People are increasingly more aware that they are being used by tech, instead of being a user of tech. Personally, I love my basic Jeep with its crank windows and manual everything. Society, as a whole, it slingshotting more and more towards the vision the movie Wall-E painted for the humans of the future. So many conveniences everywhere are making us less skilled, unable to be self-reliant. I am glad to see that people are pushing back. Not everything has to be easy in life, a little inconvenience enriches the experience.
I'll throw another factor out there that's at least true for me: I like the idea of getting a lifetime of use out of stuff I own. Sitting next to me at my desk is my first Game Boy. I got it for my 6th birthday in the early 90s, and it somehow still works just fine. It's one of the best gifts I ever received, I pretty much always had it close at hand throughout the 90s, and it's still something I can just throw a few AAs into and have fun with like 30 years later. My old Walkman, my portable CD player, and my iPod have the same appeal. They all actually just still work fine (granted the Walkman needed a new belt). I've been moving more towards being a "buy once, cry once" type of person, and this old tech somehow validates that concept.
This is why I've been building a local music library like I did before I had money and a job. Get MP3s and hold onto them forever. Nowadays I have an iPod collection and I love using these.
I'm engaging in a personal rebellion against the subscription economy and planned obsolescence. "Retro" is another word for proven and durable. So I look for alternatives. A simple car with a manual transmission over one that charges you a subscription for heated seats. My own music and movies. Frequent use of the public library. Open source software. Every time I adopt an alternative, it feels like a blow against corporate enterprises who constantly seek to squeeze me for my money.
I love this mindset! Even though society keeps going further in the other direction, with a little bit of creativity we can find great alternatives that better serve us 👍
@@Washedintheblood1988 not possible. the last vcr heads factory (owned by funai) was closed in 2016 due to the lack of interest although the other, more important reason that there arent any new factories is the fact that there arent any operational machines that could now make them. youd have to spend like 100-200m bucks or so on a new factory and glhf finding someone who will do that
I’m 22 years old. I’ve always had an “old soul”. I got my first typewriter at 16, and started collecting them. I use a sewing machine from 1890 to sew. I’m currently waiting on the lite phone 3 to release so I can get that. Yet oddly enough, I work with AI robots. I’ll tell you this. Working with AI really opens your eyes to how bad modern tech really is. All of your data is collected and used to teach and program AI, and it’s used to make your phone and other devices more addictive. I’m ready to step away from my iPhone for sure. I’ve never had social media unless you count UA-cam, that’s it. No streaming subscriptions either. My friends and family that used to make fun of me are now coming to me for advice on their phone addiction and want to try a typewriter and a dumb phone. It’s a wonderful thing to see, like people getting out of the matrix.
I find that retro tech can last for decades because it does not have to be updated. It can also be easy to repair. I found a portable cassette player I purchased in the 1990s. The player had batteries that had corroded. The exp date on the batteries was 2015. With a few pennies worth of vinegar and a Q tip I cleaned the corrosion and the cassette player works perfectly. I also have a portable CD player that is 20 years old and looks like new. The old devices also use disposable batteries so you do not have the problem of modern tech with built in batteries going bad.
I can really appreciate the push people make to enjoy retro tech because it shows that we all aren't just mindless consumers wanting the newest shiny Apple phone every years. One thing I've noticed about myself is that I don't really use much retro hardware, but I'm always enjoying retro media on good quality modern devices: classic movies on my PC, retro games on my Steam Deck or Anberbic handheld emulator, reading older manga or something like The Lord of the Rings on my Kobo e-reader, and of course music from 00's to the 70's on my phone (would like a dedicated music player but my phone is more than fine for now!). If I wasn't aiming to be more minimal, then I'd totally go back to my old ways of collecting lots of physical media. There is something special about playing retro games on original hardware with a CRT!
nothing wrong with emulating, sometimes you can get better quality, and considering prices its perfectly logical, I have a friend who couldn't afford anything pokemon game, but played through all with emulating, really good at the game and still plays showdown and firered, often buying games leads to hordes and most of them being unplayed, case in point my friend has 40 steam games yet has above 2 hours on only 6
@@insertnamehere9481 oh, I love emulation! Having all those classic games on one device is a godsend! Nintendo is missing out on a ton of money by not having those classic Pokemon games playable on Switch 😅
Great video! I've given up my smart phone for a dumbphone and an iPod and I've never been happier, more productive, and less distracted! One of the amazing things about retro-tech items: after doing a little research many of us can repair these items ourselves! I've never taken apart electronics in my life, yet I was able to replace the battery, case, screen, and motherboard of an iPod classic after watching a few videos on UA-cam. And WOW what a rewarding feeling to take something broken or in need of a simple repair and make it work properly again! Keep up the great content!
I've done quite the tech purge this year. I removed all my files off of my google drive, I cancelled streaming and started running iPods for music, I use a bike to get around, and I have bought a Nokia 6300 (I don't daily drive this yet, but sometime I think it would be pretty neat). As a computer science major all the concerns with big tech are justified
I’m very much a fan in retro technology. I constantly go to the local Charity shops in search of retro tech. I mean, I once found an Atari Lynx console, in good condition, with two games, for $5AU. And it still works fine! I even obtained a Laserdisc player for $60AU. And it’s an NTSC model!
I love using wired headphones even over the ear open back cans. I also love retro video games and have an entire RGB setup with a professional video monitor to play them
i just turned 20 and throughout much of my teens had nostalgia for tech like this - i didn't grow up with it in the traditional sense, but i had access to ipods that the family used daily - and carried on using them even after my parents had just kinda stopped listening to music that way (or at all until they started streaming). i was obsessed with technology from a crazy early age so at like 5 i was getting my grandma's old Nokia handsets from 2002 and trying out literal bricks from 1999. i had my dad's old razr as a hand-me-down literally at that time and it introduced me to mobile technology as i know it. recorded videos, took loads of photos, did everything you could do on these single use devices and got to know them inside out - since there was only so much you could do. then the ipod touch came around, i was too young to know how to use the internet but i thought the touch screen might have been the coolest thing ever invented, so even though it was largely used for offline games etc i loved using it. a stark difference to now, where anything offline seems disconnected, less worth investing time into. less efficient.
By the sounds of it you’ve got retro tech running through your veins! The Razr is a phone I always wanted growing up - very cool you got to try all these devices throughout childhood 👍
When I was a kid, my dream was to have a gameboy so I could play games on the go. That never happened. As a young adult I was able to buy a small collection of consoles like the gba sp, micro, nintendo ds, but had to sell them in the end to cover my college tuition. Now as an older adult, with a retro itch to scratch and more disposable income I have my own collection of portable emulator consoles like the powkiddy v90, the R36, the SF2000 and the Miyoo A30. That way I can focus on retrogaming without distractions. Also I like to tinker, so I turn old cellphones into single use devices with minimal connectivity. So far I've made an audio player/recorder, a photo/video camera, an ebook reader, a VR video player and a desk smart clock. I like to give old devices a second chance and avoid ewaste as much as possible.
Zoomer here. I was practically raised on and/or around a lot of this stuff. I still have fond memories going to the library with my parents to pick out a new Magic School Bus VHS to take home that week.
So I'm a 35 year old guy and grew up with most of this tech (minus the type writer) but yearned for a time when things were more intentional. Like many, I've been moving towards these types of technology and the funny thing is, I also picked up a pocket radio last week! I'm happy with how many FM independent stations still operate locally (even if the music is questionable) but it's great for doing chores in the garden or on the car! Love the content, keep it up!
SD cards are today's cartridge. I have a cart for my camera, one for my field recorder, and my one for my retro emulator handheld. New Nintendo games are on proprietary SD cards. It's much like CDs where you have a physical thing, but you also have the file. I guess I wish they were a little bigger haha.
What you're describing of Gen-Z's love of things from before their existence is actually called 'Anemoia', which is a 'longing for a past that you've never experienced'.
I've been finding myself more using more retro tech lately for several of the reasons you mentioned. Ironically, it's started me down the path of having small typewriter and fountain pen collections. Because I like the lack of distraction and feel of working on paper. I'll eventually probably choose my favorites and slowly pass the others off to others. Spread the love. :)
Love this approach. I love my fountain pen too - I think it’s likely my favourite way to write. Thanks for the comment, I love to hear how people approach life offline!
Just today, I found my old MP3 Walkman. So far, it still holds a charge, and now has 3000 songs that were all ripped from my large cd collection onto it. I feel like a teenager again. As well as the VHS tapes, cassette Walkman, NES, and PS2. Now, as an adult, I can finally see how good PS2 games could look using HD component cables. And dare I say it, I mentally feel better not relying so much on my all in one smart phone.
For me it is the disconnecting factor... If I did not have to have it for my work, I would have a basic dumb phone that only made calls and texted ... I recently picked up a Sony NEX 5R for pictures and have a 160gb ipod classic in my bag with me beside my journal and actual Bible at all times. It is such a great feeling knowing I will not have my phone sending me notification every 30 seconds about the latest picture posted by a friend.
My 6 year old wanted her own cellphone because several of her classmates already have one. Instead of buying her one, I've bought her a cheap chinese portable emulator console called GB300. No wifi or internet access, only the games you can load on the micro sd card for a handful of retro consoles. Also bought her a FM radio so she can hear some local radio stations that have age appropiate songs. So single use retro tech is kinda helping me keep my child entertained and safe from the dangers you could find on the internet... For now. The next step for when she gets older is to have a local backup of Wikipedia as a reference for her assignments.
I'm a bit of amateur writer, and could say that typing on an Alphasmart (in my case Dana) not only feels different, it sets the mood. Having a dedicated device only, and only for writing for me personally is kind of flipping the switch: if I had my Alphasmart on my lap, it mean I WILL write, without any distractions that modern laptop ot tablet provides
The point with the internet connection is a thing that bugs me. At this point I can't buy a tech device (released in recent years) that needs or at least try to connect to the internet to get my data or advertising way too frequent for my taste. Why do my fridge need to have Wi-Fi ? devices like the iPod ensures that first I don't get advertisements on a product I bought, but also having the peace of mind owning the music on it and nobody can interfere with it. I restarted buying CDs and DVDs again, so I not have to pay to streaming services and consuming the Media more mindful.
I have still have my OG FiiO X1 which is a quasi-iPod. The only difference is it supports flac files, supports microSD cards and you do not need an entire software suite installed just to load music onto it. iPods are cool but they had their shortcomings.
The most retro tech I have are cds of EDM artists I love, I mainly do it to never forget them since there’s a lot of albums coming out each year that I wanna have my favorites in my hands The downside is that most artists have preference for vinyls, so they don’t release cds. That’s why lately I’ve beee thinking of finally starting a vinyl collection but I feel they are expensive (considering more the shipping factor). Do you all think it’s worth to take the chance and start the collection?
For me one thing I love is the tactile feel of physical buttons. I got a mp3 player and love having buttons to skip pause change volume etc. There's something infinitely more satisfying about pressing a physical clicky button then touching a screen to control your music. That and the fact it plays audio at insanely high resolution and I have all my music offline makes it so satisfying. Plus no notifications to interrupt my music. But above all I love the buttons
@@v3y3rs who cares if they know it or not? if you do, use the proper name. its as simple as calling a turntable a turntable and not a gramophone. by the way. im assuming that youve got 16bit 44,1KHz flac-5 files because why would you have something else? well 21 bits are the treshold of human hearing and assuming the absolute maximum of theoretical sensing ability of human, which would be 27KHz and adding the 1st harmonic just in case, we can conclude that all files "better" than 24 bit 88,2 KHz (or DSD128 which is 1 bit 11289600 Hz) make no sense whatsoever. if you use 32 bit 384KHz files or DSD512 just to say that youve got "extreme resolution files", you are silly at least. And no, PCM 16 44,1 is not an extreme resolution file either.
For me it's not only environmentally friendly, but also still functional for it's original use or if it can be repurposed as something else. I think it's pretty cool that we have slowly gone back to the "Batman utility belt" while at the same time are becoming a little more active. If it ain't broke, keep using them. But if the modern thing is broken, repurpose it as something else. My relatives were in shock and in aww when they saw my old phone on an inexpensive car mount I bought stuck on my car's dash board. Only when they realized I'm using the phone as a dash cam.
A few thoughtful moments there. I bought an Alesis ADAT 8 track recorder from Goodwill for $15. They where $4000 back in the 1990's. Still obsolete although very cool
Great video! Nice shots of the wildlife! It is also about being purposeful your time. Convenience seems to reduce character. You probably have such great stories to tell about using the film camera. The time it took to make each picture just increases its value. I have so many pictures of no value on my phone that I have to delete. I am always putting that task off. Then I get desperate to delete random photos when it gets full.
I’ve always felt that way with phone photos too! Because we have that near-infinite amount of photos we can take we are much less intentional with what photos are shot. And the storage becomes an issue for sure! Thanks for the comment!
@@comradestannis I was looking at the Pocket 2S. Reason I like the Mini + is it has the best custom software and it's extremely tiny for a 3.5" screen device. I really love it.
Praise to the Retro Tech! All of what was mentioned in this video, I still have in my home since I was 10. A few years ago, I bought a 1961 non-electric Smith Corona Typewriter and I have that next to my 1987 electric Smith Corona Typewriter that was a gift from my Mother. I'm so glad that the "Retro Tech" is Finally Fighting the "Big Tech" and what "They" "Think" the consumer's future should be!
Another factor towards sometimes choosing retro tech or retro media is keeping control over your own experience. Too many times new tech comes with constant updates, pushing new features you don't want, taking away the functionality that you do rely on, and changing your UI because some market research thinks this will make you spend more money. Or streaming media that asks you to maintain a dozen different subscriptions, keep track of which service has the things you want to watch or listen to this month, and risk losing media you supposedly paid for because two companies had a fight over license agreements.
I started photography on my grandfather's tlr, I still primarily photograph on my Nikon f2 and accompanying first gen nikkor lens collection also ipods since those are technically 'retro'
I grew up on all of the retro tech shown in the video. I have a flip phone in my collection, and I want a typewriter or old school typewriter keyboard.
The typewriter has been a super fun addition. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for an old Underwood Portable like Hemingway had but I’m still looking!
@@spencers-adventures Nice! You will find it! I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a miniature portable typewriter with all of the same components of a standard, old school typewriter, including the paper. 🙏🏿
It’s hard to let go of the past. I still have my Coleco Vision + Atari extension, Nintendo Classic, Moto RAZR phone, a few Discman’s and a few dial up telephones. It’s part of my childhood!😊
When I was 15, I got interested in retro computers - twelve years later, I got an Amiga 500 from a relative. With some modern quality of life upgrades and a new operating system thrown in, I use it mostly for non-serious story writing and to colourise whatever drawing I could come up with on a piece of paper. Basically, it's a badly yellowed, glorified typewriter and paint box (the latter of which I'm still on a long way of practicing and improving). I didn't experience the 80s, but I have a certain admiration for parts of it (thanks to the music and Back to the Future). Owning a tangible item from a period one admires is like having a personal time capsule/portal that gives you a part of the experiences when using that item. Bonus points if that item can be used in modern contexts: I can export the texts, drawings, and animations, and use them in conjunction with my modern tech - e.g. send a story to a friend, or illustrate/animate a section in a video, create a fun GIF animation, or print a personalised (and unique!) birthday card. Graphics and animation are the area where the Amiga once shone at - I'm giving it this opportunity again, just without the VCR tape in the middle.
I think the really great thing about 'dumb' products is being the owner, instead of being a 'mark' or client. I'm not on the hook for somebody's continuing revenue stream and the planned obsolescence has already been and gone!
Makes me feel so old when I hear GameCube is retro 😂 but honestly it was such a fun system to use and so many great games. I’ve loved retro tech and gaming for years now, but I’ve also noticed lately that a lot of people have started learning how to mod the retro systems and honestly? I love that. It’s so much fun to learn how your tech works and really make it yours.
Definitely something nice about being engaged and involved in tech as opposed to having full automation e.g. a point n’click camera may produce nice results but at the same time feel lacklustre to use. I use my wired Apple earbuds as I had some of the early AirPods, the batteries failed over time, and I can’t justify the cost of a replacement. A very insightful video as always. Have a nice weekend.
I buy vinyl records and stream music, vinyl to me is an experience, the enjoyment of going to record stores, the warm sound and crackle of the needle and admiring the artwork, no skipping forward etc. however streaming is convenient, it’s the equivalent of a home cooked succulent meal vs a microwave ready meal or a classic car vs a Tesla!
Yeah I think there is a middle way where you can have a bit of one and a bit of the other. I love my old vinyl for the same reasons you mentioned, and I can see the appeal of streaming as well. Thanks for the comment!
There are aspects of retro tech I do really enjoy and I 100% agree with the tactile nature of older tech as well as the need to slow down and focus. However, I don't think I'll ever understand the resurgence of audio cassettes or, apparently, VHS tapes. They are notably poorer quality and make it difficult to listen to a specific song/watch a specific scene. Hardware malfunctions can eat the tape - sometimes causing permanent damage. While cassettes were portable, unlike records, and could be easily recorded on, CDs are a better physical format by almost any metric. I had many cassettes growing up, but have zero nostalgia for that particular format.
After living these vintage devices and mediums I have my preferences for what is worth using today. Records, CDs , DVDs, record players, iPod classic = Yes. Audio tapes, VHS = No. film = Not worth it unless you have access to a dark room (which is awesome). CRT = No unless you need it to connect an old gaming console (they work best). Just my opinion after living these gadgets and media in the 70s and 80s.
id say because its cheaper, but that hasnt been true since 2020, any hobby went up in price, especially if it was "retro", and it sure sucks as i know when i wasnt so well finanically as a kid i could atleast go to a thrift and get some quality ps2 games for 4 bucks a game
I was born in 1998 and mainly play retro and indie games, these days. I bought multiple mp3 players and even a portable DVD player because subscription / streaming services never enticed me and it's just cool to have devices like those, these days because they are really something special, but that's just me. And no joke. I honestly hate smartphones because of what they've done to society and I've been looking into getting a flip phone for myself.
have you ever checked steam statistics of what people are playing? all the top games are at least like 10 years old because no one is playing that new crap
Retro tech is so good because you own it and its easily repairable, all this new technology being produced winds up in a landfill because you cant replace a battery or a cracked screen and any attempt to do so will render the device useless.
The ONLY Retrotech you SHOULD be using are giant horn loaded loudspeaskers , such as the Klipschorn and the A7 AltecLansing Voice of the theater, the only tech capable of recreating a concert at no distortion, I am 58, and I do NOT MISS VCRs, analog film, tubes LPs, reel2reel and cassette, literally EVERYTING old is garbage crap next to modern digital, EXCEPT when it comes to the physics of mechanical audio reproduction, small speakers always small sound, you need horns
I have a vcr and HD dvd player as well, love them and about 50 vhs I'd say, maybe more now. Love the gameboys most of all though I think, started collecting those again
@@spencers-adventures oh nice, a lot of nostalgia for the original gameboy, going to get the one I bought the other day, modded with an ips screen and usb c port with a new case as well. I still need an sp again!
This is another great video man! I dig my Old school tech. I have a game boy advance, the alpha smart PS2. It's nice to have Have something personal? It's not networked etc.
Also sometimes older tech is just better then newer tech, for example my old Thinkpad T440p is better then any modern laptop. Ill most likley keep using it for at least another decade.
@@spencers-adventures I recommend a Librebooted T400. It has a classic keyboard, an open source bios for faster boot times, and pairs well with a lightweight Linux distro like Debian or Alpine.
Since I became a software dev 6 years ago my attention span has been shot. that's a big reason reason for me looking at retro tech. there's just too much stuff crammed into everything i buy now. i still need a cell for work, but i'm definitely looking into dumb phones and simple mp3 players.
Yeah I think there’s not a one-size approach to this, do some experimenting with different tools and find what balance works for you 👍 Thanks for the comment!
I refuse to use electricity... only whale oil lamps for me. I like the smokey smell of huge mammalian beached whale deth nostagia factor. Hurricane Helene takes out the power grid, no problem. I got a barrel full of whale oil right next to my barrel o turpentine, and my barrel of pickles, and my barrel of salt.
Missing point: Broken promises of modern tech. I expected to have by now all the content in history at a voice command, based on my mood. Instead, we got a maze of hostile services. I'm not ditching spotify, nor will send a money order for 14.99 to see your next youtube video, but neither will I be first in line for the next big tech promise, which are only getting more disappointing.
I have a Prunus J-166. For $10, you get an amazing radio to listen to music with! I love that little thing. But I don't use it much. I just keep it around in case of an emergency. Other than that, I've been unbundling for quite a while now! I have an MP3 player, wired headphones, a dvd player, a dumb watch, and a dumb TV!
Hey, I like your subjects, but dude, you edit yourself so that you never breath. I cant listen to it anymore, it becomes a stream of words with no pauses or breaks. Slow down, don't over-edit.
To me why I’d go back is because of the shrinking collection I have of physical media. Eventually everything will be owned by 1 and you will own nothing. Besides that some of your reasons are silly trying to find justification.
The main people using old tech are hipsters. People who for whatever demented reason thing vinyl sounds better than digital and will pay the hipster premium to have the same content in a crappy format.
I agree. I love using my not really retro but still pretty old cheap Samsung camera. My phone can get you better picture faster but with that camera i need to find nice lighting, tune it a little, hold it stable and pictures have nice, nostalgia looking vibe and colors
People are increasingly more aware that they are being used by tech, instead of being a user of tech. Personally, I love my basic Jeep with its crank windows and manual everything. Society, as a whole, it slingshotting more and more towards the vision the movie Wall-E painted for the humans of the future. So many conveniences everywhere are making us less skilled, unable to be self-reliant. I am glad to see that people are pushing back. Not everything has to be easy in life, a little inconvenience enriches the experience.
The Wall-E comparison is on point. I feel the same and im just starting my adult life
I'll throw another factor out there that's at least true for me: I like the idea of getting a lifetime of use out of stuff I own. Sitting next to me at my desk is my first Game Boy. I got it for my 6th birthday in the early 90s, and it somehow still works just fine. It's one of the best gifts I ever received, I pretty much always had it close at hand throughout the 90s, and it's still something I can just throw a few AAs into and have fun with like 30 years later. My old Walkman, my portable CD player, and my iPod have the same appeal. They all actually just still work fine (granted the Walkman needed a new belt).
I've been moving more towards being a "buy once, cry once" type of person, and this old tech somehow validates that concept.
hey, ever try donkey kong on that thing? its a pretty quality game for the consoles power
@@TerrorSyxke I haven’t! You mean Donkey Kong Land, or straight up Donkey Kong (ie. including Mario) from 1994?
This is why I've been building a local music library like I did before I had money and a job. Get MP3s and hold onto them forever. Nowadays I have an iPod collection and I love using these.
I'm engaging in a personal rebellion against the subscription economy and planned obsolescence. "Retro" is another word for proven and durable. So I look for alternatives. A simple car with a manual transmission over one that charges you a subscription for heated seats. My own music and movies. Frequent use of the public library. Open source software.
Every time I adopt an alternative, it feels like a blow against corporate enterprises who constantly seek to squeeze me for my money.
I love this mindset! Even though society keeps going further in the other direction, with a little bit of creativity we can find great alternatives that better serve us 👍
I’m still recording & rocking a VCR as a 30 year old vet in college. Folks from school come over and are blown away by my VHS collection!
Damn, I would like to see that.
I am attemping to grow a VHS collection lol. I have a nice sylvania vcr released in 1985.
Record players got manufactured again I wish they'd start making VCR's again
That's amazing, I've got a load of vhs as well, absolutely love it. Would love to see the collection
@@Washedintheblood1988 not possible. the last vcr heads factory (owned by funai) was closed in 2016 due to the lack of interest although the other, more important reason that there arent any new factories is the fact that there arent any operational machines that could now make them. youd have to spend like 100-200m bucks or so on a new factory and glhf finding someone who will do that
2:22 I’ve been hearing that even the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 being considered “retro”.
They’re 18-19 years old at this point.
Wow crazy to put that into perspective!
I recently bought a ps3 for 10 bucks which is crazy. You can also get a Ton of cheap games for it
I’m 22 years old. I’ve always had an “old soul”. I got my first typewriter at 16, and started collecting them. I use a sewing machine from 1890 to sew. I’m currently waiting on the lite phone 3 to release so I can get that. Yet oddly enough, I work with AI robots. I’ll tell you this. Working with AI really opens your eyes to how bad modern tech really is. All of your data is collected and used to teach and program AI, and it’s used to make your phone and other devices more addictive. I’m ready to step away from my iPhone for sure. I’ve never had social media unless you count UA-cam, that’s it. No streaming subscriptions either. My friends and family that used to make fun of me are now coming to me for advice on their phone addiction and want to try a typewriter and a dumb phone. It’s a wonderful thing to see, like people getting out of the matrix.
I find that retro tech can last for decades because it does not have to be updated. It can also be easy to repair. I found a portable cassette player I purchased in the 1990s. The player had batteries that had corroded. The exp date on the batteries was 2015. With a few pennies worth of vinegar and a Q tip I cleaned the corrosion and the cassette player works perfectly. I also have a portable CD player that is 20 years old and looks like new. The old devices also use disposable batteries so you do not have the problem of modern tech with built in batteries going bad.
Nobody should be using disposable AA/AAA batteries anymore even for retro devices. Everyone should be using rechargeable AA/AAA Batteries now.
I can really appreciate the push people make to enjoy retro tech because it shows that we all aren't just mindless consumers wanting the newest shiny Apple phone every years.
One thing I've noticed about myself is that I don't really use much retro hardware, but I'm always enjoying retro media on good quality modern devices: classic movies on my PC, retro games on my Steam Deck or Anberbic handheld emulator, reading older manga or something like The Lord of the Rings on my Kobo e-reader, and of course music from 00's to the 70's on my phone (would like a dedicated music player but my phone is more than fine for now!).
If I wasn't aiming to be more minimal, then I'd totally go back to my old ways of collecting lots of physical media. There is something special about playing retro games on original hardware with a CRT!
I love that there's a huge crossover on this channel of people who enjoy retro games, DAPs, wired headphones and stuff.
nothing wrong with emulating, sometimes you can get better quality, and considering prices its perfectly logical, I have a friend who couldn't afford anything pokemon game, but played through all with emulating, really good at the game and still plays showdown and firered, often buying games leads to hordes and most of them being unplayed, case in point my friend has 40 steam games yet has above 2 hours on only 6
@@AlexT0210 funny you mention wired earphones, I actually ordered my first pair of IEMs this morning!
@@insertnamehere9481 oh, I love emulation! Having all those classic games on one device is a godsend! Nintendo is missing out on a ton of money by not having those classic Pokemon games playable on Switch 😅
@@Mikehero69_ Very nice. I've been through a few pairs of IEMs and my favourite so far is the budget category Ziigat Nuo. Amazing sound.
Great video!
I've given up my smart phone for a dumbphone and an iPod and I've never been happier, more productive, and less distracted!
One of the amazing things about retro-tech items: after doing a little research many of us can repair these items ourselves! I've never taken apart electronics in my life, yet I was able to replace the battery, case, screen, and motherboard of an iPod classic after watching a few videos on UA-cam. And WOW what a rewarding feeling to take something broken or in need of a simple repair and make it work properly again!
Keep up the great content!
I've done quite the tech purge this year. I removed all my files off of my google drive, I cancelled streaming and started running iPods for music, I use a bike to get around, and I have bought a Nokia 6300 (I don't daily drive this yet, but sometime I think it would be pretty neat). As a computer science major all the concerns with big tech are justified
reject complication embrace simplicity
@@wildace4535 ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
I’m very much a fan in retro technology. I constantly go to the local Charity shops in search of retro tech. I mean, I once found an Atari Lynx console, in good condition, with two games, for $5AU. And it still works fine! I even obtained a Laserdisc player for $60AU. And it’s an NTSC model!
I love using wired headphones even over the ear open back cans. I also love retro video games and have an entire RGB setup with a professional video monitor to play them
Yeah, I also love the artwork of retro video games.
@@comradestannis the first sentence does not make any sense.
Protip: Social media is optional. Just delete it.
If anyone is interested in more, “The Revenge of Analog”, by David Sax is an enjoyable read. To be read as a physical book, of course.
i just turned 20 and throughout much of my teens had nostalgia for tech like this - i didn't grow up with it in the traditional sense, but i had access to ipods that the family used daily - and carried on using them even after my parents had just kinda stopped listening to music that way (or at all until they started streaming). i was obsessed with technology from a crazy early age so at like 5 i was getting my grandma's old Nokia handsets from 2002 and trying out literal bricks from 1999. i had my dad's old razr as a hand-me-down literally at that time and it introduced me to mobile technology as i know it. recorded videos, took loads of photos, did everything you could do on these single use devices and got to know them inside out - since there was only so much you could do. then the ipod touch came around, i was too young to know how to use the internet but i thought the touch screen might have been the coolest thing ever invented, so even though it was largely used for offline games etc i loved using it. a stark difference to now, where anything offline seems disconnected, less worth investing time into. less efficient.
By the sounds of it you’ve got retro tech running through your veins! The Razr is a phone I always wanted growing up - very cool you got to try all these devices throughout childhood 👍
When I was a kid, my dream was to have a gameboy so I could play games on the go. That never happened. As a young adult I was able to buy a small collection of consoles like the gba sp, micro, nintendo ds, but had to sell them in the end to cover my college tuition. Now as an older adult, with a retro itch to scratch and more disposable income I have my own collection of portable emulator consoles like the powkiddy v90, the R36, the SF2000 and the Miyoo A30. That way I can focus on retrogaming without distractions.
Also I like to tinker, so I turn old cellphones into single use devices with minimal connectivity. So far I've made an audio player/recorder, a photo/video camera, an ebook reader, a VR video player and a desk smart clock.
I like to give old devices a second chance and avoid ewaste as much as possible.
Zoomer here. I was practically raised on and/or around a lot of this stuff. I still have fond memories going to the library with my parents to pick out a new Magic School Bus VHS to take home that week.
Love Magic School Bus! I used to love playing the old computer games of that show growing up
So I'm a 35 year old guy and grew up with most of this tech (minus the type writer) but yearned for a time when things were more intentional. Like many, I've been moving towards these types of technology and the funny thing is, I also picked up a pocket radio last week! I'm happy with how many FM independent stations still operate locally (even if the music is questionable) but it's great for doing chores in the garden or on the car! Love the content, keep it up!
I'm repairing my old Sony Walkman cassette player to listen to my old tapes again. I can't wait to hear those tapes and relive the nostalgia! ☺
SD cards are today's cartridge. I have a cart for my camera, one for my field recorder, and my one for my retro emulator handheld. New Nintendo games are on proprietary SD cards. It's much like CDs where you have a physical thing, but you also have the file. I guess I wish they were a little bigger haha.
What you're describing of Gen-Z's love of things from before their existence is actually called 'Anemoia', which is a 'longing for a past that you've never experienced'.
I've been finding myself more using more retro tech lately for several of the reasons you mentioned. Ironically, it's started me down the path of having small typewriter and fountain pen collections. Because I like the lack of distraction and feel of working on paper. I'll eventually probably choose my favorites and slowly pass the others off to others. Spread the love. :)
Love this approach. I love my fountain pen too - I think it’s likely my favourite way to write. Thanks for the comment, I love to hear how people approach life offline!
Just today, I found my old MP3 Walkman. So far, it still holds a charge, and now has 3000 songs that were all ripped from my large cd collection onto it. I feel like a teenager again. As well as the VHS tapes, cassette Walkman, NES, and PS2. Now, as an adult, I can finally see how good PS2 games could look using HD component cables. And dare I say it, I mentally feel better not relying so much on my all in one smart phone.
Love this comment Jonathan! It’s not about ditching the phone completely as you said, it can be as simple as finding meaning and value elsewhere 👍
For me it is the disconnecting factor... If I did not have to have it for my work, I would have a basic dumb phone that only made calls and texted ... I recently picked up a Sony NEX 5R for pictures and have a 160gb ipod classic in my bag with me beside my journal and actual Bible at all times. It is such a great feeling knowing I will not have my phone sending me notification every 30 seconds about the latest picture posted by a friend.
My 6 year old wanted her own cellphone because several of her classmates already have one. Instead of buying her one, I've bought her a cheap chinese portable emulator console called GB300. No wifi or internet access, only the games you can load on the micro sd card for a handful of retro consoles.
Also bought her a FM radio so she can hear some local radio stations that have age appropiate songs.
So single use retro tech is kinda helping me keep my child entertained and safe from the dangers you could find on the internet... For now.
The next step for when she gets older is to have a local backup of Wikipedia as a reference for her assignments.
ThinkPad Laptop as well
This comment made my day, if only more parents were like you... :')
I'm a bit of amateur writer, and could say that typing on an Alphasmart (in my case Dana) not only feels different, it sets the mood. Having a dedicated device only, and only for writing for me personally is kind of flipping the switch: if I had my Alphasmart on my lap, it mean I WILL write, without any distractions that modern laptop ot tablet provides
I still play games on my Super Nintendo & Nintendo 64 all the time. I use emulators too but nothing beats using the actual retro tech.
I’m 17 and I currently bought an iPod and a typewriter, I love old tech
The point with the internet connection is a thing that bugs me. At this point I can't buy a tech device (released in recent years) that needs or at least try to connect to the internet to get my data or advertising way too frequent for my taste. Why do my fridge need to have Wi-Fi ?
devices like the iPod ensures that first I don't get advertisements on a product I bought, but also having the peace of mind owning the music on it and nobody can interfere with it.
I restarted buying CDs and DVDs again, so I not have to pay to streaming services and consuming the Media more mindful.
I have an Xbox series x and all the games I have cannot be played without internet.
A 12" vinyl record, on a solid deck, played over a big night club system....walks all over any digital file. Incomparable bass.... 👍
I have still have my OG FiiO X1 which is a quasi-iPod. The only difference is it supports flac files, supports microSD cards and you do not need an entire software suite installed just to load music onto it. iPods are cool but they had their shortcomings.
The most retro tech I have are cds of EDM artists I love, I mainly do it to never forget them since there’s a lot of albums coming out each year that I wanna have my favorites in my hands
The downside is that most artists have preference for vinyls, so they don’t release cds. That’s why lately I’ve beee thinking of finally starting a vinyl collection but I feel they are expensive (considering more the shipping factor). Do you all think it’s worth to take the chance and start the collection?
What artists do you listen to?
Marty Robbins and Bass Drum of Death? Hell yeah.
For me one thing I love is the tactile feel of physical buttons. I got a mp3 player and love having buttons to skip pause change volume etc. There's something infinitely more satisfying about pressing a physical clicky button then touching a screen to control your music. That and the fact it plays audio at insanely high resolution and I have all my music offline makes it so satisfying. Plus no notifications to interrupt my music. But above all I love the buttons
i wouldnt exactly say that mp3s are "insanely high resolution"
@@djlolerkoster it's actually a DAP I just said mp3 because most people don't know what a DAP is lol
@@v3y3rs who cares if they know it or not?
if you do, use the proper name. its as simple as calling a turntable a turntable and not a gramophone. by the way. im assuming that youve got 16bit 44,1KHz flac-5 files because why would you have something else? well 21 bits are the treshold of human hearing and assuming the absolute maximum of theoretical sensing ability of human, which would be 27KHz and adding the 1st harmonic just in case, we can conclude that all files "better" than 24 bit 88,2 KHz (or DSD128 which is 1 bit 11289600 Hz) make no sense whatsoever. if you use 32 bit 384KHz files or DSD512 just to say that youve got "extreme resolution files", you are silly at least. And no, PCM 16 44,1 is not an extreme resolution file either.
For me it's not only environmentally friendly, but also still functional for it's original use or if it can be repurposed as something else.
I think it's pretty cool that we have slowly gone back to the "Batman utility belt" while at the same time are becoming a little more active. If it ain't broke, keep using them.
But if the modern thing is broken, repurpose it as something else. My relatives were in shock and in aww when they saw my old phone on an inexpensive car mount I bought stuck on my car's dash board. Only when they realized I'm using the phone as a dash cam.
A few thoughtful moments there. I bought an Alesis ADAT 8 track recorder from Goodwill for $15. They where $4000 back in the 1990's. Still obsolete although very cool
Great find!
Great video! Nice shots of the wildlife!
It is also about being purposeful your time.
Convenience seems to reduce character. You probably have such great stories to tell about using the film camera. The time it took to make each picture just increases its value.
I have so many pictures of no value on my phone that I have to delete. I am always putting that task off. Then I get desperate to delete random photos when it gets full.
I’ve always felt that way with phone photos too! Because we have that near-infinite amount of photos we can take we are much less intentional with what photos are shot. And the storage becomes an issue for sure! Thanks for the comment!
Physical media is great because you be selective on what you listen/watch. In a since it makes you a rebel.
Yeh
My favourite purchase this year was a Miyoo Mini + to play all my old retro games. We literally live in the age of Mega Man Battle Network these days.
I will look into that. I have the previous Retroid Rocket retro console.
@@comradestannis I was looking at the Pocket 2S. Reason I like the Mini + is it has the best custom software and it's extremely tiny for a 3.5" screen device. I really love it.
@@AlexT0210 Weird question, but does it have Linux? Like the Steam Deck?
@@comradestannis yes it runs Linux
@@AlexT0210 Neat!
Praise to the Retro Tech! All of what was mentioned in this video, I still have in my home since I was 10. A few years ago, I bought a 1961 non-electric Smith Corona Typewriter and I have that next to my 1987 electric Smith Corona Typewriter that was a gift from my Mother. I'm so glad that the "Retro Tech" is Finally Fighting the "Big Tech" and what "They" "Think" the consumer's future should be!
This is why i want a N64 again i want to go back to my childhood. No wifi and just escape
I use a fountain pen with cursive handwriting. No printing or ballpoints unless I am forced.
I’m with you! Love my fountain pen
Another factor towards sometimes choosing retro tech or retro media is keeping control over your own experience. Too many times new tech comes with constant updates, pushing new features you don't want, taking away the functionality that you do rely on, and changing your UI because some market research thinks this will make you spend more money. Or streaming media that asks you to maintain a dozen different subscriptions, keep track of which service has the things you want to watch or listen to this month, and risk losing media you supposedly paid for because two companies had a fight over license agreements.
I started photography on my grandfather's tlr, I still primarily photograph on my Nikon f2 and accompanying first gen nikkor lens collection
also ipods since those are technically 'retro'
I grew up on all of the retro tech shown in the video. I have a flip phone in my collection, and I want a typewriter or old school typewriter keyboard.
The typewriter has been a super fun addition. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for an old Underwood Portable like Hemingway had but I’m still looking!
@@spencers-adventures Nice! You will find it! I’m keeping my eyes peeled for a miniature portable typewriter with all of the same components of a standard, old school typewriter, including the paper. 🙏🏿
It’s hard to let go of the past. I still have my Coleco Vision + Atari extension, Nintendo Classic, Moto RAZR phone, a few Discman’s and a few dial up telephones. It’s part of my childhood!😊
When I was 15, I got interested in retro computers - twelve years later, I got an Amiga 500 from a relative.
With some modern quality of life upgrades and a new operating system thrown in, I use it mostly for non-serious story writing and to colourise whatever drawing I could come up with on a piece of paper.
Basically, it's a badly yellowed, glorified typewriter and paint box (the latter of which I'm still on a long way of practicing and improving).
I didn't experience the 80s, but I have a certain admiration for parts of it (thanks to the music and Back to the Future). Owning a tangible item from a period one admires is like having a personal time capsule/portal that gives you a part of the experiences when using that item.
Bonus points if that item can be used in modern contexts: I can export the texts, drawings, and animations, and use them in conjunction with my modern tech - e.g. send a story to a friend, or illustrate/animate a section in a video, create a fun GIF animation, or print a personalised (and unique!) birthday card.
Graphics and animation are the area where the Amiga once shone at - I'm giving it this opportunity again, just without the VCR tape in the middle.
I think the really great thing about 'dumb' products is being the owner, instead of being a 'mark' or client. I'm not on the hook for somebody's continuing revenue stream and the planned obsolescence has already been and gone!
Great way to put it!
My old tech in my drawers: finally, my time to shine, again 😂
Simple: people are tired of subscription everything and want to actually own the stuff they buy.
It’s less about privacy.
It's that and privacy and something that out can use ad infinitum.
Ooooh, Goosebumps! I still watch that tv show in my 40s haha
Oww 20 points of psychic damage because the GC is "Retro" I remember when it was new
Point and shoot camera
Makes me feel so old when I hear GameCube is retro 😂 but honestly it was such a fun system to use and so many great games. I’ve loved retro tech and gaming for years now, but I’ve also noticed lately that a lot of people have started learning how to mod the retro systems and honestly? I love that. It’s so much fun to learn how your tech works and really make it yours.
I remember when I first played Mario 64...
Definitely something nice about being engaged and involved in tech as opposed to having full automation e.g. a point n’click camera may produce nice results but at the same time feel lacklustre to use.
I use my wired Apple earbuds as I had some of the early AirPods, the batteries failed over time, and I can’t justify the cost of a replacement.
A very insightful video as always. Have a nice weekend.
Ive been eyeballing iPods on eBay cause I miss using one.
if you have an iPod classic, please PLEASE install Rockbox firmware
sometimes the older stuff, is actually easier to use too, and your more likely, to get the results you want.
I buy vinyl records and stream music, vinyl to me is an experience, the enjoyment of going to record stores, the warm sound and crackle of the needle and admiring the artwork, no skipping forward etc. however streaming is convenient, it’s the equivalent of a home cooked succulent meal vs a microwave ready meal or a classic car vs a Tesla!
Yeah I think there is a middle way where you can have a bit of one and a bit of the other. I love my old vinyl for the same reasons you mentioned, and I can see the appeal of streaming as well. Thanks for the comment!
There are aspects of retro tech I do really enjoy and I 100% agree with the tactile nature of older tech as well as the need to slow down and focus. However, I don't think I'll ever understand the resurgence of audio cassettes or, apparently, VHS tapes. They are notably poorer quality and make it difficult to listen to a specific song/watch a specific scene. Hardware malfunctions can eat the tape - sometimes causing permanent damage. While cassettes were portable, unlike records, and could be easily recorded on, CDs are a better physical format by almost any metric. I had many cassettes growing up, but have zero nostalgia for that particular format.
I miss my VCR. I have so many VHS tapes…. Wish I still had my Betamax too!
just buy one again?
I regret selling my iPod classic. However can not remember last time I used a CD or DVD.
No wifi, no tracking
Great video Spencer!
Thanks buddy!
After living these vintage devices and mediums I have my preferences for what is worth using today. Records, CDs , DVDs, record players, iPod classic = Yes. Audio tapes, VHS = No. film = Not worth it unless you have access to a dark room (which is awesome). CRT = No unless you need it to connect an old gaming console (they work best). Just my opinion after living these gadgets and media in the 70s and 80s.
id say because its cheaper, but that hasnt been true since 2020, any hobby went up in price, especially if it was "retro", and it sure sucks as i know when i wasnt so well finanically as a kid i could atleast go to a thrift and get some quality ps2 games for 4 bucks a game
TO many resellers also, people who what more than one of the same item
The GameCube is more than 20 years old now, it's the literal definition of vintage! We're getting old.
I’m Gen X and grew up with all that stuff. The reason it’s so cool is because it’s not connected to everybody else. It’s really that simple.
I was born in 1998 and mainly play retro and indie games, these days.
I bought multiple mp3 players and even a portable DVD player because subscription / streaming services never enticed me and it's just cool to have devices like those, these days because they are really something special, but that's just me.
And no joke. I honestly hate smartphones because of what they've done to society and I've been looking into getting a flip phone for myself.
have you ever checked steam statistics of what people are playing? all the top games are at least like 10 years old because no one is playing that new crap
Retro tech is so good because you own it and its easily repairable, all this new technology being produced winds up in a landfill because you cant replace a battery or a cracked screen and any attempt to do so will render the device useless.
We don't agree to the Terms & Conditions of corporate services ❌
The ONLY Retrotech you SHOULD be using are giant horn loaded loudspeaskers , such as the Klipschorn and the A7 AltecLansing Voice of the theater, the only tech capable of recreating a concert at no distortion, I am 58, and I do NOT MISS VCRs, analog film, tubes LPs, reel2reel and cassette, literally EVERYTING old is garbage crap next to modern digital, EXCEPT when it comes to the physics of mechanical audio reproduction, small speakers always small sound, you need horns
I have owned all these lol, and I still have the iPod exactly like yours in my car 😂😂
Good on you for holding onto it this long!
in my light phone era 🥰
Am I the only one old enough to get the MC Hammer reference?! 😂
I have a vcr and HD dvd player as well, love them and about 50 vhs I'd say, maybe more now.
Love the gameboys most of all though I think, started collecting those again
Gameboys are a ton of fun! I love my Advance SP and my family even has a first gen Gameboy tucked away somewhere
@@spencers-adventures oh nice, a lot of nostalgia for the original gameboy, going to get the one I bought the other day, modded with an ips screen and usb c port with a new case as well. I still need an sp again!
I haven't met anyone in real life that uses retro technology besides me.
Then you’re the coolest person you know! Rejoice!
This is another great video man! I dig my Old school tech. I have a game boy advance, the alpha smart PS2. It's nice to have Have something personal? It's not networked etc.
Also sometimes older tech is just better then newer tech, for example my old Thinkpad T440p is better then any modern laptop. Ill most likley keep using it for at least another decade.
You’re right! I’m on the hunt for a good Thinkpad.
@@spencers-adventures I recommend a Librebooted T400. It has a classic keyboard, an open source bios for faster boot times, and pairs well with a lightweight Linux distro like Debian or Alpine.
Too funny. I tried using my old Nokia N9 this morning, but it wouldn't recognize my sim card.
Great video 📹 👍
The future is analog
🙌
Since I became a software dev 6 years ago my attention span has been shot. that's a big reason reason for me looking at retro tech. there's just too much stuff crammed into everything i buy now. i still need a cell for work, but i'm definitely looking into dumb phones and simple mp3 players.
Yeah I think there’s not a one-size approach to this, do some experimenting with different tools and find what balance works for you 👍 Thanks for the comment!
iPods or Flip Phones are retro now? OK, I'm old...
I refuse to use electricity... only whale oil lamps for me.
I like the smokey smell of huge mammalian beached whale deth nostagia factor.
Hurricane Helene takes out the power grid, no problem. I got a barrel full of whale oil right next to my barrel o turpentine, and my barrel of pickles, and my barrel of salt.
Missing point: Broken promises of modern tech. I expected to have by now all the content in history at a voice command, based on my mood. Instead, we got a maze of hostile services. I'm not ditching spotify, nor will send a money order for 14.99 to see your next youtube video, but neither will I be first in line for the next big tech promise, which are only getting more disappointing.
I have a Prunus J-166. For $10, you get an amazing radio to listen to music with! I love that little thing. But I don't use it much. I just keep it around in case of an emergency. Other than that, I've been unbundling for quite a while now! I have an MP3 player, wired headphones, a dvd player, a dumb watch, and a dumb TV!
love my zune :)
I've always been wanting to say this... You really look like George Harrison!
Because modern tech is usually buggy, has unnecessary functions, requires too many passwords and security settings, and generally doesn’t work.
Hey, I like your subjects, but dude, you edit yourself so that you never breath. I cant listen to it anymore, it becomes a stream of words with no pauses or breaks. Slow down, don't over-edit.
👏🏻🎉
It's because we are sad and depressed
People want to be unplugged from their phones
To me why I’d go back is because of the shrinking collection I have of physical media. Eventually everything will be owned by 1 and you will own nothing. Besides that some of your reasons are silly trying to find justification.
The main people using old tech are hipsters. People who for whatever demented reason thing vinyl sounds better than digital and will pay the hipster premium to have the same content in a crappy format.
turn off all your notifications and unsubscribe form marketing emails.
I agree. I love using my not really retro but still pretty old cheap Samsung camera. My phone can get you better picture faster but with that camera i need to find nice lighting, tune it a little, hold it stable and pictures have nice, nostalgia looking vibe and colors
UA-camr just trying to get you buying more shit you don’t need