This is not the list of a materialist, but of a technophile, and a collector of new and old. The tools we use paint a picture of ourselves, and tell a story of the evolution of popular technology.
Video Game System - Best Christmas ever was getting the Atari 2600. Considering how much I love video games, it is notable that I missed the NES and PS1 eras. I waited until the PS2 was dirt cheap before I bought one, but boy has it been fun.
1979: Atari 2600
2006: Sony Playstation 2
2009: Sony Playststion 3 (CECHL01); Nintendo Wii
2010: Nintendo DSi
2012: Nintendo 3DS
2014: Nintendo WiiU
2015: Sony Playstation 4
2017: Nintendo Switch, Atari 7800 (vintage)
2018: Nintendo NES (vintage), Intellivision (vintage)
Watches - I lost my first decent watch back in 2001 (a simple Victorinox stainless steel analog with quartz movement)--left it on a bar in Baltimore. Just before this, I had started carrying a mobile phone full-time. After losing my watch, I saw no need to replace it, since I always had the correct time on my phone. In recent years, two features have evolved in watches that have added serious value and made me think that owning a watch actually makes sense again: atomic clock synchronization and solar power. With atomic clock sync, a watch supplements its already-accurate quartz movement with daily correction provided by atomic clocks around the world. So the watch never needs to be set, and is nearly always accurate to the second. Solar power means the watch never needs a battery replacement. Amazing. (Update: Since re-invigorating my interest in watches in 2010, I've evolved into a full-fledged enthusiast.)
2006: Sony Playstation 2
2009: Sony Playststion 3 (CECHL01); Nintendo Wii
2010: Nintendo DSi
2012: Nintendo 3DS
2014: Nintendo WiiU
2015: Sony Playstation 4
2017: Nintendo Switch, Atari 7800 (vintage)
2018: Nintendo NES (vintage), Intellivision (vintage)
Watches - I lost my first decent watch back in 2001 (a simple Victorinox stainless steel analog with quartz movement)--left it on a bar in Baltimore. Just before this, I had started carrying a mobile phone full-time. After losing my watch, I saw no need to replace it, since I always had the correct time on my phone. In recent years, two features have evolved in watches that have added serious value and made me think that owning a watch actually makes sense again: atomic clock synchronization and solar power. With atomic clock sync, a watch supplements its already-accurate quartz movement with daily correction provided by atomic clocks around the world. So the watch never needs to be set, and is nearly always accurate to the second. Solar power means the watch never needs a battery replacement. Amazing. (Update: Since re-invigorating my interest in watches in 2010, I've evolved into a full-fledged enthusiast.)
1984: Casio Calculator Watch (had original model in 1984, lost; replaced in 2014 with CA-53W-1)
1988: Swatch GB122 "Coloured Love"
1989: Swatch GR104 "Bar Oriental"
1995: Victorinox Swiss Army Officer's
2010: Citizen Chrono-Time AT Eco-Drive BY0000-56L
2011: Seiko SKX781 Orange Monster
2014: Casio G-Shock GW9400-1 Rangeman; Casio A158W-1
2015: King Seiko Vanac 5626-7210 KS79 (1973)
2016: Alpina Alpiner Automatic AL-525S4E6; Sinn 556i Automatic
2017: Rado Centrix R30179105
2018: Slow Jo 17
2019: Glycine Airman SST12 GL0075; Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph; Certina DS C032.430.22.031.00
Monitor
1988: Swatch GB122 "Coloured Love"
1989: Swatch GR104 "Bar Oriental"
1995: Victorinox Swiss Army Officer's
2010: Citizen Chrono-Time AT Eco-Drive BY0000-56L
2011: Seiko SKX781 Orange Monster
2014: Casio G-Shock GW9400-1 Rangeman; Casio A158W-1
2015: King Seiko Vanac 5626-7210 KS79 (1973)
2016: Alpina Alpiner Automatic AL-525S4E6; Sinn 556i Automatic
2017: Rado Centrix R30179105
2018: Slow Jo 17
2019: Glycine Airman SST12 GL0075; Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph; Certina DS C032.430.22.031.00
2020: Apple Watch Series 6 Nike Version (it's really a fitness tracker)
Calculators
Calculators
1992: Texas Instruments TI-81 Graphing (1990)
1997: Sharp EL-240 Solar (1983)
1998: Radio Shack EC-279 Solar (1997)
2000: Texas Instruments BA II Plus, Hewlett-Packard 12C (1984 version - own two of these)
2017: Texas Instruments TI-30 Scientific (1976)
2018: Texas Instruments TI-5040 Printing (1976)
2019: Burroughs Class 5 Adding Machine (1934 - serial number 5-617783)
Clocks
1997: Sharp EL-240 Solar (1983)
1998: Radio Shack EC-279 Solar (1997)
2000: Texas Instruments BA II Plus, Hewlett-Packard 12C (1984 version - own two of these)
2017: Texas Instruments TI-30 Scientific (1976)
2018: Texas Instruments TI-5040 Printing (1976)
2019: Burroughs Class 5 Adding Machine (1934 - serial number 5-617783)
Clocks
2014: Wesclox Big Ben Style 6, Gunmetal Body with Black Face (manufactured 1949-1956)
2017: Sony 7FC-89W (manufactured 1971)
Digital Camera (Compact) - Early on I fell in love with the Canon PowerShot 'Elph' type cameras, and their performance and consistently good critical reviews have kept me coming back. I've tried other point-and-shoot digitals over the years, particularly Sony models, and have always returned them for the latest Canon. In my opinion, nobody beats Canon for image quality in this product type.
2017: Sony 7FC-89W (manufactured 1971)
Digital Camera (Compact) - Early on I fell in love with the Canon PowerShot 'Elph' type cameras, and their performance and consistently good critical reviews have kept me coming back. I've tried other point-and-shoot digitals over the years, particularly Sony models, and have always returned them for the latest Canon. In my opinion, nobody beats Canon for image quality in this product type.
2002: Canon PowerShot S200 (2.0 MP)
2005: Canon PowerShot SD300 (4.0 MP)
2008: Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (8.0 MP)
2011: Canon PowerShot S95 (10.0 MP images, 720p video)
SLR Camera - A black-and-white photography course and my first no-frills Nikon SLR sparked my original passion for photography. In 2007 I decided that digital SLR technology had finally evolved to a state where it was worth purchasing.
2005: Canon PowerShot SD300 (4.0 MP)
2008: Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (8.0 MP)
2011: Canon PowerShot S95 (10.0 MP images, 720p video)
SLR Camera - A black-and-white photography course and my first no-frills Nikon SLR sparked my original passion for photography. In 2007 I decided that digital SLR technology had finally evolved to a state where it was worth purchasing.
1992: Nikon FG (35mm) - I still use this occasionally, though film is becoming a rare commodity.
2007: Nikon D80 (10.2 MP)
2013: Nikon D7100 (24.1 MP)
Video Camera - I never saw the need for a video camera until we were expecting our first child...
2007: Nikon D80 (10.2 MP)
2013: Nikon D7100 (24.1 MP)
Video Camera - I never saw the need for a video camera until we were expecting our first child...
2003: Sony DCR-TRV38 (480i Mini-DV)
2011: Canon Vixia HF M41 (1080i, 32GB built-in flash memory)
Mobile Phone - These things have come a long way from my first lame Verizon CDMA phone. The converged smartphone is one of my favorite pieces of gadgetry.
2011: Canon Vixia HF M41 (1080i, 32GB built-in flash memory)
Mobile Phone - These things have come a long way from my first lame Verizon CDMA phone. The converged smartphone is one of my favorite pieces of gadgetry.
2001: Kyocera 2235, Verizon, CDMA Trimode
2003: Sony Ericsson T610, AT&T, 2.5G GSM/GPRS, HSCSD, Bluetooth
2005: My first smartphone - HTC Blue Angel (Siemens SX66), Cingular, GSM/GPRS, IrDA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
2006: HTC Wizard (Cingular 8125), quad-band GSM/GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2008: HTC Kaiser (AT&T Tilt), GSM/GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2009: iPhone 3G
2011: iPhone 4
2013: iPhone 5
2015: iPhone 6
2003: Sony Ericsson T610, AT&T, 2.5G GSM/GPRS, HSCSD, Bluetooth
2005: My first smartphone - HTC Blue Angel (Siemens SX66), Cingular, GSM/GPRS, IrDA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
2006: HTC Wizard (Cingular 8125), quad-band GSM/GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2008: HTC Kaiser (AT&T Tilt), GSM/GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
2009: iPhone 3G
2011: iPhone 4
2013: iPhone 5
2015: iPhone 6
2019: iPhone XS Max
PDA - I was an early adopter of the PDA and actually used mine pretty effectively. My favorite was the Sony Clie, in my opinion one of the spiritual predecessors to the iPhone. Converged mobile phones have made this product category obsolete.
PDA - I was an early adopter of the PDA and actually used mine pretty effectively. My favorite was the Sony Clie, in my opinion one of the spiritual predecessors to the iPhone. Converged mobile phones have made this product category obsolete.
1998: Philips Nino 320
2001: Sony Clie T615C
2003: HP iPAQ 3970
2005: Converged with mobile phone - HTC Blue Angel
Digital Music Player
2001: Sony Clie T615C
2003: HP iPAQ 3970
2005: Converged with mobile phone - HTC Blue Angel
Digital Music Player
2002: iPod (2nd Generation)
2007: iPod (5th Generation)
2007: iPod (5th Generation)
2009: Converged with iPhone 3G
Digital Book - For the longest time, I read e-books on my PDA or mobile phone. With the advent of electronic ink/digital paper, digital books started making a lot more sense. These new displays are large, extremely crisp (they reflect light like regular paper), and they consume very little power.
Digital Book - For the longest time, I read e-books on my PDA or mobile phone. With the advent of electronic ink/digital paper, digital books started making a lot more sense. These new displays are large, extremely crisp (they reflect light like regular paper), and they consume very little power.
2009: Sony PRS-505/RC (unfortunately, I lost this one)
2010: Amazon Kindle 3rd Generation, 3G+WiFi
2014: Replaced by iPad Mini 2
Tablet Computer
2010: Amazon Kindle 3rd Generation, 3G+WiFi
2014: Replaced by iPad Mini 2
Tablet Computer
2011: iPad2 - 32GB WiFi + 3G
2014: iPad Mini 2
2015: iPad Air
Laptop Computer
2014: iPad Mini 2
2015: iPad Air
Laptop Computer
1997: Winboox XL Laptop, Win98, Pentium MMX, <1GB HDD
2002: VPR Matrix 180B5 P4 Laptop, WinXP, 512MB RAM, 30GB HDD, DVD/CDRW, WiFi
2008: Acer Aspire One AOA150-1570 Netbook, Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz),WinXP Windows 7, 120GB HDD, 1GB RAM, 3-cell battery, 0.3 MP Webcam, 802.11b/g WLAN, 8.9" LCD
2010: Acer E527-2537 Laptop, Intel Celeron 900 Processor, Windows 7, 15.6" LCD, 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
2011: Toshiba Portege R835-P50XB, Intel Core i3 2310M (2.10GHz), Windows 7, 13.3" LCD, 4GB Memory DDR3 1333, 640GB HDD 5400rpm, DVD Super Multi, Intel HD Graphics, Wi-Max
2015: Dell New-XPS13 Touch
2002: VPR Matrix 180B5 P4 Laptop, WinXP, 512MB RAM, 30GB HDD, DVD/CDRW, WiFi
2008: Acer Aspire One AOA150-1570 Netbook, Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz),
2010: Acer E527-2537 Laptop, Intel Celeron 900 Processor, Windows 7, 15.6" LCD, 160GB HDD, 2GB RAM
2011: Toshiba Portege R835-P50XB, Intel Core i3 2310M (2.10GHz), Windows 7, 13.3" LCD, 4GB Memory DDR3 1333, 640GB HDD 5400rpm, DVD Super Multi, Intel HD Graphics, Wi-Max
2015: Dell New-XPS13 Touch
2019: MacBook Air (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Silver)
Desktop Computer
Desktop Computer
1984: Commodore 64, 64K RAM, 5.25" FDD)
1988: Amiga 2000, 1024K RAM, 2x 3.5" FDD, 1x 5.25" FDD)
1994: Locally-built Pentium 90, Win3.1/95, first CD-ROM & HDD
2000: Locally-built Pentium III Win98/XP, 256MB RAM, +/-7GB HDD, DVD/CDRW
2007: AVA-Direct Desktop,Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Quad AMD FX 8350, Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows 10, 2 4 8 16 24GB RAM, 2x500GB 2TB+1.5TB HDD, 64GB 128GB Boot SSD, Radeon X1950XT Radeon HD 4830 Radeon HD 7870, DVD+/-RW BD-RE/DVD+/-RW
1988: Amiga 2000, 1024K RAM, 2x 3.5" FDD, 1x 5.25" FDD)
1994: Locally-built Pentium 90, Win3.1/95, first CD-ROM & HDD
2000: Locally-built Pentium III Win98/XP, 256MB RAM, +/-7GB HDD, DVD/CDRW
2007: AVA-Direct Desktop,
Monitor
2007: (2) Sony SDM-S73 17" SXGA (1280x1024) 16 ms TN panel LCD
2010: (2) HP LP2465 24" WUXGA (1920x1200) 6 ms S-PVA panel LCD
Wireless Router
2010: (2) HP LP2465 24" WUXGA (1920x1200) 6 ms S-PVA panel LCD
Wireless Router
2002: Netgear 802.11b Wireless 4 Port Router
2005: Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router
2010: D-Link DIR-655 N Router
Printer
1994: Canon
2005: Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router
2010: D-Link DIR-655 N Router
Printer
1994: Canon
BJ 200
2000: HP 970 Cxi
2007: Canon PIXMA MP610
2012: Canon PIXMA MG6320
Car
2000: HP 970 Cxi
2007: Canon PIXMA MP610
2012: Canon PIXMA MG6320
Car
1989: 1986 Chevy Camaro V-6
1996: 1992 Toyota Celica GT (DOHC inline-4, 5-speed manual)
2002: 2001 Volvo S40 (turbocharged 1.9L inline 4-cyl, ABS, traction control)
2005: 2005 Honda Accord EX (2.4L inline 4-cyl, ABS)
2010: 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe (DOHC 24-valve V6, 6-speed manual transmission)
GPS
1996: 1992 Toyota Celica GT (DOHC inline-4, 5-speed manual)
2002: 2001 Volvo S40 (turbocharged 1.9L inline 4-cyl, ABS, traction control)
2005: 2005 Honda Accord EX (2.4L inline 4-cyl, ABS)
2010: 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe (DOHC 24-valve V6, 6-speed manual transmission)
GPS
2008: Garmin Nuvi 250W
Television
Television
1998: Sony KV-20S42 20" Trinitron CRT TV (480i, 4/3)
2006: Norcent LT-3222 32" LCD HDTV (720p, 16/9)
2010: Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD HDTV (1080p, 16/9)
2011: In February we cancelled cable and switched to internet-only and over-the-air HDTV. We use Netflix, Hulu, PlayOn, Vudu, and the Playstation Video Store to get content via the Playstation 3.
2017: LG 55UJ6300 55" LED LCD 4K
Video Player
2006: Norcent LT-3222 32" LCD HDTV (720p, 16/9)
2010: Samsung LN40B500 40" LCD HDTV (1080p, 16/9)
2011: In February we cancelled cable and switched to internet-only and over-the-air HDTV. We use Netflix, Hulu, PlayOn, Vudu, and the Playstation Video Store to get content via the Playstation 3.
2017: LG 55UJ6300 55" LED LCD 4K
Video Player
1997: Sony Betamax VCR
1998: Sanyo Stereo VHS VCR
2001: Panasonic DVD-RV32K DVD Player
2006: Sony Playstation 2 replaced Panasonic for DVD playback
2007: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 HD-DVR (120GB, 1080i)
2009: Sony Playstation 3 Blu-Ray player
2015: Sony Playstation 4 Blu-Ray player
2017: 1999 Sony SLV-679HF VHS VCR
2018: Citizen VCP-5MU (vintage, purchased and repaired; built-in mini-CRT)
Amplifier / Receiver
2006: Onkyo TX-SR502 Receiver (75 W/Ch); audio input via TOSLINK optical cable (PS3) and RCA analog cable (DVR); HD-video input/output via component cable (DVR) and HDMI cable (PS3)
2017: 1976 Akai AM-2800 (80 W/Ch) Amplifier
1998: Sanyo Stereo VHS VCR
2001: Panasonic DVD-RV32K DVD Player
2006: Sony Playstation 2 replaced Panasonic for DVD playback
2007: Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 HD-DVR (120GB, 1080i)
2009: Sony Playstation 3 Blu-Ray player
2015: Sony Playstation 4 Blu-Ray player
2017: 1999 Sony SLV-679HF VHS VCR
2018: Citizen VCP-5MU (vintage, purchased and repaired; built-in mini-CRT)
Amplifier / Receiver
2006: Onkyo TX-SR502 Receiver (75 W/Ch); audio input via TOSLINK optical cable (PS3) and RCA analog cable (DVR); HD-video input/output via component cable (DVR) and HDMI cable (PS3)
2017: 1976 Akai AM-2800 (80 W/Ch) Amplifier
2018: Marantz 2215 Receiver
2020: Sony STRDH590 Receiver
Radios and Tuners
2017: 1976 Akai AT-2200 Tuner
2018: 1968 Panasonic RE-7257 (FM-AM 2-Band 10-Transistor)
Turntable
2016: Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
2017: 1979 Luxman PD264
Cassette Deck
2016: Akai GX-M30 (1979)
2017: Yamaha K-600 (1984)
Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck
2017: Akai 1720W (1971? - purchased and repaired)
8-Track Tape Deck
2017: Pioneer Craig 3302 8-Track (1971)
Compact Disc Player
2016: Sony CDP-CE275 (2001)
Equalizer
2016: AudioSource EQ Eight/Series II (1999)
2017: Technics SH-8046 (1986)
Speakers
1993: JVC SP-MX55BK (50W 2-way bookshelf, 1 - 5.5" woofer, 1 tweeter)
2010: Polk Audio Monitor 40 (125W 2-way bookshelf, 2 - 5-1/4" woofers, 1 - 1" tweeter) + Sony SAW2500 Subwoofer (100W, 10" woofer)
2017: Yamaha NS-6490 (3-way bookshelf, 8" woofer, 4" midrange, 7/8" tweeter)
2020: Cerwin Vega DX-7
Universal Remote
2007: One For All URC-8910 (8-Device, Learning, Macro, LCD)
2010: SMK-Link PS3 Blu-Link Universal Remote Control (6-Device, Bluetooth, Learning)
2015: Sony Playstation 4 Universal Remote
Piano
2015: Yamaha U1 (upright)
Digital Keyboard - When our son showed interest in taking piano lessons in preschool, we had a choice: Commit the space (and money) required to purchase a real piano, or buy an excellent full-size digital piano.
2007: Yamaha YPG-625
Espresso Machine - Our house is passionate about coffee, so in 2006 we invested in a 'prosumer' espresso machine.
2006: Quickmill Anita (heat exchanger, E-61 commercial group head, 52 watt vibratory pump, 1,400 watt heating element, 1.6L boiler) - pump replaced 2018
Radios and Tuners
2017: 1976 Akai AT-2200 Tuner
2018: 1968 Panasonic RE-7257 (FM-AM 2-Band 10-Transistor)
Turntable
2016: Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB
2017: 1979 Luxman PD264
Cassette Deck
2016: Akai GX-M30 (1979)
2017: Yamaha K-600 (1984)
Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck
2017: Akai 1720W (1971? - purchased and repaired)
8-Track Tape Deck
2017: Pioneer Craig 3302 8-Track (1971)
Compact Disc Player
2016: Sony CDP-CE275 (2001)
Equalizer
2016: AudioSource EQ Eight/Series II (1999)
2017: Technics SH-8046 (1986)
Speakers
1993: JVC SP-MX55BK (50W 2-way bookshelf, 1 - 5.5" woofer, 1 tweeter)
2010: Polk Audio Monitor 40 (125W 2-way bookshelf, 2 - 5-1/4" woofers, 1 - 1" tweeter) + Sony SAW2500 Subwoofer (100W, 10" woofer)
2017: Yamaha NS-6490 (3-way bookshelf, 8" woofer, 4" midrange, 7/8" tweeter)
2020: Cerwin Vega DX-7
Universal Remote
2007: One For All URC-8910 (8-Device, Learning, Macro, LCD)
2010: SMK-Link PS3 Blu-Link Universal Remote Control (6-Device, Bluetooth, Learning)
2015: Sony Playstation 4 Universal Remote
Piano
2015: Yamaha U1 (upright)
Digital Keyboard - When our son showed interest in taking piano lessons in preschool, we had a choice: Commit the space (and money) required to purchase a real piano, or buy an excellent full-size digital piano.
2007: Yamaha YPG-625
Espresso Machine - Our house is passionate about coffee, so in 2006 we invested in a 'prosumer' espresso machine.
2006: Quickmill Anita (heat exchanger, E-61 commercial group head, 52 watt vibratory pump, 1,400 watt heating element, 1.6L boiler) - pump replaced 2018