80's technology picture thread!

[ManOnTheWave]

Retro phones!!!!

^ ah, I thought you were going for 1880s.

His TARDIS must be acting up. 1880's 1980's no big difference.

In the 70s, you had basicaly a choice of two phones in a (small) variety of colors. In the early 80s, Ma Bell stores appeared giving one the option of getting phone to suit one's personality which previously had been an option for only the extremely weathy. My brother had the stand up and my father had the french phone circa 1982. (Ma Bell was broken up in '84.) You paid a pretty penny to buy the case, as the phone company technically still owned your phone. You also had to wait all day for a phone guy to come and install them. More than one phone in the house was a big deal. More than one line was almost unheard of in a residence. The times. They do change.

 

[LitmusDragon]

I miss the "feel" of these games. Somehow we have nothing equivalent in the modern era.

I want an RPG I can play entirely with my keyboard that resembles a board game.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Seven pages and no one's posted a CASIO SYNTHESIZER!?!?!?!?

This may be more sophisticated than the one a classmate had. (Which is pretty awful.)

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

The world's first CD player targeted at consumers:

 

[Trekker4747]

It also doubles as a de-humidifier!

 

[LitmusDragon]

It also doubles as a de-humidifier!

lol

 

[trekkiedane]

The world's first CD player targeted at consumers:

Indeed, stereo systems in the eighties began looking like they belonged on The Enterprises bridge:

 

[Brandonv]

Here is something I remember playing when I was a kid. Released 1989, according to Wikipedia.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Indeed, stereo systems in the eighties began looking like they belonged on The Enterprises bridge:

Oh yes, that system is utterly beautiful. I remember similar-looking devices by Bang & Olufsen. And so utterly, incomprehensibly expensive that all I could do was watch and drool against the window, knowing that even if I were to grow up, I would still never be able to actually pay for it.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The important thing is, how did it sound?

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Try a pair of these:

 

[GeorgeKirk]

 

[trekkiedane]

The important thing is, how did it sound?

Pretty good actually -But you could get a big ugly box made in the USA (yeah, who would have thought that ) or Japan that played just as well for a fraction of the price.

Oh, btw, I'm looking at used systems like that at the moment -I need a turntable that isn't a big ugly box

 

[Dr. Horrible]

Indeed, stereo systems in the eighties began looking like they belonged on The Enterprises bridge:

Oh yes, that system is utterly beautiful. I remember similar-looking devices by Bang & Olufsen. And so utterly, incomprehensibly expensive that all I could do was watch and drool against the window, knowing that even if I were to grow up, I would still never be able to actually pay for it.

Is that not a Bang & Olufsen?

Anyway, I've seen the Sinclair C5 mentioned in this thread, but not the ZX80, the ZX81 or the ZX Spectrum mentioned here yet. We had the 16k version of the Spectrum back in the early 80's - my Grandad had the 48k version. He was a bit of a show-off though.

 

[Trekker4747]

The world's first CD player targeted at consumers:

Indeed, stereo systems in the eighties began looking like they belonged on The Enterprises bridge:

Well, I've never seen a helm console configured like that!

 

[trekkiedane]

Well, I've never seen a helm console configured like that!

It's actually the little known Entertainment Station situated between Tactical and Science One



It is, Dr. Horrible, indeed by B & O - strangely 1980 marked the year where they switched from touch panels back to 'click' buttons.

 

[Jim Gamma]

and my 5.25" disk box, dating from 1986. I use this to store loose CDs.

I love how they were lockable - as if that would deter anyone from stealing your Oregon Trail if they really wanted to. Sort of like those hooks on screen doors that pass as a "lock".

I believe that was so that they didn't fall open if you dropped the box on the floor, more than anything else.

EDIT:

Wikipedia has some interesting info.

And if you want nostalgia...

 

[CorporalClegg]

Oh, btw, I'm looking at used systems like that at the moment -I need a turntable that isn't a big ugly box

I'm crious to see what you find.

I've actually been thinking a lot lately about starting a record collection. I'm trying to decide what the best route equipment wise would be.

For one thing, I don't even know if it's possible to find a decent standard stereo receiver these days--let alone a turntable. So, going retro off The Bay might be the better option.

 

[RandyS]

Seven pages and no one's posted a CASIO SYNTHESIZER!?!?!?!?

This may be more sophisticated than the one a classmate had. (Which is pretty awful.)

This brings back memories, mostly noisy ones. My brother had one of those and played it constantly.

 

[trekkiedane]

Oh, btw, I'm looking at used systems like that at the moment -I need a turntable that isn't a big ugly box

I'm crious to see what you find.

I've actually been thinking a lot lately about starting a record collection. I'm trying to decide what the best route equipment wise would be.

For one thing, I don't even know if it's possible to find a decent standard stereo receiver these days--let alone a turntable. So, going retro off The Bay might be the better option.

I don't think it would be a problem finding a decent receiver -a lot of those made in the seventies (and even eighties) are virtually indestructible.

Turntables are a different animal alltogether: You should have no problem finding a low-end with a USB connector or a high-end newly made -it's the 'mass market' middle ground that aren't made any more.

As I'm looking for a B & O turntable in their style of around 1980 I might have a problem though.

ETA:

Another technology icon from the eighties: