Classic '90s and '00s Tech Clearer Than Spring Water
The nineties had a ton of passing fads that are well-forgotten, but if there's one that deserves a comeback, it's the transparent technology trend.
The era was full of color, whether you went to McDonald's to eat or tuned in to pretty much any channel on TV. Tech was also evolving at an alarming pace, starting with the first mobile phones in the early 90s and entering the new millennium with the iPod. Luckily for us, someone at some point thought about combining these two things into something new: clear technology.
These revolutionary products were the latest pieces of technology wrapped in translucent colored plastic that could become your whole identity overnight. On top of looking really cool and having tons of options to choose from, clear tech also prevented many kinds from cracking open their devices to see what's inside. You didn't need to do that anymore; it was right there!
Let's take a trip down memory lane to see some classic ‘90s and ’00s tech clearer than spring water.
Nintendo Consoles
Nintendo was the absolute king of this trend, with many different Nintendo 64 colored models that collectors would kill for today.
CRT Monitor
You needed a TV that went with the whole set.
Clear Radio
Everything had its clear, transparent version, and it was always better than the regular one.
90s Aesthetic
Nobody understands why they stopped doing this.
Portable Devices
You were a cool cat if you had one of these.
Nokia Phones
It was a chance to see what was going on inside the technology that seemed to come from the future.
Screwdrivers
Anything could be transparent.
Clear Cassette
Did you order the most 90s picture ever?
Sony PSP
Gaming consoles kept this trend going for way longer than any other product.
ClearPod
Like carrying a raw piece of unfinished tech.
Hard Drive
You can almost see your files from here.
Nintendo Legacy
While modern Nintendo consoles aren't clear anymore, fans are keeping the spirit of transparent tech alive.
Keyboard
Everybody has one of these today, but at the time, it was only for a lucky few.
Clear Mouse
Nothing like watching mechanical parts click with each other in real time.
Clear Gundam
Doesn't everything look better this way?
Clear Car
Too much? There's no such thing.
Clear on Clear
Clear vinyls are a modern luxury that the 90s didn't care about.
Gaming Evolved
While modern gaming consoles are pretty conservative in design, controllers, on the other hand, can go crazy.
Clear Xbox Controller
You can see the consequences of your actions in real time.
Clear Steam Deck
It doesn't get any better than this.