Top 10 Awesome 90s Products You Probably Forgot About
#10: Apple iMac G3
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Computers in the 90s were big, boxy, ugly things that had about as much sex appeal as a washing machine. But in true Apple form, the tech brand managed to reinvent it. Released in 1998 - the iMac was a sleek, new innovation that looked to add fun in the form of colors and modernity in the form of USB ports. Some people rejected its shunning of legacy tech like floppy disk drives, while others embraced the idea that being a computer geek could actually be fashionable. If you had one, you were cool, if your mum, dad or teacher had one, even they were cool. We’ve got better, slimmer computers nowadays, but you can’t deny the allure of the bulbous iMac.
#9: Talkboy
It would be an understatement to say that “Home Alone 2” made this gadget what it is. Quite literally. It was commissioned by writer John Hughes for the movie, and the one you see on-screen was built as a prop. The company that made the device, Tiger Electronics, then got permission to make a version for the retail market and boom, the rest is history. The fun, voice changing Deluxe Talkboy sparked creativity in kids all over the world, and arguably peaked in the 1993 holiday season. For some reason, recording and then slowing down or speeding up your voice is just hilarious - who knew! Well, John Hughes, that’s who - howdy doo!
#8: Tamagotchis
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Did anyone actually ever figure out how to properly care after their digital pet? The Tamagotchi took the world by storm in the mid to late 90s, and for many, it was their first taste of responsibility. It saw you caring for a digital bunny, dog, cat-like pet, who required feeding, potty-training and doting on when they became sick. Many of us had them hanging on our keys, belts and bedside tables in order to nurture them, while some of us got bored after half an hour and would then rediscover the lonely pet in a drawer three years later. Either way, they were iconic - and still are!
#7: Palm Pilots
It’s easy to laugh at these things now, but in 1996 these things were space age. They were effectively the first proper handheld computer device - although in essence, they were just a digitized notepad and planner, helping you record notes, contacts and calendar events. And you could even sync and connect them to your desktop. Mind, blown. Various different Palm Pilots were released, but they ultimately became obsolete rather quickly, reserved only for kids playing in their Dad’s office, or for companies to give away as freebies after you signed up with them.
#6: Goosebumps Books
Kids are so desensitized to horror nowadays, but back in the 90s, the Goosebumps book series was about as scary as it got - and it was amazing. Not only were the books spooky, but they were accessible, and showed kids that ghosts and monsters could be part of enthralling fiction - not just nightmare-inducing playground stories. They are still publishing Goosebumps books and movies today, but there was something magical about the original 92 to 97 run. They filled bedroom bookshelves everywhere, with their vibrant artwork and strangely endearing terror. And they tied in with the 95 TV series which was arguably a little too real for some to handle.
#5: Magic Eye Books
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Ah yes, Magic Eye books. We all had that one friend who could do it when we couldn't - or at least, they claimed to be able to do it. The Magic Eye book brought optical illusions to the living room, with their colorful images - actually called autostereograms - appearing 2D on paper, but becoming 3D if you looked at them long enough. Seeing one of these for the first time was mind-boggling, and it had many of us reaching out and trying to grab what wasn’t there. The Magic Eye book became a staple of home libraries, coffee tables and waiting rooms everywhere. In fact, Magic Eye images have even been used to treat people with vision disorders.
#4: Disposable Cameras
You can still buy these things today, but chances are, you’re buying them to be quirky at a wedding or party. Back in the 90s however, for many of us, it was simply how we captured memories at home, out and about, or on holiday. You’d scroll the wheel and hear the clicking sound, take your limited number of shots, and then go to have your photos developed. No recharging, no re-using and absolutely no previewing - so you’d have to make each shot count. By today’s smartphone standards they are absolutely impractical, but there’s something pure about only snapping the most important shots - instead of photographic every piece of food before you eat it.
#3: HitClips
Hey, it’s another 90s memory-unlocker by Tiger Electronics, this one being the famous HitClips, the pocket-friendly audio player that would play one minute excerpts of pop songs, and make you look like an absolute legend/loser while doing so. Released just before the millennium, these things played mini, keychain-like cartridges which sounded awful - and you couldn’t even adjust the volume either. So you could have all of your favorite artists - Backstreet Boys, Brittany Spears, NSYNC, Destiny’s Child - right there in your pocket, well at least 60 seconds worth of them anyway. This was before MP3 players, so the idea of HitClips was pretty cool - until it wasn’t. But now it kind of is again, right?
#2: Reebok Pumps
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The famed Reebok Pumps were actually released in late 1989, but it wasn’t until about 1991 that they started to become an absolute must have for kids - and adults - everywhere. It’s a shoe that uses an internal inflation mechanism to give the user a unique fit - and arguably the strength, jumping prowess and dunking ability of Shaquille O'Neal. Reebok Pumps weren't just a marketing ploy however, they genuinely gave a more secure fit around the ankle, which was great for sports like basketball. Of course, the gimmick of getting pumped up was a big part of why they were so successful - and still are to this day.
#1: Pagers
Imagine being mid conversation with a group of people when all of a sudden your belt starts beeping and you have to rush off somewhere and save the day like Batman. That’s how pagers made you feel. They were a very early example of text messaging, allowing users to receive messages on the go, either via a phone’s keypad or via an operator. In the 90s it was the first taste of smartphone-like communication on-the-go, and it was favored by business types, doctors and high flyers everywhere. Pagers probably stuck around way longer than they should have - but they were just so convenient and cool.
