as things are effectively dead matter. So the only choice is to take “dead” as a metaphor.
“The 3DS does not get many games anymore. It’s pretty much dead.” Eh? No.
My 3DS consoles work just fine without new games getting released. And hopefully they will continue to work as long as the Game Boys (which are still alive).
I have other, much older things. For example VHS recorders with plenty of tapes. They still work. Why should we call amazing technology dead? The tricks used for storing analogue video on magnetic tape are brilliant. Why forget about older technology? It has so many connections to (the few good of) my childhood memories. One of my VHS recorders failed two years ago. Video heads worn. It has been used A LOT. Cannot be repaired because of missing spare parts. I felt sad when that happened, because it’s not getting any easier to find good recorders.
Guess the reaction of the people around me: “Who cares? VHS sucks and it’s long dead! Get some media player.” Thanks. I have a Raspberry Pi running Kodi, a BD-drive and a lot of HD video data. That does not replace the recorder.
Or my last MFM harddrive that failed some weeks ago. It had no practical use case anymore. My father always tells me to get rid of all my old computers that serve no other purpose than being "my little private museum". But seeing an old "laptop" with 386 CPU and 4MB of RAM with an ISA-based Soundblaster inserted (yes a "laptop" with an 16-Bit ISA-slot) booting Windows 3.1 makes me smile and brings back memories. No need for anybody telling me Windows 3.1 and all my old stuff is "dead".
View attachment 158173
Just because something is not available in stores and the majority is not interested in it anymore, does not make something “dead”. At least for me. For me a device is “alive” until it breaks beyond repair. Keeping your memories fresh with photos is widely accepted. Keeping machines for the same reason is enough for telling someone: "You're insane!" I hate photos – especially digital only ones. There is nothing to touch.
So… I will not allow anybody to tell me to “just move on” and leave behind whatever I cling to for some reason. There may be new and “better” things – but they don’t represent my memories. And sometimes newer things have disadvantages as well (DRM, less longevity, complex handling…). Sometimes old things are just good enough and newer things don't offer enough to replace.
In my opinion it’s sad how fast the majority moves on and forgets about almost anything that is not exactly brand new. Be it game consoles, books, movies or whatever. If it’s not new, it’s dead. If you cling to something dead, prepare to get ridiculed. Telling me “… is dead! Move on.” is like telling me a part of me is dead and I should just accept this without protest.
The only exemption is when – whoever that authority is – decides something “dead” may be revived under the positive term “retro”.
Edit: added picture of the Amstrad laptop powered by a starter battery because the internal battery is - in fact - dead!
