Is anyone out there like me still keen on having the older aledged 'Failed' technologies? in their set up?

Anyone else still running an 8 Track?, a Reel to Reel?

A laserdisc player, a Betamax, Mini Disc ?

The only old "failed" technology I still have is a MiniDisc player, but even that doesn't really belong to me, it belongs to my dad and he's probably going to sell it off. Plus, it isn't actually connected up anymore, it got moved to storage just last week, it never got used much at all really.

I can't seem to find any media for my wax cylinder player!!

Try e-bay!

I had Laserdisc for quite a while but the day I connected my first dvd player up in 1998 I knew it was goodbye to LD.

A player has returned to my setup a couple of times in the last few years when I decided to get some films on LD that have still failed to appear on DVD.

Hammers The Gorgon ,House of the Long Shadows and a few other bits.

In its day LD was wasted on British citizens who were happy to pay £12+ for VHS but would not spend £20 on a state of the art picture (state of the art for its day of course)

But now the only thing I miss about LD is the luxurious packaging

Yes still got a Reel to Reel and a Mini Disc set up in the house.
Got rid of my CD player out of my truck (got fed up with the disks jumping) and fitted a Sony Mini Disc player,never jumps and i can get loads of Mini Discs in the glove box

I've still got my Pioneer LD 1450 hooked up, though I can't remember the last time I played anything on it. I (still) have quite a collection of imported NTSC LDs.

Although LD didn't succeed in the UK, it was quite successful in the US, so I maintain that LD didn't fail, it was replaced by DVD.

Good point about the laserdisc and VHS i wonder if theres a a paralell to be drawn between DVD and Blu Ray/HD DVD, regardles of the high def versions benefits might the public stick by DVD because the discs are cheaper

A few streets away from us there is a house with a BSB Squariel bolted to the wall. If memory serves me right that was served by the Marco Polo satellite ? Don't suppose they are still getting a picture from it ! !

I don't have, but would really like to get a B77 reel to reel. Having difficulties persuading the MD to agree though!

Cripes you must really want one! This isn't the first thread you've mentioned it on. Perhaps you should show your lady these threads to make her realise your pressing needs.

Regards old equipment; I have a cassette deck, Minidisc portable, Minidisc separate, my first CD player & an old tuner, all working and in good condition - and thats the problem!!

I just can't get rid of working items. I'll give them to anyone who can make use of them though. Mind you I do blow off the cobwebs every now & then to actually use them myself. I don't know why - just do.

I managed to resist aquiring a quadrophonic 8 track player/recorder that was destined for a skip some years ago. Like JBlink, I think my lady would have had something to say!

However, did I mention my several valve radios - sorry wirelesses..........................?

StereRowe

i have a turntable. i never use it because my amplifier seems to have broken and i can't find someone to fix it.

Hi StereRowe

I am really impressed that you have noticed the B77 obsession! Yes I have shown her the threads, begged, pleaded and offered cash. Nothing has so far worked. Trouble is I still kind of like her a bit. Even after over 20 years she can do things that even a B77 cannot!

Edit: Perhaps I am too narrow minded!

A turntable is definately not a failed technology ! ! ! !

no, just old fashioned now (didn't spot it was meant to be failed stuff). i still love it.

My minidisc deck is still in active use. Its just a dream to edit on.

Does having a CD-R deck count? Everybody seems to burn discs from their computers, but I still like to compile CDs from vinyl.

I still have my Sony TC-186SD cassette deck (late 70's, early 80's?) hooked up above my turntable. I've got a large box of cassettes that I've never got around to transferring. I occasionaly stick on a few old mix-tapes and bask in glow of the VU meters.

I've also kept two old Dansettes, but alas neither of them work any more.

Yes, I do - a Pioneer and it is awesome. Like you I use it for putting vinyl on to CD. I also use it to make compilation albums from CDs for use in the car etc More time consuming than burning discs from computer but worth it for the much superior sound quality. Doesn't skip as much as a burned CD either

I used to have exactly the same one! - they were a great cassette deck. A HUGE bonus was they used a 'ferrite and ferrite' record/play head, which meant they didn't wear at all - inferior heads in other makes required fairly regular replacement, which is expensive.

Unfortunately the expensive 'ferrite and ferrite' heads weren't used in manufacture for very long, and later Sony cassette decks had (and have) the same rapid head wear as other makes!

Ah, thanks for that. I remembered there was something special about the heads but couldn't put my finger on what it was. The deck certainly still sounds like its brand new. I should probably make an effort to transfer all my unique recordings... just in case it gives up the ghost one day.

I've always had the habit of condensing my music collection down to compilation recordings...rather than playing whole albums.

As a result, I listen to my MiniDisc deck probably 10 times as much as my CD player, cassette deck and turntable combined.

I've switched to an mp3 flash player for portable and I like it but if my little MD player hadn't packed up I'd still be using it.

Great format IMO.

Do you still have all this kit up and running in your living room? I'm picturing you living in a Bond villain's lair, probably with a big, white, ball-shaped TV... actually, I've probably just had too much espresso.

yeah its all hooked up in my lair..lol

I've got about a hundred 8 tracks, the reel to reel i use for recording my guitar, 20 or so laserdisc films, 8 beta films and i record on the beta quite often especially music from digital radio - its a beta hi-fi model you can get a 3 hour radio show on it. the mini disc i have a few albums and also use for home recording.
and The Atari 2600 sits neatly beside an XBOX 360.


a space helmet TV is on my want list!

I really, really, hated 8 track!

I saw one of those the other day in East London.


Being the saddo that I am, I even took a photo...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1257/...cac5ef5b_o.jpg











For anyon interested in vintage techology, there's a new magazine coming out with a sample of the first issue available to download free: http://www.vintagetechnology.co.uk/

Unfortunately, not. See here.