15 Things That Made '90s An Unforgettable Decade

1. Audio and video cassette players

wattpad

Before there were MP3s and online streaming, there were audio cassettes. With a listening time of anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes, you could even make your own ‘mixed tape’. Unfortunately, they were technologically outdated by the time the 90s ended.

2. Cartridge console games

galleryhip

The good old Sega and Nintendo consoles were the best thing a kid in the 90s could wish for. Games like Donkey Kong, Contra and Mario Bros. are classics people still love. The growth of computer gaming, better graphics and handheld consoles saw these being replaced.

3. Floppy disks

wikimedia commons

With a massive capacity of 1.44 MB, the floppy disk was the be all and end all of file transfer in the 80s and 90s. With the development of higher capacity CDs and rewritable drives, the good old floppy was relegated to the bottom shelf. 

4. Doordarshan Sunday shows

Before cable and satellite TV, Doordarshan was the staple in TV watching in most Indian households. Shows like Chandrakanta, Shaktimaan, Jungle Book, and Surabhi had people glued to their sets. But with better options in cable available, the audience soon migrated.

5. Pagers

Pagers were introduced in India in the 90s and died in the same decade. The introduction of mobiles with a built-in messaging service made sure the early pager adopters looked like fools carrying them around. 

6. Indipop

The Indian Pop music scene peaked and crashed in the decade. Many a new singer made a name and then disappeared into non-recognition. Remember Shweta Shetty, Stereo Nation, and Bali Brahmbhatt? The list goes on.

7. PDAs

wikimedia commons

These handheld computers could store hundreds of business cards, memos, keep track of your schedules and even make a spreadsheet on the go. Palm and HP were the big names, but these PDAs soon led to what we now call the smartphone.

8. Slam books

wikihow

Popular with school students, slam books were like a personalised year book with every little detail you wanted to know of your friends from your friends. From their date of birth, to their favourite actors and actresses, they had all this and more. Kids and grownups alike have Facebook for that now.

9. Snake on Nokia

lumiaconversations.microsoft.com

Mobile phone games are all the rage today, but the beginnings were in Snake which was introduced in the 6110 in 1997. An addictive game, the target was to keep the growing snake within the confines of the walls while gaining points. It led to many a sore thumb and the growth of mobile gaming.

10. Gold Spot and Campa Cola

justinroig

Before Coca Cola made a comeback in India, it was Campa Cola and Gold Spot that were the choice of drink in the summers. These big brands soon took over the little Indian players and that was the end of them.

11. Board games

steamcommunity

Remember Snakes and Ladders, and Ludo? Or even Monopoly or Scotland Yard? They used to be a great way to spend time with friends and family. But these days it's all about social networking with friends you don’t even know.

12. Box TV sets and antenna reception

There used to be a time when, to watch your favourite TV show, you had to be home on time and have the antenna pointing in the right direction. Today, you can record the show and watch it if you can get away from your phone.

13. Trading cards

Plaidman/flickr.com

Apart from their wrestling moves, the best thing about following ‘WWF’ was the trading cards. The competition to have them all and play against friends based on the number of wins and championships was ‘cool’. Not anymore though.

14. Film cameras

Camerapedia

Technology killed the old analog film camera. No birthday or family outing was complete till you held a smile for three seconds to ensure the frame was sharp. The excitement didn’t fizzle away till the film was actually developed and pictures printed. In fact, '90s was probably the last generation that got their pictures clicked on film!

15. Playing outdoors

itdunya

Games like hide and seek, pithoo garam and gulli cricket are a rare sight these days. Today local parks are better utilised for car parking and kids have Playstation and Nintendo 3D to spend time with.