22 Time-Tested Tech Devices That Are 'Obsolete' But Still Surprisingly Useful

Back in Magellan's days, there was a tech device for everything. A sundial could tell you the time, a compass could help you get to where you're going, and an abacus could help you solve algebraic math problems. Imagine telling a 16th-century peasant that a pocket-sized, shining rectangular device could do all of that (and more), while resting in the palm of your hand– Mind-blowing!

We've grown accustomed to a certain quality of life that comes with technological convenience. With phones in our back pocket, a laptop on our desk, and a home monitoring system that we can communicate with just with our voices, we can get lost in the sauce when it comes to new tech. We've come a long way since the Magellan days, but what about the dorky, analog devices that walked so that our Alexa could run? What about the pagers, the calculators, and the landlines that trailblazed a new era of technology? 

Well, if you're curious about a few of the top 'obsolete' tech devices that have stood the test of time, scroll onward for a quick journey down memory lane.