12 Apr Hot Tech Products
Oh what a difference 20 years can make, particularly in technology. In 1998, few of us could have imagined we’d be watching videos on a tablet-size screen that fits in a purse or tracking our steps and heart rate with a watch. Here’s a sampling of some of the hot tech products from yesteryear compared with some of the most in-demand gadgets of today.
Desktop
1998
Apple transformed the computer industry with its translucent blue iMac. For $1,299, you got a 233 MHz processor, up to 128 megabytes (MB) of memory, and a 4 gigabyte (GB) hard drive.
2018
In 2018, that same $1,299 would get you an iMac that is more than 10 times faster. The 2018 version also has up to 16 GB of memory (16,384 MB) and a 1 terabyte hard drive, the equivalent of 1,024 GB.
Laptop
1998
For $3,199, you could buy Dell’s 7-pound Inspiron 3200 D266XT, which featured up to 144 MB of memory and a 3.9 GB hard drive.
2018
For $199—less than one-tenth of that amount—you can buy Dell’s Inspiron 11 3000, which is five pounds lighter. With 4 GB (4,096 MB) of memory and a 32 GB hard drive, you come away with nearly 30 times more memory and 10 times more hard drive space.
Operating System
1998
Among the most touted features in the $109 Windows 98 were the integration of the web browser Internet Explorer into the operating system and enhanced support for devices using Universal Serial Bus (USB).
2018
The $139 Windows 10, the most recent version of the operating system, boasts the ability to turn the computer screen into a touchscreen, facial recognition capabilities, and built-in firewall technology.
Monitor
1998
For $1,800, the 15-inch NEC MultiSync LCD 1510 monitor was considered top-of-the-line, boasting 1024×768 resolution with 160-degree wide angle viewing.
2018
For $699, the 27-inch NEC MultiSync EA271 U monitor boasts 3840×2160 resolution. It also has a wider (178-degree angle) viewing area.
Removable Storage
1998
For $150, the Iomega Zip drive let you store up to 100 MB of data.
2018
For $24.99, the SanDisk Ultra SDHC/SDXC UHS-I Memory Card lets you store up to 128 GB—or 131,072 MB—of data.
Smart Watch
1998
The $285 Seiko Ruputer was considered a breakthrough product. Its wristwatch-size computer had a 3.6 Mhz processor, 128 kilobytes (128 KB) of memory, and up to 4 MB of storage.
2018
The $399 Apple Watch Series 4 has a GPS system, electrical heart sensor, exercise monitor, and watch-to-watch communication capabilities