Everyone has vices in life. Mine, it seems, is retro-tech.
I have no idea what attracts me to antiquated equipment, but I love it. All of it.
I also collect it. Never mind that I'm struggling to find places for the classic gaming systems, computers, handheld games, phones, and even calculators in my basement; if I see an old-school gadget, I must have it.
Last week, for example, I bought an Odyssey 2 game console, a system released by Magnavox in 1978 as the original rival to Atari and its popular 2600 system, which I also own. (Both game units, by the way, were referred to as "video computer systems" since the general public had no idea what a computer was. To the masses, an advanced gaming console that played 2k and 4k video games on cartridges, which seemed so high tech when compared to the simplistic gaming experience of Pong, must be a computer.)
What I love about the Odyssey 2 is the membrane keyboard, which served no real purpose, really, other than to quickly select the game skill level and enter your name for high score. Later games made better use of the keyboard. Magnavox even built a slogan around it: "The Odyssey 2, where the keyboard is the key to greater challenge." It failed to capture consumers' attention.
When people think of the early days of home video games, the original Atari is what comes to mind, as well as the Nintendo Entertainment System. (Notice, the term computer had been dropped by Nintendo in favor of the more broad term entertainment.) The Odyssey 2, meanwhile, faded into history. Nevertheless, I had to have it. It came in the original box and was in almost mint condition: it even had the warranty form, now discolored to a brownish-yellow after decades of aging.
As a refresher, here are a few commercials and clips:
I also came across a mid-'90s cell phone from Motorola that my wife owned. She wanted to get rid of it a few years ago but I wouldn't let her. She didn't need the cumbersome phone or want it, but I did if only to remember how it used to be when we had to manually raise the phone's antenna to increase reception. And you thought the iPhone death clutch was bad.
I have no plans of using this mobile phone relic, not even as than the occasional cheap gag, as in: "Hey, look at my big cell phone!" That's too wacky and too obvious for me. I just like having the phone around. Besides, it looks nice when set next to our working rotary phone.
The Blade's blog Culture Shock is a three-times-a-week riff by Pop Culture Editor Kirk Baird on pop culture news, events, and trends. The blog will appear most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, with the odd night or off-day posting if something is merited.
Agree or disagree with a posting? Let him know. Have a topic or suggestion? Let him know that, too. Send an e-mail to kbaird@theblade.com, call 419-724-6734, or follow him on Twitter @bladepopculture.
First Published March 2, 2011, 6:08 a.m.
