My oh my, how things have changed. These 25 vintage tech ads are guaranteed to take you back -- and, in most cases, remind you how truly terrible our tastes once were.
Ads are kind of like your awkward teenage years. Think about it: When you're actually experiencing them, every second feels an angst-ridden eternity. Look back a couple decades later, though, and it's damn near impossible not to laugh.
Now, I'm not suggesting you go out and start bragging about that mullet you were sporting in the 80s (sorry, Uncle Jesse, but that kind of confession may never be advisable). No siree -- with antiquated ads, you can revisit the comedy of bad choices without suffering a single ounce of personal humiliation.
We've compiled 25 of the funniest vintage tech ads we could find. Some will make you laugh; others will make you cringe. But nearly every one will make you wonder what the hell we all were thinking.
Click ahead, and enjoy the shame-free trip down memory lane.
It's fun looking at the stupidity on display in these ads, but I have to wonder--are things any better now? Aren't we still selling dumb products and stupid services using idiotic endorsements today?
I have absolutely no doubt that in fifteen or twenty years, we--or our children--will be able to look back at today's ads and feel the same way we do when we look at this collection--what _were_ we thinking?
by Den (not verified) on 11/6/09 at 10:50 am |reply
Ugh. I remember Interlude.
Ugh. I remember Interlude. It was unimpressive—even then. It would ask a few questions, then pick a prefab scenario based upon them.
As for the Odyssey 2: Perhaps in a gazebo? ;)
by überRegenbogen (not verified) on 11/10/09 at 12:28 am |reply
Editorial comments on pictures; not funny.
Having lived through the times in the ads, I can see that the person making the comments might not have? Some of the ads are funny, but most are more interesting as history. Bill's glasses? What? Something like, "I am Bill; hear me roar..." That might be mildly funny. But the glasses? DubyaTeeEff?
Nice try. However, I did actually like the ads.
by Ken Creten (not verified) on 11/12/09 at 2:38 am |reply
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
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Are things really any better today?
It's fun looking at the stupidity on display in these ads, but I have to wonder--are things any better now? Aren't we still selling dumb products and stupid services using idiotic endorsements today?I have absolutely no doubt that in fifteen or twenty years, we--or our children--will be able to look back at today's ads and feel the same way we do when we look at this collection--what _were_ we thinking?
Ugh. I remember Interlude.
Ugh. I remember Interlude. It was unimpressive—even then. It would ask a few questions, then pick a prefab scenario based upon them.As for the Odyssey 2: Perhaps in a gazebo? ;)
Editorial comments on pictures; not funny.
Having lived through the times in the ads, I can see that the person making the comments might not have? Some of the ads are funny, but most are more interesting as history. Bill's glasses? What? Something like, "I am Bill; hear me roar..." That might be mildly funny. But the glasses? DubyaTeeEff?Nice try. However, I did actually like the ads.