Classic Tech Gadgets That Left as Soon as They Came
Forgotten Inventions that seemed revolutionary, but were short-lived.
Technology is full of inventions that seemed revolutionary, but were short-lived and forgotten. Pagers were indispensable in the 1990s, until cell phones replaced them. The same thing happened with the MiniDisc, touted as the future of portable music, but overshadowed by the CD and later the MP3.
The digital instant cameras of the early 2000s were very useful at the time, but quickly became obsolete. These devices generated enthusiasm and, almost without warning, disappeared, leaving only a fleeting memory.
Younger people probably haven't had their hands on any of the antiques on this list, but the older generation grew up with them and has seen how technological advancements have relegated them to obscurity.