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I definitely relate to this. Just recently I had need of a printer and I was thankful I had stashed an old Canon inkjet printer in the attic. It technically is

I definitely relate to this. Just recently I had need of a printer and I was thankful I had stashed an old Canon inkjet printer in the attic. It technically is new enough to have wifi, but it was one of the first of that generation so it's a real hassle to get it connected. I was very happy that it has basically no other "smart" features so it can't phone home or report on my activity or anything like that. I foresee that in the coming years I too will long for "old" technology and devices that just do what they are advertised to do, unencumbered by data harvesting and loads of hidden "features" that are not really there for my benefit. I can already relate to the farmers wanting old school tractors that just do the job.

holri 7y ago
I still use my HP LaserJet 4L from the 90ies. It just works.
frosted-flakes 7y ago
I like old cars because of their limited software and extreme modularity. By "old", I mean early 2000s. I currently drive a 2003 VW Jetta. The car has a computer (obviously), but it's been running the same software since it drove off the factory floor, and its reach is limited. It controls the engine timing, power locks and windows, and other basic features, but that's it[1]. No fancy features that break or are obsolete in three years (my car is almost 17 years old, and the only obsolete thing on it is the tape player, which I still use—I doubt the same will be true of today's cars in 17 years). This model works well, and if something breaks it's trivial to fix. Also, it means non-modal physical controls for absolutely everything. I've driven newer cars, and there's nothing in them that I miss when I go back to my own car.[2] -- [1] A lot of functions are controlled by separate hardware modules. The turn signal relays and clicker, for example, are contained inside the emergency flasher button, and swapping it out takes less than a minute. Same for the windshield wipers (relay box under the steering wheel), radio (standard double-DIN), rear-window heater (relay and timer inside the dashboard button), window and lock controller (part of each window motor), and the headlight switch (switch on the dash that physically switches the light circuits). [2] Not even Apple CarPlay, which I see as largely useless, because my windshield-mounted Garmin GPS unit and a magnetic smartphone mount with a Bluetooth-enabled stock radio does everything CarPlay does, but better.

holri 7y ago

I still use my HP LaserJet 4L from the 90ies. It just works.

frosted-flakes 7y ago

I like old cars because of their limited software and extreme modularity. By "old", I mean early 2000s. I currently drive a 2003 VW Jetta. The car has a computer (obviously), but it's been running the same software since it drove off the factory floor, and its reach is limited. It controls the engine timing, power locks and windows, and other basic features, but that's it[1]. No fancy features that break or are obsolete in three years (my car is almost 17 years old, and the only obsolete thing on it is the tape player, which I still use—I doubt the same will be true of today's cars in 17 years). This model works well, and if something breaks it's trivial to fix. Also, it means non-modal physical controls for absolutely everything. I've driven newer cars, and there's nothing in them that I miss when I go back to my own car.[2] -- [1] A lot of functions are controlled by separate hardware modules. The turn signal relays and clicker, for example, are contained inside the emergency flasher button, and swapping it out takes less than a minute. Same for the windshield wipers (relay box under the steering wheel), radio (standard double-DIN), rear-window heater (relay and timer inside the dashboard button), window and lock controller (part of each window motor), and the headlight switch (switch on the dash that physically switches the light circuits). [2] Not even Apple CarPlay, which I see as largely useless, because my windshield-mounted Garmin GPS unit and a magnetic smartphone mount with a Bluetooth-enabled stock radio does everything CarPlay does, but better.