Technology That Was Better 10 Years Ago

[Hoovie]

OK this is where I vent (you too if you like!)



Much of technological advances you sweet - making life simpler and often more pleasant to endure.

Sometimes that is NOT the case.

#1. Polaroid cameras with self developing film. I have used tons of them in the past for sales and documentation.... no digital viewing device required... hard copy in the hands of the customer... quick reference... film available evrywhere - even gas stations.

Now? The film is gone or if you find it double the price. Phazed out. Why? No digital can give me what I need in all cases (though I use them alot as well).

Is there anything out there with the fast and easy features I had in the Polaroid? There are a fair number of my clients that either don't have e-mail, printers, or computers. What to do?

#2. Cassette tape recorders. Cheap and easy players and cassettes. Everyone had them. Now they are gone. So what replaced them? Where can I go and get a good Digital Recorder that I can record 90 minutes onto with quality for peanuts?


In case you think I am just venting...

I am actually asking for HELP!!

[RandyWayne]

You can actually get small portable inkjet printers that attach right to the camera for those instamatic hard copies.

As far as cassette tapes go, I say good riddance! Dictation machines and MP3 players with built in mics have replaced them. And instead of 90 minutes you can now get 3, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours worth of recording time depending on the quality and size of the memory card. No jamming. No rewinding and fast forwarding. Just "drag and drop" to transfer, or in a pinch you can physically remove the card and hand it to someone.

[Hoovie]

Yeah, i have looked at the printers... sensitive to humidity... wires... batteries... keep film paper in the van... requires totally washing up first (think soot on my hands)

Please, tell me more about recording a couple hours with MP3 player. If I set it in a room and record everything, will the mic pick up as well as the cassette recorders did? I was under the impression one pretty much had to speak into the mic....

[commonsense]

I agree about the elimination of polaroid film. I have 2 perfectly fine polaroid cameras that will now be museum pieces!

And, yes I have a very nice digital camera......... (I did retire my 35mm, so there is some hope for me)

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Yeah, i have looked at the printers... sensitive to humidity... wires... batteries... keep film paper in the van... requires totally washing up first (think soot on my hands)

Please, tell me more about recording a couple hours with MP3 player. If I set it in a room and record everything, will the mic pick up as well as the cassette recorders did? I was under the impression one pretty much had to speak into the mic....

The mics that come on a typical MP3 player are going to be very directional -but that was no different then the mics on your standard cassette recorder. If you want something with exceptional quality you'll probably have to stop by your local music store and see what they carry. Korg and Yamaha make some excellent recorders (record at 24 bit/192 khz) and require a standard mic with the 1/4 inch plug.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

The mics that come on a typical MP3 player are going to be very directional -but that was no different then the mics on your standard cassette recorder. If you want something with exceptional quality you'll probably have to stop by your local music store and see what they carry. Korg and Yamaha make some excellent recorders (record at 24 bit/192 khz) and require a standard mic with the 1/4 inch plug.

I got with the program, I just went out to buy a digital dictation device that incorporates a built in mic with a "conference setting" and directional choice. It also had a built-in speaker.

Someone at the store talked me out of it. They said the Phillips digital player has a very good mic and would be great for what I wanted. It does not has a mic jack only the built in one. It of course comes with all the downloading features for video and audio (8GB).

The dictation device was limited to recording and did not have a screen etc.

I just got and tested it. I think it will be great. Much better than I thought.

I got a speaker/storage case too. $100.00 total.

Thanks for your help!

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

OK this is where I vent (you too if you like!)



Much of technological advances you sweet - making life simpler and often more pleasant to endure.

Sometimes that is NOT the case.

#1. Polaroid cameras with self developing film. I have used tons of them in the past for sales and documentation.... no digital viewing device required... hard copy in the hands of the customer... quick reference... film available evrywhere - even gas stations.

Now? The film is gone or if you find it double the price. Phazed out. Why? No digital can give me what I need in all cases (though I use them alot as well).

Is there anything out there with the fast and easy features I had in the Polaroid? There are a fair number of my clients that either don't have e-mail, printers, or computers. What to do?

#2. Cassette tape recorders. Cheap and easy players and cassettes. Everyone had them. Now they are gone. So what replaced them? Where can I go and get a good Digital Recorder that I can record 90 minutes onto with quality for peanuts?


In case you think I am just venting...

I am actually asking for HELP!!

Mobile Printers
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en...2-3328062.html.

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search...t_mobileoffice

Record to your hard drive. Up the quality settings to as high as you want it....just make sure you have a lot of disk space. CDs replaced them. MP3 players and USB storage devices are replacing CDs

[Praxeas]

also Polaroid makes a digital cam that prints

http://www.polaroid.com/CES/index.js...bmLocale=en_US

[Praxeas]

http://www.polaroid.com/CES/ProductD...rod_code=PG009

[Hoovie]

Anyone with a mobile printer and keeps it in the car. I would be interested in year round performance in the drastic temerature extremes and humidity.