Ask Lemmy

Clarke's third law is that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. I have the notion that any technology becomes uninteresting and not cool once reaches the level of magic. We are tactile and inquisitive creatures, so objects that appeal to our hands and perceptions are cool. Once we can no longer grasp the parts, literally or metaphorically, they're no longer alluring.

Phones, cars, screens, computers, anything. Why is Amiga HAM mode fascinating to many people still, even when they're emulating it on a 32-bit-depth screen that can concurrently play high-quality video streamed over the Internet? That's why.

Portable consoles. They're dead now or replaced by indie shit. No, the switch doesn't count, if it can't fit in my pocket isn't portable.

I dunno about you, but I have a hankering for the mid-to-late-80s aesthetic, but specifically that taken into sci-fi. I'm talking Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star etc. 80s tech but... Future!

Everything's so chunky and functional. It looks like you could hit it with a sledgehammer and it would still work!

Basically, BUTTONS! Gimme buttons, lots of big buttons! I want things that go click so I can be sure I've pressed them. I don't want a tiddly little touchpanel for my washing machine, I want a button that goes CLACK when I press it!

cooler then or now? because I would argue all retro tech is cooler now

Not really an "older iteration" as much as a "sideways iteration", but the Novint Falcon was the coolest controller I've ever used. It had a ton of potential, but it seemed like the company had no clue how to utilize it.