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Top 100 Gadgets of All Time

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the com'on-rubiks-cube dept.

akintayo writes "Mobile PC released its list of the top 100 gadgets of all time. The number one gadget was the Apple Powerbook 100. And the list does include some older gadgets, most notably the Abacus at #60. The BBC also has an article on the list."

15 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. #79 is the best one by nizo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I prefer #79 (TASER X26, 2003) If you have one of these you can probably eventually get everything else on the list.

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
  2. Abacus by Infonaut · · Score: 5, Insightful
    So the abacus, in use for centuries, comes in at #60 of all time, but the PowerBook 100, which was in production for a few short years is ranked #1?

    The PowerBook 100 was a great machine and all, but let's be serious.

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    Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
    1. Re:Abacus by Infonaut · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Keep in mind that this list was in Mobile PC magazine.

      Quite true. But I'd consider an abacus to be a pretty damned effective mobile computing device. It's certainly a better mobile PC than, say, a taser.

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      Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
    2. Re:Abacus by Carbonite · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I completely agree. I was just pointing out the most likely reason for the obvious bias in this list. Three different laptops ranked above the telephone? Absurd.

      --
      ich muß mehr Kuhglocke haben
    3. Re:Abacus by Have+Blue · · Score: 5, Funny

      I agree that my abacus has a very intuitive interface and gets awesome battery life, but it seems to be taking a long time to compile a kernel. Anyone have tips for optimizing this?

  3. Top Gadgets? by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    I thought this looked an awful lot like a geeks Christmas list...

    d33r 54nt4, 1 b33n v3ry 1337 th15 y34r..

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Top Gadgets? by EnronHaliburton2004 · · Score: 5, Funny

      d33r 54nt4, 1 b33n v3ry 1337 th15 y34r..

      Dear Kid,

      There will be no presents for you until you learn how to use a fucking keyboard, you dimwit.

      -- Santa Claus

      --
      94% of Repubs and 21% of Dems voted to renew the Patriot Act
  4. Jeez, Slashdotted already... by aendeuryu · · Score: 5, Funny

    They might as well be running their webserver on #50...

    This might get modded funny if people could actually get to the site and figure out which one #50 is.

  5. Mirror by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    In case of slashdotting, break mirror:

    Page 1: http://www.mobilepcmag.com.nyud.net:8090/features/ 2005_03/top100gadgets.html
    Page 2: http://www.mobilepcmag.com.nyud.net:8090/features/ 2005_03/top100gadgets-2.html
    Page 3: http://www.mobilepcmag.com.nyud.net:8090/features/ 2005_03/top100gadgets-3.html
    Page 4: http://www.mobilepcmag.com.nyud.net:8090/features/ 2005_03/top100gadgets-4.html
    Page 5: http://www.mobilepcmag.com.nyud.net:8090/features/ 2005_03/top100gadgets-5.html

  6. Well! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    The BBC also has an article on the list.

    Congratulations to the BBC for making the gadets list!

  7. Cosmonaut use of pencil myth yet again by lowlypeon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Fun article, but could have been researched a little better. In its bit on the Fisher Space Pen, it repeats the myth that while we blew millions developing a pen that could write upside down, the Soviets just used pencils, which is a common myth. As one cosmonaut said, "pencil lead breaks...and is not good in space capsule; very dangerous to have metal lead particles in zero gravity"

  8. What - no Rabbit? by The+Steely+Dan · · Score: 5, Funny

    My SO swears by hers!

  9. How about.. by J+x · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ..the printing press? I'm pretty sure most of this list couldn't exist without the proliferation of knowledge this allowed.

  10. Re:Recent biases by Otter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And the sextant and chronometer arguably affected long-distance travel more than Bose noise-canceling headphones...

    --
    What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  11. how about a list of pre-1700 gadgets? by davidwr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'd love to see a "top 100 gadgets of the pre-industrial age" - say, anything before 1700 just to be arbitrary.

    Special notation to any gadget that was still in common use in the 20th century.

    The abacus of course, and the pen and the first hand-carryable printing press come to mind.

    The lantern and numerous gadgets used on the farm and by doctors and scientists would also make the list.

    If you have a favorite pre-1700 gadget, please reply here.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.