1. The Fax Machine
In the 1980s and 1990s, the fax machine was the pinnacle of instant document delivery. Offices and even some homes relied on it for contracts, forms, and urgent letters. It could transmit handwritten notes in minutes—a miracle compared to postal mail. Now, emails, PDFs, and cloud storage have made it almost completely obsolete.
The sound of a fax warming up is now a kind of audio nostalgia, one that only older generations really remember. Some legal and medical offices still keep them around due to regulations, but that’s the exception, not the rule. For the average household, a fax machine is an expensive, noisy relic. It’s hard to imagine it was once considered “futuristic.”
2. The DVD Player
Once the centerpiece of every living room, the DVD player symbolized sleek home entertainment in the early 2000s. You’d proudly stack your “Director’s Cut” editions and box sets beside it, marveling at how crisp digital video looked compared to VHS. But now, with streaming services offering 4K quality and instant access to entire catalogs, that silver rectangle feels quaint. Many newer TVs don’t even include the right ports to plug one in anymore.
And while some collectors still love physical media, the convenience of streaming has basically erased the need for discs. Blu-ray tried to extend the format’s life, but even that couldn’t compete with the immediacy of Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+. Today, most people’s DVD collections are stored in boxes—or listed on eBay. It’s wild to think that less than two decades ago, this was cutting-edge tech.
3. The Landline Telephone
Having a landline used to be non-negotiable; you needed it for everything from job calls to pizza delivery. The curly cord, the wall mount, even the ringtone—those were fixtures of daily life. Now, cell phones have completely replaced them for most households. In fact, according to the CDC, less than 30% of U.S. homes still have a landline at all.
Besides convenience, landlines once promised reliability during emergencies, a role largely overtaken by mobile networks. Caller ID and answering machines seemed revolutionary in their day. But today, seeing a landline on a desk almost feels like spotting a typewriter in a modern office. They linger mostly as nostalgic artifacts rather than practical devices.
4. The VCR
Before DVDs, the VCR reigned supreme. It allowed people to record TV shows, watch movies at home, and even attempt those “homemade” home videos. Renting tapes from video stores felt like a weekend event. Today, with streaming and on-demand recording, VCRs are nearly extinct.
Those clunky boxes were notorious for eating tapes or requiring precise tracking adjustments. They once symbolized control over your entertainment schedule. Now, they mostly sit in attics or are sold for a few dollars at thrift stores. Looking back, they feel incredibly dated for something that promised “freedom.”
5. The Cordless Phone Base
Cordless phones promised liberation from the wall, letting you roam the house while chatting. They were a mid-90s dream, with the base station often sporting a shiny, futuristic design. Now, Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones have rendered them nearly unnecessary. The base sits there, gathering dust, a shrine to a short-lived convenience.
Many homes still have them tucked away, often used as a backup if cell service fails. The range limitations and battery replacements were minor annoyances we barely noticed at the time. Today, they serve as a reminder of how fast communication technology evolved. It’s funny to think we once celebrated a phone that couldn’t even leave the yard.
6. The Answering Machine
Before voicemail existed digitally, the answering machine was a tiny mechanical secretary. It recorded messages on tapes, letting you know who called and what they said. People often left long, dramatic messages that felt almost cinematic. Now, digital voicemail and texting have made the physical machine nearly extinct.
The blinking light or the clunk of a tape starting once held a special kind of anticipation. Answering machines were a staple of middle-class homes for decades. Today, seeing one evokes nostalgia more than necessity. They’re proof that even the most “futuristic” home gadgets can age quickly.
7. The CRT Television
Cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs were bulky, heavy, and beautiful in their own way. They offered color, sound, and motion before flat screens made wall-mounting possible. Gamers and movie lovers still remember the crisp image, despite its curved screen. Today, they’re largely replaced by sleek, thin LED and OLED displays.
Moving a CRT required a small team, and yet families were proud to have one in the living room. Those giant boxes were once considered the height of home technology. Now, they’re often found in basements or sold for recycling. Their presence instantly dates any living room from the pre-2000s era.
8. The Portable CD Player
The Walkman’s digital successor, the portable CD player, let you carry albums in your pocket. You’d juggle discs, batteries, and headphones like a pro. Streaming music and MP3 players, especially the iPod, made them obsolete almost overnight. Today, even nostalgia collectors struggle to find working models.
It was revolutionary to have music on the go without a cassette. People spent hours curating playlists that had to be physically burned or bought one disc at a time. Now, the idea of fumbling with discs seems absurd. Yet, back then, it was freedom in a shiny plastic case.
9. The Space Heater With Analog Dial
Analog space heaters were a bedroom or office staple during winter. The little dial and red “on” light exuded control over your personal climate. Modern HVAC systems and smart heaters have rendered them largely decorative. Plug one in today, and it feels quaintly manual.
They were indispensable for late-night study sessions or chilly apartments. Safety standards weren’t as strict, so parents watched them nervously. The tactile turning of the knob is now oddly satisfying in a retro way. These heaters are relics of a time when personal heating required more attention.
10. The Fax/Printer Combo
In the late 90s and early 2000s, the all-in-one fax/printer/copier seemed miraculous. You could print, scan, copy, and send documents across town without leaving your desk. It was a symbol of efficiency and high-tech living. Today, multifunction printers still exist, but the fax feature is mostly unused.
Offices kept them for compliance or legacy purposes, while homes rarely ever sent a fax. The clunky design and constant paper jams feel like ancient inconveniences now. Cloud printing and digital signatures have replaced the need for most physical documents. Owning one now is more about nostalgia than practicality.
11. The Pager
Before cell phones dominated, pagers were essential for anyone needing instant contact. Doctors, teenagers, and businesspeople relied on beeps to get messages. They were compact, simple, and oddly satisfying to carry. Modern smartphones, of course, rendered them nearly obsolete.
Pagers were early examples of “always connected” technology. People even developed secret codes to convey messages quickly. Today, seeing someone use one feels like a scene from a 90s movie. They represent a time when staying in touch required ingenuity rather than apps.
12. The Electric Typewriter
The electric typewriter promised speed, precision, and a step into the future of writing. Offices and students alike marveled at its consistent keystrokes and automatic functions. Now, laptops and tablets have made them nearly extinct, relegating typewriters to nostalgia corners. Typing corrections used to be messy, but now “undo” is effortless.
Some writers still swear by their tactile feedback, but for most, the clack of typebars is a relic sound. Owning one today is more about aesthetic or craft than necessity. They remind us that every technological leap eventually becomes yesterday’s novelty. Even the “electric” ones feel quaint compared to digital screens.
This post 12 Once-Futuristic Home Objects That Already Feel Like Relics was first published on Greenhouse Black.
