Issue Date: December 18, 2005
1985 Tech
Yesteryear's wish list?
One last look at USA WEEKEND's debut year uncovers a Santa's island of lost gadgets.
By Brian Truitt
With holiday shopping in full swing, we know that iPods and big-screen TVs are wish-list faves. And, as USA WEEKEND celebrates its 20th year, we couldn't help but try to recollect what the "latest/greatest" presents were two decades ago. Then guess what happened? We "found" this year-end family update letter from 1985 that, ahem, refreshed our memory. Do these products make you long for those days? Or do they make you wonder: These gifts were once must-haves?
"The Karate Kid" was on video.
Omnibot 2000 helped out with chores.
Memories were captured on bulky VHS recorders
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Season's greetings, gang.
Once again, yours truly has the letter-writing duties, as if being a mom who juggles a full-time job wasn't enough. (Seems like more families are doing this these days. This, too, shall pass.) This year, the family spent lots of -- what's that phrase they're using these days? -- oh right, "quality time" in front of the tube. But there are so many gift-buying decisions to make. VCRs are hot, and they're downright affordable. We saw a Sharp VHS model going for $329. We love watching home movies on TV, too. Still, camcorders are pricey, with VHS and Beta cameras costing up to $1,400.
There's nothing like watching a video from Erol's. (Aunt Sarah raves about a new place called Blockbuster, in Dallas. But we don't have one here.) The videos are quite expensive to buy, though. Our little Amy wants "The Karate Kid" badly, but it costs $79.95. (Oh, and if Amy and her friends have any say, that Ralph Macchio will be a big star for a looong time.)
Some new items are really out there. Our neighbors are getting an Omnibot 2000 for $499. As if they really need a 26-inch robot to do chores like picking up the newspaper. (Three words: Train your dog!) Herb Harold's wife, Lisa, is getting him an electronic car finder for $114 because Herb keeps losing his tiny ol' Chevette in the parking lot. The device is supposed to honk the car's horn if he's within 750 feet!
Between the grown-ups and the teenagers here, we're collecting so many music albums that they are cluttering up the entire house. If only someone could come up with some kind of device that, I dunno, just shrank the music somehow. Now that would be something people would buy in droves!
Well, gotta go. More shopping ahead ...
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