Top 10 Ways Nostalgic Tech Was Aesthetically Pleasing

#10: Colorful Matching Computer Setups

The majority of vintage PCs came in a slightly beige shade of white, a trend we’re glad isn’t around anymore. On the other hand, there was a brief phase where you could get colorful matching desktop setups. One of the most famous is the Hot Wheels PC, which exploded in popularity in the early 2020s. In our opinion, the peak of this trend was the iMac G3 line from 1998. After years of boring beige setups, the vibrance of the G3 was a game-changer, leading it to quickly become a staple of the late 90s and noughties.

#9: The VCR Tape Loading Mechanism

In our current era, if you want to watch a movie, you can simply load it up on your preferred streaming service. Long before Netflix, people instead had to go out and buy bulky VHS cassettes, then slide them into a VCR player. They’re way less convenient than modern streaming services, but at the same time, it was so much more satisfying. Nothing can beat the satisfaction of hearing the tape slot in, then playing about with the VCR’s weighty buttons. While we miss it, no one’s in a rush to bring back VHS, on account of its inconvenient size and low picture quality.

#8: Putting in a Cartridge

Another oddly satisfying form of physical media is cartridges. Before discs, cartridges were the standard from roughly the 70s to 90s. They started to phase out around the release of the PlayStation, which used optical discs. Discs held more space, but cartridges were way more robust, as you couldn’t scratch them, plus they had superior load times. Vintage cartridges can sell for a fortune, especially ones still in the box. Now, some current-generation consoles don’t even let you use discs, forcing you to download all your games. Not all, though, Nintendo brought cartridges back for the Switch, which are way more portable than discs.

#7: Wood Paneling on Vintage Electronics

A plethora of modern technology is panelled with wood, but this isn’t a new trend; it’s reflective of an older style that began in 60s, then peaked during the 70s. This led to tons of electronics covered in wood, including things such as instruments, consoles, radios, and even microwaves. It was done so it matched the household furniture, with all the largest brands cashing in on the wooden aesthetic, like the Atari 2600 from 1977. Now, the idea of a mainstream games console being made out of wood sounds wild, but a few decades ago, it was the opposite.

#6: Vinyl Records and Turntable Ritual

This entry is something people became so nostalgic for that it came back during the late 2000s and hasn’t died down since. In the 70s, the dominant music format was vinyl by a significant margin. More convenient tech was later invented, and then people decided to stop using heavy plastic discs to store music. Fortunately for vinyl enjoyers, there was just something too unique about it to leave it in the past. The delightful ritual of slotting your vinyl into the player, sliding the needle into place, then hearing that crisp pop as it begins playing is unparalleled. This led them to outsell CDs in America in 2022, the first time that had happened since 1987.

#5: Retro Button and Dial Designs

The majority of modern smartphones will only have a handful of buttons, usually just for power and volume, then nothing else. During the 2010s, companies decided the fewer buttons, the better. Now, people have started to miss the satisfaction of physical buttons and dials. While touchscreens feel more futuristic, buttons are far more reliable and require way less messing around in menus. Companies have begun listening to people’s calls, with the iPhone 16 introducing a camera control button, plus Volkswagen has filled a 2026 Polo with tons of big buttons, resulting in hours of entertainment for button enthusiasts.

#4: Slide Phones (Open or Close)

When mobile phones were a brand-new invention, companies would get way more creative with their designs. Long before the iPhone set the standard for mobile designs, you could get phones that folded and even ones that slid. Flip phones have become mainstream again, as proven by Samsung’s new folding and flipping range. Sliding phones have increased in popularity, but aren’t mainstream. They’re primarily used by people tired of smartphones, who prefer their simplicity. Some retro-obsessed individuals want to be even more old-fashioned, ditching mobiles completely and reverting to classic rotary dial telephones. We doubt they’ll ever be mainstream again, though, but they’re still satisfying gadgets.

#3: Chunky Keyboards

The first ever keyboards invented in the 1800s were mechanical, which is what gave typewriters their satisfying clicks. They remained the dominant technology until the 80s, when membrane keyboards came along, allowing for far smaller and quieter keys. Variations of these are most common now, but in the 2000s, people grew nostalgic for mechanical keys. They were revived primarily by gamers, who preferred their durability and improved responsiveness. People have grown so fond of vintage, chunky keyboards that there’s now a sizeable market for modern mechanical keyboards with a retro design. They’re also way more customizable than older ones, and their popularity is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

#2: The Glow of CRT Monitors

Before thin LED TVs were common, CRTs were the go-to. People rushed to rid themselves of their CRTs when flat-panel displays hit markets, but now, many of us regret the decision. In the 2020s, they’ve been making a surprising comeback. A primary reason is that they have no pixels, creating images modern displays struggle to replicate. This results in them having a warm glow, alongside black scan lines, which were annoying back in the day, but now provide nothing but nostalgia. This means many of them cost a fortune to buy now, but alternatively, you can get gadgets that replicate the effect on modern TVs. Plus, they’re way smaller than most excessively large CRTs.

#1: Transparent Tech

A staple of the Y2K aesthetic is easily transparent plastic gadgets. In the 90s and 2000s, tons of products had a see-through plastic exterior, usually colored. To many of us, it was mind-blowing being able to see the inside of our devices. Virtually all the major companies cashed in on the aesthetic. You could get the N64 in a variety of see-through colors, and even the PS2 had a clear variant. In the end, people decided it made things look tacky, causing it to fade into obscurity. That was until the 2020s, when it came back slightly, like a lot of Y2K trends.

Is there anything about old-fashioned devices you miss, and did we mention it on our list today? Let us know in the comments below!