My List of the Best of the Past 25 Years:
(not in any particular order)
CDs (good riddance, LPs)
DVDs
DVRs, especially with DVD-burning capability (a
shortcoming of TiVo)
HDTV
Hi-speed Internet (U.S. still lags many countries,
though)
The Mac and Windows concept (inherited from Xerox) (but
not most versions of the operating systems that attempted to implement it)
Digital Cameras
Color Ink-jet printers
Telephony—virtually free long-distance, advanced
features, cell phones
MP3 players
High-capacity storage, including hard drives and flash
memory, unbelievably huge and inexpensive storage.
Google
Digital 5.1 surround.
GPS Navigation Systems
Hybrid gas-electric cars
PDAs pre PalmPilot
Lotus 1-2-3, followed by its superior successor, Excel
WordPerfect, followed by its superior successor,
Microsoft Word
Firefox
Laparoscopic surgery
HIV drugs
Scleral-buckle retina surgery
Progressive and photochromic eyeglasses
E-mail & Instant Messaging
The worst:
(not in any particular order)
HD Camcorders (will eventually cross over to the
"Best" list)
Hi-Def DVD players/recorders (a single-standard is
overdue, threatening their future)
Cyber crime
The failure of technology to provide a truly reliable,
no-fuss PC
Media Center PCs and all other efforts to get PC content
to a TV screen (could move to "Best" list if made appliances rather
than based on PCs)
Demise of classical recording.
Windows Vista. So unnecessarily and doesn’t address the
worst problems of PCs and becomes even more Draconian in its anti-piracy
system.
All versions of Windows except NT4, 2000, and XP.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Low-water-use toilets
PalmPilot software - both its operating system and
third-party applications; not sure Mobile Windows much better
The Web on cell phones
TV on cell phones
Money-management PC programs (Quicken, Managing Your
Money, etc.)
Internet Explorer, all versions, especially Version 7
Blogging
Chatrooms
