Reconsider/recall the crustiness of older technology.

[FAST6191]

I was loading up my brother's phone with some music the other day, stuck it over FTP because why not (and also the MPT/PTP stuff is probably worse than bluetooth in terms of potential/problems it is designed to resolve and annoyances of the final reality).

Anyway loaded up the player (whatever thing samsung bundles) and nothing. No auto scan of directory, no way I could see to force a manual scan, closing the application did nothing, several people on the internet . Rebooted the phone and it came back up. I grumbled and muttered bad things but carried on with my day.

On IRC someone came looking for help with a Wii USB loading issue (think one of the emulators did not support the file system the USB loader did).

It did however get me to recall how crusty some of the stuff was.

Today most remember the original DS as something what needs WEP or no security on their wifi, back when there were lists of routers it worked on; in the UK despite them partnering with BT (the former nationalised telco and current dominant one) their voyager routers, the precursor to the homehub abominations, did not work.

Short version a lot of the rough edges of tech have been filed off, especially in the non laptop mobile computing world, and owing to the way human memory works it may feel far further in the distant past than it actually was. In this thread try to recall some of them, when they might have been solved and indeed how they were solved. I say how as a lot of the solutions have been to add pointlessness on top of it rather than solve the baseline issue.

 

[Duo8]

My laptop still crashes twice a day.
So I don't even need to recall anything.

 

[RattletraPM]

I had the same feeling sometime ago, when I was fiddling around with a Windows XP retrocomputer I had assembled from old PC parts. Back then, assembling a PC and installing Windows was a MESS.

Assembling a PC and getting it running nowadays is pretty much like playing with expensive legos: as long as you don't do anything stupid you just need to plug togheter things in the correct slots and the OS installation process is mostly automated for whatever OS you had. But back then nooooooo, it wasn't that easy. Some motherboards didn't automatically recognize you CPU/RAM speed and voltage so you had to specify them manually in the BIOS or via jumpers on the mobo itself, sometimes Cable Select wasn't supported by your IDE controller so you had to adjust your HDD/Optical drives' master and slave configs manually, AMD CPUs had their dies exposed so you had to be REALLY careful when mounting the heatsink as even just chipping off a bit of the CPU's corner would break the entire thing, most CPUs had NO safety checks so overheating/overvolting could literally burn it down...

...and that doesn't consider the software side of the whole thing. If you managed to get your PC up and running you'd STILL have to install the OS and Windows drivers were complete trash garbage back then, so you had to be psychologically ready for all sorts of stuff, from BSoDs to random crashes. Plus, if you didn't have an internet connection, you also had to play a game of catch 22 with driver discs and such. So, yeah - fun times.

 

[migles]

I had the same feeling sometime ago, when I was fiddling around with a Windows XP retrocomputer I had assembled from old PC parts. Back then, assembling a PC and installing Windows was a MESS.

Assembling a PC and getting it running nowadays is pretty much like playing with expensive legos: as long as you don't do anything stupid you just need to plug togheter things in the correct slots and the OS installation process is mostly automated for whatever OS you had. But back then nooooooo, it wasn't that easy. Some motherboards didn't automatically recognize you CPU/RAM speed and voltage so you had to specify them manually in the BIOS or via jumpers on the mobo itself, sometimes Cable Select wasn't supported by your IDE controller so you had to adjust your HDD/Optical drives' master and slave configs manually, AMD CPUs had their dies exposed so you had to be REALLY careful when mounting the heatsink as even just chipping off a bit of the CPU's corner would break the entire thing, most CPUs had NO safety checks so overheating/overvolting could literally burn it down...

...and that doesn't consider the software side of the whole thing. If you managed to get your PC up and running you'd STILL have to install the OS and Windows drivers were complete trash garbage back then, so you had to be psychologically ready for all sorts of stuff, from BSoDs to random crashes. Plus, if you didn't have an internet connection, you also had to play a game of catch 22 with driver discs and such. So, yeah - fun times.

before plug and play, dealing with addresses with your pci cards (2d vga, 3d vga, audio, IDE controller cards, cards for serial\paralel), make sure there where no conflicting addresses, and setting the cards jumpers ;O;

 

[RattletraPM]

before plug and play, dealing with addresses with your pci cards (2d vga, 3d vga, audio, IDE controller cards, cards for serial\paralel), make sure there where no conflicting addresses, and setting the cards jumpers ;O;

Why did you have to remind me about that, too

 

[migles]

Why did you have to remind me about that, too

heres another one:
if you didn't had a crossed ethernet cable, you had to use a switch\hub to do a lan party with your friend, manually setting up your ip addresses,then have to use that addresses in the games

 

[BORTZ]

While it might not be the exact same idea, I remember when I first got into the DS homebrew scene. I was just a bit after the curve of needing stuff like DLDI'ing everything and the R4 had just broken the surface of the flashcart era. Auto patches and "100%" compatibility pieces of hardware were the new thing. I never knew the realm of slot 2 link cards or anything like that. And yet, in general wifi and things like ssh or ftp were not implemented in such things as the DS homebrew scene. New homebrew apps or roms needed to be found on the internet, downloaded and extracted manually to the SD card of your choosing.

I think we are spoiled rotten (and I sure as hell never want to go back) with thing like the freeshop and FBI having a massive homebrew title list just a few taps away.

 

[DinohScene]

I frequently play old Win 98 games.
Hell, setting up Win 98 is already a pain in the arse.
Tracking down drivers and updates is the worst.

Not to mention other problems that OS gives.

Must admit, I like old 80's and 90's technology tho..

 

[Duo8]

I frequently play old Win 98 games.
Hell, setting up Win 98 is already a pain in the arse.
Tracking down drivers and updates is the worst.

Not to mention other problems that OS gives.

Must admit, I like old 80's and 90's technology tho..

Pre-NT Windows is a complete joke.

 

[DinohScene]

Pre-NT Windows is a complete joke.

You kids never experienced the pain of setting shit up in DOS/Win 9X

 

[ThoD]

Must admit, I like old 80's and 90's technology tho..

Same here, for some weird reason it feels better, even though the actual machines are worse and all, but still...

Anyway, not gonna try too hard to make people remember frustrating times, but who remembers dial-up connections or how every time the phone was ringing or someone was talking on it you wouldn't have any internet?

You kids never experienced the pain of setting shit up in DOS/Win 9X

I have and although a huge pain, in short bursts it's manageable and can be kinda fun

 

[DinohScene]

Same here, for some weird reason it feels better, even though the actual machines are worse and all, but still...

Anyway, not gonna try too hard to make people remember frustrating times, but who remembers dial-up connections or how every time the phone was ringing or someone was talking on it you wouldn't have any internet?


I have and although a huge pain, in short bursts it's manageable and can be kinda fun

Tech back then was waaaay ahead of its time.
Apple Newton.
Calculator watches in the 80's/90's
UMPCs in the mid 00s
Touch screen phones in the early 00s
Even design wise they where a lot more attractive.

Atleast machines back then had a variety of I/O unlike todays devices >_>

 

[ThoD]

Tech back then was waaaay ahead of its time.
Apple Newton.
Calculator watches in the 80's/90's
UMPCs in the mid 00s
Touch screen phones in the early 00s
Even design wise they where a lot more attractive.

Atleast machines back then had a variety of I/O unlike todays devices >_>

Now they almost all look the same, up until like 2006 there was a LOT more variety! Also, you forgot VR from the 80's and the humongous headset it had... About the design though, while old devices were big, bulky, heavy and so on, they had a unique charm to them and that's what got you to buy them. Now it's just a race of who can sell you a generic-looking device by lying about how good the specs really are compared to the competition!:/

 

[RattletraPM]

Tech back then was waaaay ahead of its time.
Apple Newton.
Calculator watches in the 80's/90's
UMPCs in the mid 00s
Touch screen phones in the early 00s
Even design wise they where a lot more attractive.

Atleast machines back then had a variety of I/O unlike todays devices >_>

This, so much this. I especially agree when it comes to design.

Back then the market was new and there were very few if any standards when it came to, well, anything, so designers and engineers alike were free to experiment with whatever they liked. This created some issues with proprietary formats and protocols, sure, but it also brought up unique and interesting setups that not only worked, but also looked impressive. Nowadays there's little to no variety out there and everything looks the same: take the smartphone market for example, everyone doesn't try to do anything new simply because they all follow Apple's design choices. There are a few exceptions, sure, but they can be counted on the fingers of a hand.

When it comes to desktops, take a look at the Commodore PET: not only it looks amazing but it also was one of the most influential computers of the late 70s and it also was way ahead of its time. Now take a look at all the modern PCs, with their "gamery" bullshit aesthetics and RGB. Bleh.

 

[DinohScene]

Now they almost all look the same, up until like 2006 there was a LOT more variety! Also, you forgot VR from the 80's and the humongous headset it had... About the design though, while old devices were big, bulky, heavy and so on, they had a unique charm to them and that's what got you to buy them. Now it's just a race of who can sell you a generic-looking device by lying about how good the specs really are compared to the competition!:/

Sony had a "google glass" device waayyyy ahead of Google itself.
Looked futuristic as well.

But yeh, the same can be said about the car industry.
All cars look-a-like these days.
Aside from subtle changes, a new Mazda looks exactly the same as a Volvo.
A new Peugeot looks the same as a new Nissan.

This, so much this. I especially agree when it comes to design.

Back then the market was new and there were very few if any standards when it came to, well, anything, so designers and engineers alike were free to experiment with whatever they liked. This created some issues with proprietary formats and protocols, sure, but it also brought up unique and interesting setups that not only worked, but also looked impressive. Nowadays there's little to no variety out there and everything looks the same: take the smartphone market for example, everyone doesn't try to do anything new simply because they all follow Apple's design choices. There are a few exceptions, sure, but they can be counted on the fingers of a hand.

When it comes to desktops, take a look at the Commodore PET: not only it looks amazing but it also was one of the most influential computers of the late 70s and it also was way ahead of its time. Now take a look at all the modern PCs, with their "gamery" bullshit aesthetics and RGB. Bleh.

PET looks fucking lovely!
Even today it looks futuristic, albeit a bit outdated
A lot of tech from the 80s still holds up quite neatly these days.

Fuck RGB, fuck mechanical keyboards and fuck gamery nonsense indeed.

HURR DURR I HAZ RGB!!
Congratz, you barely ever look at it since you spend 99.9% of the time behind your screen anyway...

 

[ThoD]

This, so much this. I especially agree when it comes to design.

Back then the market was new and there were very few if any standards when it came to, well, anything, so designers and engineers alike were free to experiment with whatever they liked. This created some issues with proprietary formats and protocols, sure, but it also brought up unique and interesting setups that not only worked, but also looked impressive. Nowadays there's little to no variety out there and everything looks the same: take the smartphone market for example, everyone doesn't try to do anything new simply because they all follow Apple's design choices. There are a few exceptions, sure, but they can be counted on the fingers of a hand.

When it comes to desktops, take a look at the Commodore PET: not only it looks amazing but it also was one of the most influential computers of the late 70s and it also was way ahead of its time. Now take a look at all the modern PCs, with their "gamery" bullshit aesthetics and RGB. Bleh.

Sony had a "google glass" device waayyyy ahead of Google itself.
Looked futuristic as well.

But yeh, the same can be said about the car industry.
All cars look-a-like these days.
Aside from subtle changes, a new Mazda looks exactly the same as a Volvo.
A new Peugeot looks the same as a new Nissan.

It's as if they don't care anymore, so they find whatever design they last managed to sell successfully and keep reproducing it! They don't try to innovate! About the "gaming" computer shit that was mentioned, who the hell even cares? RBG lights are just a waste of electricity and ANY customization of that sort is! For me, simply having a see-through side panel so I can check whenever something's wrong inside without opening up the case is more than enough. As for the cars example, I LOVE how sports cars or even regular cars were up until the early 2000's, now it's like they came from same production line and only difference is the engine!

 

[DinohScene]

It's as if they don't care anymore, so they find whatever design they last managed to sell successfully and keep reproducing it! They don't try to innovate! About the "gaming" computer shit that was mentioned, who the hell even cares? RBG lights are just a waste of electricity and ANY customization of that sort is! For me, simply having a see-through side panel so I can check whenever something's wrong inside without opening up the case is more than enough. As for the cars example, I LOVE how sports cars or even regular cars were up until the early 2000's, now it's like they came from same production line and only difference is the engine!

Me server has Dead Silence fans, they come with blue LEDS.
I didn't pick them for the LEDS, I just picked them for their noise level.
Just happened to be that the LED versions are cheaper ;')
Tho, activity/indicator lights I do appreciate, especially HDD indicator lights.
Tells you if there's activity on the drive when it's supposed to be idle.

But yeh, the sportier cars do have some difference in them.
The regular ones all look the same.
Thank you, pedestrian airbags and side airbags and front airbags and crumble zones and plastic engine parts and other rubbish that overcomplicates the entire car and will break quickly anyway as anything electronic in cars are major failure points.

For as long as 90's cars are available, I'll likely drive those, early 00's maybe...
Unless I can afford a hypercar ofcourse, or an old 70's/80's sports car.

 

[RattletraPM]

It's as if they don't care anymore, so they find whatever design they last managed to sell successfully and keep reproducing it! They don't try to innovate! About the "gaming" computer shit that was mentioned, who the hell even cares? RBG lights are just a waste of electricity and ANY customization of that sort is! For me, simply having a see-through side panel so I can check whenever something's wrong inside without opening up the case is more than enough. As for the cars example, I LOVE how sports cars or even regular cars were up until the early 2000's, now it's like they came from same production line and only difference is the engine!

Yeah, I really think RGB is just a fad that will die as quickly as it was introduced. Most RGB controllers even require additional background software to run at all times and different manufacturers use different protocols too, so not only you're wasting electricity, but also system resources to have a PC that looks like a lighthouse but runs like garbage. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Anyways, when it comes to cars, at least there are still awesome and exotic looking modern hypercars and concept cars out there. Some of my favourites have to be the Ferrari FXX series, which even if you had the money to buy one, you simply can't - you basically buy a right to use one in a certified racetrack, but they are the pinnacle of Ferrari's R&D. They're literally metal beasts that look gorgeous and each and every detail has been fine-tuned to get the absolute best performance in a race. Simply awesome.

 

[330]

I remember when everything with an USB plug had also a mini CD for the drivers. Or when all the non-iPod MP4/MP5/MP∞ players needed an exotic video format to play on a 1.5" screen. Those were the days.

 

[ThoD]

Me server has Dead Silence fans, they come with blue LEDS.
I didn't pick them for the LEDS, I just picked them for their noise level.
Just happened to be that the LED versions are cheaper ;')
Tho, activity/indicator lights I do appreciate, especially HDD indicator lights.
Tells you if there's activity on the drive when it's supposed to be idle.

But yeh, the sportier cars do have some difference in them.
The regular ones all look the same.
Thank you, pedestrian airbags and side airbags and front airbags and crumble zones and plastic engine parts and other rubbish that overcomplicates the entire car and will break quickly anyway as anything electronic in cars are major failure points.

For as long as 90's cars are available, I'll likely drive those, early 00's maybe...
Unless I can afford a hypercar ofcourse, or an old 70's/80's sports car.

For me, I picked my computer's part with convenience and silence in mind, so the motherboard has a ton of debug LEDs and three temperature meters (CPU internal, CPU external and GPU) and with the see-through side panel I can tell if something is wrong right away. The case had two silent fans and I added an extra almost silent one too for good measure (6dBs at full speed), so the only noise coming from the system is the AMD FX CPU fan which is pretty loud but with proper adjustments I lowered it to just 22dBs. Some parts happen to have LEDs and they do look kinda nice, but I never look at my tower unless there's an issue. For the cars, you forgot to mention the BRILLIANT idea of allowing hydraulic steering wheels to lock themselves if you try to steer too suddenly, as if they don't want you to avoid crashing! I haven't bothered getting a driver's license yet (already know how to drive though because I took my mum's car for rides), but if I do anytime soon, I'll DEFINITELY go with a good oldie, mechanical steering all the way! If I got money to burn, I'll go with Toyota RSC, but most likely will go with an old Renault.