5 gadgets that will be dead in 5 years

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Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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Hopefully writing tech articles isn't her day job. Horrible list.

Wireless routers?

EL OH EL!
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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So they basically believe that smartphones and tablets will replace everything. I don't own either so I guess I'm screwed.

As far as the CD/DVD ROM goes, as long as the disc format is a standard in new technology (i.e. BluRay) they will always be backward compatible with CD/DVD IMO.
 

Judgement

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
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Wow, what an idiot

Everyone is going to want a $100 a month phone bill when they can buy a GPS one time for $50 bucks?

Wireless routers are going away because ISPs will have them built into this modem? LOL - None of the providers want to do this because then they have to provide support for it. Much easier for em to tell people its not their problem; not to mention the one built into my fios modem is terrible. Oh yea, and her next point is cellular broadband replacing it - I hope my cap increases 30,000% in 5 years
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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I would say netbook, portable gps, and e-readers have that possibility. All have integrated products that do it as well.

netbook(tablets)
portable gps(smart phones)
e-readers(tablets)
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
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Portable GPS - agree, been using my Google map with GPS enable on my smartphone for the last few years.

CD/DVD drive - disagree, maybe years later but as of right now, it is the way to install programs/watch movies.

Wireless router - disgree, how do you share broadband connection?

Netbook - agree, never really into netbook or tablet, 15" or smaller laptops FTW.

E readers - agree ,because I read a lot of documents on the computer screen at work, I am not going to read books on a screen at home.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
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to be fair, he meant standalone units not bundled with your ISP's modem.

Oh god no. My ISP doesn't have my interests at heart. It'll come pre-configured to support only two wireless devices, it'll use shitty WEP encryption, and they won't give me the admin password.

Verizon already does this with their "2wire" DSL modems; it's horrible.

Edit: I can see stand-alone GPS' going away. It's becoming part of every smartphone you can buy, and a navigation system can be had as a low-cost option on even the cheapest cars.
 
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Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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Wireless routers are going away because ISPs will have them built into this modem? LOL - None of the providers want to do this because then they have to provide support for it. Much easier for em to tell people its not their problem; not to mention the one built into my fios modem is terrible. Oh yea, and her next point is cellular broadband replacing it - I hope my cap increases 30,000% in 5 years

A lot of ISPs "want to do this" because they add a monthly surcharge for Wifi.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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This is terrible, this list. It makes zero sense and is totally out of touch with reality.

My smartphone is terrible for GPS or golf GPS compared to a dedicated unit.
DVDs aren't going anywhere.
Just about every home that has broadband has a wireless router and will continue to do so
 

Farmer

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2003
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A lot of ISPs "want to do this" because they add a monthly surcharge for Wifi.

ISPs rent a modem and a wifi router. It doesn't have to be in one unit. I still see a market for wifi routers, as there are plenty of people who are not satisfied with either the expense or the featureset of the basic models the ISP provides.
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
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DVDs - 5 years ago you could find blockbusters and hollywood videos all over the place. Now they are extinct. the dvd is surely on the way out. i can't remember the last time I watched a dvd movie. In fact last summer I ripped all my dvds and sold them at a tag sale.

GPS - until the software in the smartphone catches up to that of the designated units it won't go anywhere. Google GPS is ok for a free solution. i would not compare it to a dedicated GPS tho. But then again 5 years is a long time for software to improve.

Wireless routers, I'm not sure I get their point here. If they are trying to argue that smartphones and 4g will be the replacement then I sincerely hope the providers catch up with 4g coverage! Heck 3G still isn't everywhere.


Netbooks - Agreed

E-readers - Not going anywhere. The price points don't make sense. A tablet starts at like 600 bucks plus in some cases a monthly access fee. The premier e-reader , kindle, starts at $114 and the display cannot be rivaled. And COLOR is on the way.
 
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Judgement

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
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The only device I agree with is eReaders - as tablets become more powerful (while maintaining good battery life) and come down in price there wont be any reason to own a device that only serves that one purpose
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
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A lot of ISPs "want to do this" because they add a monthly surcharge for Wifi.

Yup, my mom was almost talked into a new plan that included this, although she already has a wireless router that I installed (and they knew this also). The rep from Time Warner came right to the house telling her how much better the cable modem/wireless router combo unit they have is better than the linksys I bought for her a few months ago. Her new bill would have included an additional $5 monthly charge for the use of their wireless router.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
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Unless she thinks that FIOS is going to take over the world, then I'd agree since Verizon gives you the fiber-->digital router with the installation. However, if she thinks that cable and DSL companies are going to magically start ponying up for routers then she's delusional because they are still charging for us for the stupid modem. Even if they decided to bundle routers, they will still charge us and we will still be using them.

Portable GPS and black/white e-ink yes. E-ink is going color anyway, and new Kindles will probably even have better browsing to compete with the ipad.

DVD's aren't going away anytime soon due to this issue called firewalls and security. Just because you could stream data from work--->home doesn't mean your company will allow it. For huge sets of data, the only other option is a DVD or external drive. Some places don't even allow those, so your only option is... DVD.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
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Everyone is going to want a $100 a month phone bill when they can buy a GPS one time for $50 bucks?
lol. This. I think I paid $130 for mine because everything is expensive up here, but still it was just a 1 time thing. Updates cost extra, link.
1 time map update = $50. At least 95% of my city is the same now as it was 10 years ago, so I'm not in a hurry to update the map at this time.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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lol. This. I think I paid $130 for mine because everything is expensive up here, but still it was just a 1 time thing. Updates cost extra, link.
1 time map update = $50. At least 95% of my city is the same now as it was 10 years ago, so I'm not in a hurry to update the map at this time.

Comes with the phone and uses google maps. I dont buy the phone for the gps. But it comes with gps. Why would I go buy a GPS unit when I have one with my phone?
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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My phone came with free mapping software, which works offline (as long as you pre-load maps, which are all free for the whole world), and does turn by turn voice navigation, can support traffic updates, and you can disable aGPS on the phone and use "real" GPS.

Oh, and it's a cheap phone (Nokia). Not even a real smartphone.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Comes with the phone and uses google maps. I dont buy the phone for the gps. But it comes with gps. Why would I go buy a GPS unit when I have one with my phone?

Because a dedicated unit is FAR better at it? I can't play a round of golf and use my phone for GPS because of battery life. My dedicated unit is much better in every way, it's not even close.