Hooch Tan
12-24-2010, 06:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.businessinsider.com/newsweek-1997-gadgets-2010-12' target='_blank'>http://www.businessinsider.com/news...gadgets-2010-12</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"A snowy Christmas in Chicago has given us time to dig through our parents' Newsweek archives, including some amazing Bill Gates covers -- see photos below. More topical: Gems like this year-end gadget shopping guide from the Nov. 24, 1997 issue. (Cover story: "Can we stop Saddam?") On the Newsweek editors' Christmas lists:"</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1293207536.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>It is amazing to see just how much a difference thirteen years makes. In some ways, technology has not changes that much and looking at the list that Newsweek editors made, a lot has stayed the same. Of course, gadgets are a lot more powerful these days but the biggest difference I can see between the lists of yesteryear and today would be that devices have become increasingly connected. </p><p>The Internet and network connectivity has become much more ubiquitous. The Newsweek list has only a single item that is a true communication device. Now, we have the iPad, Boxee Box, iPhones, Windows Phone 7, Android, netbooks, Google TV, eye-Fi, Twitter... all of these involve communication in some way or another.</p><p>A lot of gadgets now also feature much more social networking. Everything seems to be about sharing your interests, activities and hobbies where a lot of the gadgets of long ago either were about recording memories, or tended to be more utilitarian in nature.</p><p>Still, one thing about gadgets that has not changed is that we love to give or receive them! The best part of it all!</p>